Thursday, July 31, 2008
London Pub
Mtsiliza children
Performing a dance for us
"one picture, one picture"
Alice, Chuchambuto, Chuseesee and Christina
Our walk to Mgwayi
Duck Duck Goose with our family
Our family's roof from the inside
Shucking the corn
Getting water from the well
Washing dishes
Mudding the ledge
Dancing and pictures
Church Choir
Monday, July 28, 2008
The question....
You tell people before you leave, "I can't wait to get back and tell you all about my trip." Everyone says, "It's going to be life changing!" You agree. How could it not? Then you return and the question is asked, "How was your trip?" You pause. You can't seem to find the words. You're not sure how to answer. So you say, "Amazing," but you're not sure if that is just the right thing to say or if that is how you feel. How do you explain it? How do you translate a two week trip in
We flew into
On Saturday we got to visit Mgwayi, which is the village behind our compost (about a 5 minute walk). COTN has been working with Mgwayi for about two years to explain to them their mission. We were the first team to go into their village, besides the interns who arrived a couple weeks before us. What an experience. Our team of 39 was split into six teams. My team was assigned a hut in the back of the village. We met our mother, Alice, and her three children Chuchambuto, Chuseesee, and the youngest Christina, who was three years old. She informed us that her husband was at work. Her younger sister's daughter, Angela also lived with her. We later found out that her first two children were from her first marriage. We also found out that Angela's parent's lived in the city, but had left her with her sister. We were never able to understand why. Their house was made of homemade bricks, which was made from the red dirt. Their roof had tree branches which went all the way across and was then covered in straw and other grass. The house had three small rooms. One was an empty open space used as a living room and the other two were used as bedrooms. However there were no beds, dressers, or any furniture. They had a couple of blankets which were provided by COTN. In the living room there were a couple pair of shoes hanging on the walls. On the outside of the house there were two ledges built out of mud which served as benches. Across from the house was another small room which served as the kitchen. On Saturday we got to know a little bit about our family. We had a translator there to help us communicate. There were a few other huts right next to ours so before we knew what hit us, we had about 20 kids circle around and listen to us talk. The children were covered in dirt, had no shoes, had snot dried on their face, had holes in their clothes, and many were very skinny or had swollen bellies. We asked our kids if they wanted to play a game, so we taught them Duck Duck Goose. They loved it. They are pretty quick learners! Then they taught us a couple of their songs and dances. They LOVE to sing and dance and that's an understatement. We taught them "I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart" they really liked this song. We played London Bridges Falling Down, Red light green light, and jump the river. These kids sure can jump! They were hilarious to watch when they played London Bridges. They would all try to get caught, so we would have 10 children in between our arms! They also loved jump rope. They would make jump ropes out of straw and corn husks. This all took place before lunch!
After lunch when we returned to the village; the children met us on our walk. As soon as they saw us they took the all the stuff we were carrying and grabbed our hands. I have to admit, at first I thought, “they just took my stuff and I’m not going to see it again”, but then I learned that they just wanted to hold our hands and they refused to let us carry our own stuff. When we arrived to
Saturday night we were surprised with the information that we would be teaching Sunday school. My team was in charge of the teenagers. Sean and Melissa shared their testimony and teens taught us a great song. The song talks about how there is no one like Jesus. The church service was very different. The men and women sat on different sides and the children sat in a section all on their own, even little 2-year-olds. Each age group was asked to tell to the congregation what they learned in Sunday school. Talk about having to pay attention! Then each group was asked to come forward and sing one song. Well one song meant: one song on the way up to the front, one song in front, and one song walking back to their seats. Let's just say there was a lot of singing. What amazing voices they have. Every single person could sing. The preaching was done in English and Chichewa. There is no set end time for church. Church is over when you are done singing, dancing, preaching, and praying. At one point everyone dropped to their knees and started praying out loud. What an amazing experience. I think back home that would have freaked me out, but for some reason it felt right there. You could hear their cries to God. It reminded me of some of the prayers for the book of Psalms and Proverbs.
