Malawi 2008
Nathanje!! day one
Jim arrived at 8 o’clock we some of the staff that live on the complex called peter and the carpenter. There were 11 of us in the truck with the trailer on the back, we hadn’t gone half a mile down the road when we was pulled over by one stern police women. Not even our scouse humor could crack a smile. It was a scary experience, she took peters license as the truck could only fit 10, but we believe we was pulled over as it was a predominately a group of azungas (….white group of people). We felt Peter will have to report to the police station with Jim tomorrow and could be fined approx £30. The after the prayers we had this morning after Daniel prayed for us and the prayers in the van the devil didn’t get his foothold. We then went on to the village, on our way we stopped off to buy a goat, this would have been our MacDonald takeaway..And traveled with us in the van. But as they seen we were azungas they put the price up so we skipped the goat. We traveled on to the village, as we turned off the main road we went down this dirt track with dust trying everywhere and some village houses appeared literally growing out of the bush, blending in. when we arrived we were greeted by agnus the pastors wife and some of the women of the village and their children. We arrived after the goat synario, unsure what to expect and when arrived we discovered the locals felt the same way about us. As we walked down the dirt track towards the heart of the village the children where clearly wondering who we were and why we where in their village
We were greeted humbly by pastor Isaac and his wife Agnus, who then continued to show most of the team around the small village, although others were clearly distracted and attempted to interact with the still wary hoards of children gathered around singing for their lunch.
Some of the children began to play together so we blew up some beach balls for them to play with, dubious at first the children began to play with them and eventually after a few tears from the younger children everyone was playing together like we had always been in the village
The guys got to the building work straight away, and began knocking together the wooden frame for the roof in no time. We all stood in amazement as one of the building team could hit an 8 inch nail straight into the wood with one hit, we all stood open mouthed at his skill. As the frame came together we spoke to the local schoolteacher, Mercy the one of the pastors 8 children about running games and crafts with her pupils. She was more than keen as we sat down to make bracelets with braid and beads, although demanding it was a very enjoyable time for us and I’m sure the children enjoyed it just as much as we did … if not more.
After a busy day of bracelets, building and all together business we all sat down with the pastor, the interrupters and the carpenter to eat lunch, this was a great honor as they even allowed the ladies to eat first. We all sat down to a lunch of rice, vegetables and goat (I know it doesn’t sound that appetising but it was the best goat I’ve ever tasted.) after we have finished the men where fed, then the women and lastly the children. Then the locals brought out some Nasemma, a local dish that is a crop similar to corn and we all had a taste and most of us enjoyed it. (See pictures)
After food we all continued to play with the children and some of the ladies in our team played netball with the woman … minus 2 nets.
We got the parachute out to play with the younger ones, they all grabbed it and began to wave it, causing dust to fly everywhere to the children’s amusement. Then we decided to play a very easy game in which the children swap places when the parachute is lifted. Peter (one of the translators) checked they all understood that they had to swap to the other side of the parachute when they were called out, they al agreed they understood. So we started and in the first 10 seconds it was clear that not one child had understood, but began to run randomly under the paracute, some even sitting down, jumping but all giggling at the top of their voices, much to the delight of the staff. This just proved to us that structure in Africa has no hold over fun that even if they don’t really understand, they will enjoyed themselves even as we hid them under the parachute they giggled with delight which brought a smile to all the teams faces.
God really revealed to all of us that day. Those people where why we traveled for 28 hours, those children where the reason why God sent us here, those women where the reason we were praying so hard and those men where the reason we wanted to wanted to serve.
We felt inspired and uplifted by the whole community and upon leaving although tired we were sad to be going. The children gave us waves they jumped and sang as we left in excitement for tomorrow, a far cry from the fear in the welcome we had received, and in the truck back to the motel, and I think I speak for the whole team when I say…. we all couldn’t wait to return.
