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.
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