This is only goodbye for now

I apologize for not being able to post our stories in the past week plus. Internet is quite limited here, so for this next blog post I will try and summarize some of the things that have happened to us in the past couple days. I know its not as detailed as the other ones have been because those were just focused on certain days. But, if you’d like more of those stories our team is more than happy to be able to share those stories with you face to face.

Are days are soon coming to a close. The days seem to go quickly and every sunset is appreciated more and more, and will soon be just a distant dream. Vivid memories of this trip will soon crumble away and all that will be remembered is the people, tasks that were done, and funny stories. Fully remembering the faces without pictures will soon fade, day by day. But, out of all the fading, the thing that will never fade or disappear as we age is the experience. Days came and went but each day with a purpose that Got had made before we were even created. God knew all that was to be done in Malawi, Africa before we entered the world and before we stepped foot off the plane. In this past week we did much more physical stuff, we did some church building which consisted of us hauling bricks back and forth. At times we felt useless as they did the physical building and we just hauled bricks. On the first day Tracey, Taylor, and Julia did the actual building part but that tended to slow down the progress, so soon we all just hauled bricks to help out. After those days we would watch the village soccer game, which Taylor took part in one day. The village lit up when Taylor would do anything involving trying to touch the soccer ball, it was truly a joy to see them be so passionate and loving towards us. Evenings have been spent either in Lake Malawi or just relaxing in our beds talking. One evening consisting of Taylor, Nate, Tracey, and myself snuggled up on two single beds that had been pushed together. Taylor and Nat passionate in their book by Stephen King, “The Dark Tower,” Its a consist conversation of our team now, with Julia just starting to read through the pages of the phenomal author King. But, our days are busy in the morning and afternoon and then soon turn into a comforting relaxation. In the past couple days of our trip we have spent travel and exploring even more. One day was spent in a Safari, which was interesting to say the least. Getting stuck in sand with a mini van in the lions territory, isn’t the safest thing. As all ten of us are piled into an 8 passenger van with blazing heat we all poured out of the van to help push it out. Which is humorous because just before we ended the safari on a sign it read, “Once in the Safari please remain in the vehicle at all times.” Out we went though with the guide telling us we needed to get out to push. There she stood by our side with a gun, a huge gun I might add. She seemed pretty threatening. Our safari soon came to a close after getting close enough to elephants that they were apparently telling us to leave them alone or else they would charge, so we figured we should leave as our host Bonface pulls a fast one and jokes about going back and making them charge. What a goof Bonface is, and we couldn’t be more honoured. 

This trip is something that could never really be explained because for one, we never really knew what was happening, and second because it was to incredible to describe. Honestly, if people ever ask me how my trip is I just want to tell them that they have to experience it for themselves. The simple love that the Malawi people showed to us, the kind way that our host kept us safe an sound 24/7, and even the way that the sun would set behind the mountains kissing each one on the way down while being consumed by every star in the galaxy. 

My team is sound asleep in their afternoon naps right now, all tired from the day. We are almost at the end, all of the energy is slowly dying but will never fade. Whenever we would be needed here we would welcome it with open arms. This past Sunday we went to a church in Lilongwe which we originally weren’t planned to but there we went! A small church of about 15 was gathered in singing. All of us sharing our testimony and after the service shaking hands of all who came out and one lady coming to me with wide spread arms and wrapping me up in a hug and saying thank you. After noticing that she didn’t hug any of the other people I felt God spoke through me for once on this trip. I felt my story really touched the life of someone listening. Just from her wrapping her arms around me I know we did something here in Malawi. In one church a couple weeks ago after Taylor shared there was cheering and clapping, he really touched that church. The next Sunday Julia preaching the message and all the people telling her that she has to move to Malawi to be the official pastor. We are all doing little things here in Malawi, and God is not yet done. As one of the pastors said to us, “you have planned the seed in all the soil in Malawi, and once you are gone it will grow into incredible fruit. Then, then when it has become fruit is when you will return and taste the fruit.”

Malawi, Africa, you will be missed greatly by five loving Canadians who were changed a great deal by your wide welcoming arms. Till next time Malawi.

