| New Year :: New Committments |
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Is it already the 19 of January? Time is just flying…so crazy to think that it has been almost 6 months since we planted our feet on Malawian soil. I (Jamie) have to be honest with myself and those that actually are reading this blog (all two of you!), the month of December was a challenge to say the least…mostly homesick due to the holidays and being so far away from everything comfortable and familiar that I seem to normally turn to during the Christmas season. But, good news, I have left those difficult and challenging feelings in 2009 and now feel much more energized and eager to start this year off strong and get back in to “being in the present moment” here in Malawi. Just to reminisce for a moment, 2009 was an amazing year…one that will forever go down as a year of immense change, risk and blessing for Daniel and I. We decided to put our careers on hold, put our condo up for rent, hug our friends so-long and kiss our families goodbye…and with suitcases in hand, we boarded the plane and headed off to a land that we had never been to before. And here we are 6 months (half-way through) later, completely in love with the Malawian people and completely in awe with respect to a culture that functions though is so gripped with poverty, disease, jealousy, HIV/AIDS, and starvation (to name a few). And I do believe that 2010 will be just as incredible and filled with blessing as 2009 was, if not more. We really just can’t wait to see all God has for us in the coming year. And I know, Blog World, from past experiences that these next 6 months will fly past me, just as the last 6 months did…and so, I am re-committing myself to the task and dreams that I am to be living out TODAY, HERE in Malawi. I am so excited about: • the deepening of relationships that we have established here (one lady in particular that lives in our neighborhood, Margaret, I desire to go deeper with) • my planned visits to the Orphan Care centers out in the villages (more to come on that soon) • my time to teach and encourage the Orphan Care teachers & volunteers • encouraging the Malawian guys who I work with each week on the “Hope for AIDS” project • looking for more opportunities to be generous and to extend hands of mercy and justice to those that we can connect with each and everyday. With that said, I am also committing to be more pro-active with communication back home…I feel like we do a pretty good job here on the site and via twitter/facebook…but I feel like I could really do a better job of communicating what EXACTLY we are doing each day and how EXACTLY you could be praying for the Malawian people here. I received an email recently asking what we do if we need a haircut, where do we go…and I am sure that there are more questions like that out there on how exactly we live here in Malawi and go about our day-to-day activities. I would LOVE to make a blog answering some of these questions….kinda like “Dear Abby” meets Malawi but minus the desperate/relationship junk. So bring on your questions…it will be fun! PS: The pictures above our from our garden...tomatoes & corn (not pictured: pumpkins, cucumbers, carrots, basil, thyme, potatoes, peanuts, green beans, red peppers, broccoli, mangos, lemons, papaya) The sunset picture was also taken from the back of our house...beautiful African sunsets! -Jamie |
thanks!
My questions for you -you mentioned having a date night with your hubby before he headed back to the states- where does one go for a date in Malawi?? And how do you travel from place to place? Looking forward to the answers...
1. Where do you sleep?
2. What are the bathrooms like? and the TP?
3. How long is night?
4. How is transport? Walking? Bikes? automobile/van/truck/other? Bus?
5. What is washing clothes like? Wash tub? Stream?
6. When you say neighborhood, what is that? A village? City block? The three houses sitting together?
7. What is a day like at an orphan care center? Do they spend the night there, too?
8. What are the church services like?
Add me to your count of blog readers!! I do read I just don't comment. I love seeing how God is using you and I'm so happy for you and your hubby. I remember our time at EPC and Upward and just chuckle at how well God has taken care of you!!!
My question for you would be about that garden! Did you have locals help you? How much reading did it require or did you already know about that? Do you have to weed it often? :-)
What is your favorite thing about the Malawin culture that you all have adopted? (I hope that makes sense)