So up to this point this is what I was experiencing: Pretty much what you have read. I bet you're thinking, but I want to know what were your thoughts what were your emotions. Well, honestly I didn't have any emotions. That's right. It was the strangest feeling. I thought for sure when I saw these children my eyes would fill with tears and my heart would break. Actually, it was the opposite. I felt very little. At first it really concerned me. How can I see these beautiful children who have SO little and not feel a thing. Very little clothing, very little food, some with out parents, very minor shelter, no health care, some who didn't go to school. But do you know what I saw? I saw their smiles and their kindness and their gentleness. I saw how simple their lives looked. The first feeling I had was actually jealousy. They don't have to work hard to get into a good school, to get a good job, to have a nice house, car, computer, etc, to have a good income to raise a family, to compete, to think about the next bill. They don't even know to think about these things. Their life is living it one day at a time to meet those days needs. I know that doesn't sound like fun, but at the moment it seemed so desirable. I will come back to this.
After lunch on Sunday we went to Chitipi which is a home built by COTN for children who are "double orphaned." This means they have no parents or relatives to take care of them. When we arrived they were well dressed, clean, the appropriate size for their age and many of them spoke English. They sang to us many songs. Then about 6 children stood and told us their testimonies. They stated things like, "when I lived in my village I had very little. My mother died when I was 6 and my father died when I was 10. My grandparents tried to raise me but they were old and sick and they died too. I was hungry and had no food. Then COTN came and they took me in. Now I have a mother, brothers, sisters and aunties and uncles." The aunties and uncles are women and men who live at the home and help the "mom" take care of the children. Many of the other testimonies stated, "My mother died when I was 7 and my father abandoned me. I had no one to take care of me...." This was the first time my eyes had tears. As they told their story you could see the sadness in their eyes and body. But then when they told how COTN rescued them they smiled and made eye contact with their new family. They then sang a song about how God rescued them when the devil was trying to swallow them hole.
My thoughts: At that moment when my eyes were filled with tears I wasn't sure what my thoughts were. I know that I felt sad for those who had been abandoned by their own fathers. I know I was recognizing that these children are just that, they are children. They are living in poor disease stricken villages. They have very little and then what they did have was taken from them. They had no one to care for them. They had to walk around looking for food and begging. And then there were rescued. Now looking back I see they truly can understand what it means to be adopted sons and daughters of Christ! How often do I take for granted the blessings that surround me everyday? How often do we feed and clothe the poor? How often am I God's hands and feet? How often do I reach out and serve those who are less fortunate then me? The answer is not nearly enough!
Sunday night: My team gathered to discuss how we wanted to talk to
Monday: On Monday we took the bus into the city. What a strange experience! The city had cars, small buildings, stores, markets, and more. It was strange to see something so civilized so close to these poor and underdeveloped villages. We were given 1500 Kwatcha to purchase food for our family. The list of food items were given to us in Chichewa so we had to ask the people in the market to help us find the items we needed. We bought wood, matches, salt, flour, lettuce, tomatoes, bananas, oranges, green peppers, onions, carrots, nut flour, these dried tiny fish and a live chicken! After lunch on Monday we returned to
My thoughts: Let me start with saying, God is good! Then let me say I continued to feel nothing. I could not feel God. If you are a Christian you will know what I mean. As a Christian you have the Holy Spirit living in you to guide you, to give you wisdom, to break your heart as God's heart breaks, to feel joy in things that please him. Yet I did not feel it. I didn't feel the breaking heart in the village. I didn't feel the joy when his people came to know him. It was a very empty and isolated feeling. I prayed that night, "God please reveal yourself to me. I know you are here. Let me see you. Let me feel you. Why are you not revealing yourself to me?" I was frustrated. I was confused. I thought, “I'm all the way in
Tuesday July 8th was our teams first day teaching the True Love Waits program. This program was designed to teach the teens, widows, and adults about HIV and AIDS. It encourages abstinence. Safe sex teachings do not work because they do not have the funds to purchase birth control or condoms and if they did they do not have the proper ways to store them. This program teaches to remain faithful in your marriage, to wait to have sex until marriage, and to teach your children the same. The program teaches that God loves you and you matter to God and he wants you to be free from this illness. My group of 6 was in charge of all the children along with another group. So Tuesday and Wednesday I spent my day covered in dirt playing soccer, netball, frisbee, dizzy bat, follow the leader, parachute games, coloring, jump roping, and of course dancing and singing. I can say they pretty much wore me out! They have sooo much energy. They loved drawing! They could have done just that all day. They also loved dizzy bat relay races. The teams which taught the program said that it went very well and the students had many good questions. On these days I took a nap at lunch and pretty much called it a night after dinner. I was so tired.