Tea Leaves

Beautiful area, especially when the sun kisses every leaf. 

Hallelujah

As yesterday came to a close we ended it off with a yoga session after supper with Tracey and I as instructors. That was interesting to say the least with Taylor trying to do the downward facing dog. But off to bed we went, and as I went to bed thinking tomorrow was just another day, the team had something else planned. I woke up to a rap, yes, a rap. Beat boxing was heard and instantly I knew what was happening. I was getting my birthday song rapped to me with clever lyrics and smiling faces. Breakfast in bed, hot chocolate powder, and a volleyball all signed by my loving team was given to me on my special day. Honestly, I thought I’d just be jump on in the morning with them yelling happy birthday. Thankfully, I was completely wrong. 

But we soon began our day after my little celebration in Malawi. Today there was church, a church full of laughter, smiles, and of course, dancing. We started with some of our classic Canadian songs, and then soon they broke into their own music, all of us baffled by the different language, just danced and clapped with them. Without words we could still join together in Gods family. We soon came to a close with singing and began to share our testimonies, I think all of us are getting a little warn out about sharing our testimony over and over, but this team I am surrounded with still does it full hearted. Its beautiful to see the impact all our stories make in the lives of others. Julia then shared the message of the day for church, she once again did a fantastic job as she did last Sunday in church. They have all agreed that she should stay in Malawi and become the official pastor for the churches. I think our whole team can join together in agreement to that.

Our day ended earlier than planned, we pretty much have the whole afternoon off to bond with our two Malawi friends who have been beside us since the beginning, Augustine and Dorothy. Two loving people, who will be terribly hard to leave on our last day. 

So we are now relaxing and tomorrow morning heading up to prayer mountain. A long journey ahead, which will definitely have stories in it to share with all of you!

But, as the Malawi church people say, “Up, up, Jesus, down, down, devil.”

Praise the Lord, and Hallelujah. 

Resting Clouds

Clouds sitting upon the mountains in the morning sun as we drive to our destination. Silence fills the vehicle this morning, not from being tired, but just from peace. Peaceful thinking of what lies ahead of us for today. But as the clouds settle further into the mountains we reach our location. Back to our regular routine with door to door Evangelism, it’s strange that we can now call that a routine. I don’t think we’d ever be able to call it a routine in Canada. But off we went on our normal day, this time my group was with Julia and two of our friends from Malawi, Dorothy and Rhoda. We went into one mans house who was already a Christian, his shirt full of bible verses. As soon as I saw his shirt it brought a smile to my face, but once we were invited inside I shared my testimony. He loved the encouragement, but it wasn’t the fact that we did anything amazing in his life that he is being put into my blog today. Not at all because we only simply had a conversation, but this conversation was all I really needed for today to remind me, God is good. From that conversation I learnt the simple joy of God children, he is just one of many Christians in the world, and we have so many more waiting to be discovered. We are not alone, nor will we ever be. Just talking to him showed me that. Showed me that we are reaching out to people and inviting God into their life, but for some people they are reaching into our lives and changing our lives with God. For that I am forever thankful. God is good, good indeed. 

Our day of Evangelism came to a close early afternoon and as we gathered to eat and play some games we joined in community. Our new little family in Malawi. Julia was feeling sick all day with a sore stomach, so she wasn’t as full into the games which made me sad that she couldn’t enjoy it. But after a while I too became sick and was not feeling 100%. So I soon relaxed in my chair with Julia, feeling her pain. Our ride soon came after my stomach began to turn, and as we sat in the vehicle Augustin asked if I was tired and I replied with, “No, I just feel sick.” Taylor being the best daddy I could have on this trip soon took my shoulder to comfort the bumpy ride for me. Not even thinking he was there for me as soon as I said I was uneasy. What a great guy eh? I felt so loved in the simplest way of just resting a hand on my shoulder to comfort my rocky ride. I love my team, I couldn’t be more blessed with these goofs in my life.

But as the evening passes and Julia is sound asleep next to me, I pray she gets better so we can have a fun evening tonight to finish up our day.