These two days were fun. The kids are so precious! They just gave so much love. They want to hold your hand, sit in your lap, carry your stuff, and they watch your lips with every word you say. They would meet us on our way to the village and they would walk us out. Every day they would walk with us further and further. My group fell in love with a couple different children. Two of those girls names were Naxoni and Esinat. We would walk and they would say all our names and their names. Then we would start over again. So we would say, "Aubrey, Christy, Katie, Naxoni, Esinat, Aubrey Christy, Katie, Naxoni, Esinat....." and then we would crack up laughing. It's amazing, without being able to share words how much we actually shared. Their smiles and excitement said so much. I began to really love these girls. I could spot them from a distance and they would come running. Esinat was 14 and Naxoni was probably about the same age.
On Thursday morning we drove 2 hours to go to
Friday: We went to the Widows program at Mtsiliza. They sang and danced for us and with us. They also did a skit to show us what they learned from the True Love Waits program. They were so excited to make a commitment to teach their children by these principles and to agree to abstain. They each signed a contract and they were excited to hold it up for us to see.
Afterwards we came back to the compost and those of us who decided to sponsor children got to met with our child for lunch. I am sponsoring Esinat!! I couldn't wait to see her. I remember when I asked Pike (COTN staff) if she and another girl were available for sponsorship he said they were not registered because they were not in the village the day of registration. Later that day I asked him if there was anyway to get them registered. He said, "oh yes, after you left they both came up to me crying saying please register us!" So I got them registered and found out the other girl Zelous is Esinat's sister! Naxoni was already sponsored. Esinat and I played for a bit and then I asked her if she knew God. She told me yes and that she went to church. I asked her if she knew who Jesus was. She said, "no." I asked her if she had every learned about who he was. She said, "no." I honestly can say I was shocked. Her and her friends sing many songs about Jesus, yet she has no idea who he is! I told her the same things I told
After our time with our kids we went back to Mtsliza to witness the feeding program. Each child brings a bowl or plate and receives a small portion of food. About a cup of rice and a piece of meat about the size of a 2”x2” square. Although this is not a lot it is more then they would ever have with out the program. Plus they eat three times a day, whereas the children in Mgwayi eat once or twice a day, usually with no meat.
My thoughts: This night I shared with my roomies my frustration with feeling nothing. My frustration with not feeling God. They had a lot of wisdom to offer; however I had a hard time hearing it at that time. They stated that this trip is not about me. Sometimes we come on these trips with the intent of it touching or moving us or bringing us closer to God. Well that is all good stuff, but this trip was not about me. It was about being Christ to the Malawian people. It was not about experiencing some "Christian high" it was about being fully present so I could clearly see what was going on around me. It was about learning what I needed to learn so I could come back and share with others how they can help. I heard all this yet my heart was still distressed because I felt alone and disconnected from God. I cried as I told them that it was such an uncomfortable feeling to lead people to Christ and to be excited intellectually but to feel very little in my heart and spirit.
Saturday was play day! A large group played a hardcore soccer game with the kids and adult men. My team was in charge of the women. We played net ball in the morning, which is a form of keep away. Wow they wore me out! They are tough women! Then we danced and sang for a long time! After lunch we brought tons of beads and string and they made necklaces and bracelets. They loved this! Then as they worked I read John 13 where Jesus washed his disciples feet. And he said, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him, If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." We then washed the women's hands with soap and water and then massaged their hands with lotions. They were very moved by this. We wanted to do both their hands and feet and paint their nails but there were too many women and we ran out of time.