Prayers are always needed for health here in Africa! It'd be greatly appreciated for us!

Letting Out Grace

Greeted by smiling faces and warm hugs was just the start to an incredible day. Door to door we went as our usual day; Taylor, Julia and I all in one group. We went house to house talking to people about Jesus, and than we stumbled across one home that changed all of our hearts. Patricia, is her name. A very kind lady, who listened very carefully as all three of us shared our testimony. She was indulged in all of them, and then as we came to a close she began to ask questions. Many questions that were very personal, we answered as best we could. After she had accepted God into her heart, we asked her if we could pray for her. So Taylor, Julia and I surrounded her and placed a gentle hand on her and began to pray. Two sentences into Julia praying I felt a sudden shake of her body, and to my surprise as I looked down she was in tears. Pouring broken tears. She had broke in our hands right there before us, before God. She had truly surrender all she had at that moment, and as the words came out of all our mouths when we left we all agreed those were not our words but Jesus’s words speaking through us. As we brought our prayer to a close she thanked us, telling us she was not expecting this with crying eyes and a warm smile. We understand now what we are doing, we are just the starting point to something bigger that God can’t wait to share. 

But as our morning of Evangelism came to a close we went back to the home we would be eating lunch at. Well to our surprise they love to dance… They LOVE to dance. We actually had a dance party in this tiny living room, all of us packed in and just dancing away. The music was cranked as loud as possible I’m sure. Everyone was going nuts, and of course everyone laughed at the white people dancing. As the music quieted we joined together in lunch. During lunch our group got to know three other young adults who are incredible! We made music with raps, beatboxing, singing, and everything in-between! It was beautiful to hear and be apart of! 

Together today all in all was pretty spectacular! It was a blessing to see people break down for God in tears, and incredible to see people break down for God in dance! 

Our team is now calming down from our hectic day, but we all have more energy than we ever have. Prayers and love have definitely been around this Malawi team, and we couldn’t be more grateful! Keep on praying for us, and not just us but for the people here in Malawi. They are all incredible and have extraordinary stories to tell! All of us can’t wait to come home and share these stories with you! 

Pray on, and love on. 

Adventure Upon Adventure

Well, I’m curled up on my bed. My hair dripping from a warm warm shower, my toes are in toasty warm socks and there is quiet. Day six since we left the little town of Gretna. Different culture? Yes, very much so. Rice for every meal? Yes, very much so. Loving faces and warm hugs? Yes, very very much so. We have been welcomed into this community with open and loving arms. Only smiling faces we see when we pass people. We have children running after our van as we leave the village. Running the whole way after us with giant smiles placed on their faces. We’ve been presented with incredible meals, yes it is just rice; but they give us all they have. We have had three filling meals a day, and we couldn’t be more blessed. Some of us don’t even finish all the food that is given to us because we are so full from the food we consumed a couple hours ago! Praise the Lord, praise the almighty Lord; we have been truly blessed with places to sleep and places to eat. We haven’t always had warm comforting showers, or running water. But honestly thats okay! We haven’t had anything bad happen to us from that, so, I couldn’t be more blessed.

Our team is incredible; we all can be vulnerable in front of one another, I mean we all have our struggles in day to day life. But, we help each other work it out, and bring out the best and silliness in all of us! Serious man. 

During the past couple days we have just been doing some Evangelism. Which is definitely something not everyone on our team is use too. We are literally going door to door and telling people about Jesus. Definitely a different atmosphere than Canada would be for that. We go door to door in five different groups and share our testimony with the people. Its funny to see there faces when they first notice white people walking in their village. Its so cute to see the joy come to their faces. 

But as the sunsets its our signal to go. But as we drove away from the children chasing our vehicle my heart filled. We didn’t even have to do very much but we made a huge difference in those little hearts. The sunset bright with colours and shining upon the mountain tops with a kiss of sparkle, I realize this is just one day. One day of my life that I made a difference, I have a handful of more days to do this, and I can’t wait to experience them with the incredible team I have surrounding me.