My thoughts: On this day I was not feeling well I had a really sore throat, I was very tired, and I was congested. When I went to Mgwayi in the morning I prayed God please give me the strength to get through the first part of the day. When I came back for lunch I realized my symptoms had been completely gone while I ran around playing net ball....I realized this because as soon as I returned to the compost I was hit with feeling awful. Again on my way out after lunch I prayed and again God gave me the strength to get through the second half of the day without one ache or pain! Wow.
Sunday we left. The plane ride was miserable with a cold, but after flying from
My thoughts and lessons learned so far: As I stated in the beginning I'm still learning what God has to teach me from this trip. As I stated in the beginning, it was amazing! I realized how amazing it was after I returned home. It's only been two weeks and yet
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:16-20
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I really felt led to share this! I hope it helps someone.
Something else I learned is it takes three essential ingredients for a marriage to thrive. I believe these ingredients are also true in any relationships. So do a self check. How you doing with the following:
1) Extravagant love: expressed often, places other's needs above your own, it is a choice not a feeling, it reflects God's love
2) Generous Forgiveness: begins with humility, is offered quickly, applied freely, expressed graciously - keeps no record of wrongs, without your relationship will be filled with bitterness, with forgiveness you will have security.
3) Enthusiastic Encouragement: believes in and motivates others, openly affirms others, avoids critical words, maintains positive attitude even in hard times, leads to unity.
So how did you do? Are you an extravagant lover? A generous forgiver? An enthusiastic encourager? If not then pick one today and ask God to help you to apply these ingredients to your marriage!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
During my prayer this morning God laid on my heart James chapter 3 and Philippians 4:8-9. It is amazing how powerful our words and thoughts can be. Paul tells us in Philippians "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Then in James we are told to tame our tongues. The tongue can bring the greatest joys and the greatest pains. Today before I left my house I chose to make today a day of positive thoughts and words! What a great day I had! I shouldn't be surprised...God seems to know what he is talking about! You should try it! Focus on what is good, noble, true, unselfish, admirable and focus your words on the things which will bring joy to people and you will see! As you can imagine I have had a lot to do over the past of couple of weeks and these next two weeks will be even crazier. I noticed today I had so much more energy at the end of the day and I truly believe it is from living a James chapter 3 and Philippians chapter 4 day!
Monday, June 9, 2008
- Each day nearly 8,500 people die due to AIDS
- HIV infections are found in every country in the world
- Nine out of ten children living with HIV and AIDS are African
- Nearly 6,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 25 are infected every day!
- Globally, unprotected sex between men and women is the predominant mode of transmission of HIV
- India now has an estimated 5.7 million! people living with HIV/AIDS, making it the country with the greatest number of infections in the world.
- Of the 950,000 people living with HIV in the US, as many as a quarter do not know they are infected!
- About 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the US.
- Adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in 2005:
- - North America: 1.2 Million
- - Caribbean: 300,000
- - Latin America: 1.8 Million
- - Western & Central Europe: 720,000
- - North Africa & Middle East: 510,000
- - Sub-Saharan Africa: 25.8 Million
- - Eastern Europe & Central Africa: 1.6 Million
- - East Asia: 870,000
- - South & South-East Asia: 7.4 Million
- - Oceania: 74,000
- AIDS is the first epidemic of a new disease since the 1400's
Sunday, June 8, 2008
I know this entry is very vague but I really wanted to share with you how God is faithful!
By the way...at church today Isaac preached about Jonathan (Samuel's son) and how he stopped saying "someday I'll..." and he stepped up and said "today I will." There is always "someday" but at some point "someday" has to turn into "today". What better time then now? Is there something God has been asking you to do? Something you need to quit, start, or do? If so don't say, "I'll do it tomorrow" make it today!