Today I went to Mt. Mulanje, which is the third highest mountain in Africa. It was nice. We went to a beautiful resort at the base of the mountain where rooms were inasanely cheap. Like $35 US a night. I went there with Linut, Thanks, Sidney, and Francis. I also ran into the Bethany team there.
Went to a youth meeting at church after Mulanje. Not much got accomplished there.
Dinner was at another new zone. Same as the ones before. Gave a speech and everything again. Getting a little tired of speeches, which I thought would never happen to me. I think I'm just worn out here.
This is the last night at my first host family's house. We spent a lot of time singing songs. It was cool. Joseph and Sidney were there too.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
August 12, 2009
This morning was manual labor at the church. We were weeding the spot where the new church was going to be built and where they were going to get the mud for the molding of bricks for the building. I kept trying to work, but this was the first time I was meeting most of the youth. So they were all standing around looking at me and asking me questions. So I would stop working and answer them. Then Joseph would yell at me to keep working. This went on for about an hour. We didn't get much done.
Next was Bible study with the youth. That was cool. I got to participate a little bit with that. We were talking about the trinity. Specifically God the Father. We didn't get too far with that either. Things move much slower in Malawi.
Another big dinner tonight at a different location with different people. So I gave another speech. (Pretty much the same speech I gave last night) Also, this guy named Gray (I call him dancing man) was there again. He was the only person dancing last night and he is the only one dancing here tonight. So I started dancing with him. Everybody loved that and so it turned into a dance party for like a half hour or so. That was fun.
Next was Bible study with the youth. That was cool. I got to participate a little bit with that. We were talking about the trinity. Specifically God the Father. We didn't get too far with that either. Things move much slower in Malawi.
Another big dinner tonight at a different location with different people. So I gave another speech. (Pretty much the same speech I gave last night) Also, this guy named Gray (I call him dancing man) was there again. He was the only person dancing last night and he is the only one dancing here tonight. So I started dancing with him. Everybody loved that and so it turned into a dance party for like a half hour or so. That was fun.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
August 11, 2009
This morning I led a devotion for like ten people from the Malawi partnership team. It was about Paul and Silas in prison praising God and saving the jailers life.
After that we went to an orphanage called Chifundo 3. It was sad to see them all (about 20-30 of them) but it was good to see all the hard work the volunteers were putting in to the children.
It was now finally time for me to go on my own for six days at Chilumba. I was nervous and excited. When I got to Chilumba, everyone was singing for me. Which is hard to get used to. I met Sydney and Joseph. They were in their 20s and were part of the youth there. I would be hanging out with them most of the time. They showed me around the village which had a lot of very poor sections. There was also some commotion at this Satanist house which had like killed some people. So we avoided that place.
After that we went to the church for a youth meeting. Andrew was there (the man I met at Grace Bandawe) He pulled me aside and asked if I could do him an honor. I said sure. He said that he had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and that he wanted me to name her. I was very shocked and after a little while I agreed and told him that I would think about the name.
We had a huge dinner where I was treated like royalty. It's a very strange feeling. Had some food, gave a speech, and met a lot of people.
That night I stayed with my first host family. The husband and wife were Amos and Ndiu (which she said was pronounced Deuce-a), their two kids Glady and Levi, and their nephew William.
After that we went to an orphanage called Chifundo 3. It was sad to see them all (about 20-30 of them) but it was good to see all the hard work the volunteers were putting in to the children.
It was now finally time for me to go on my own for six days at Chilumba. I was nervous and excited. When I got to Chilumba, everyone was singing for me. Which is hard to get used to. I met Sydney and Joseph. They were in their 20s and were part of the youth there. I would be hanging out with them most of the time. They showed me around the village which had a lot of very poor sections. There was also some commotion at this Satanist house which had like killed some people. So we avoided that place.
After that we went to the church for a youth meeting. Andrew was there (the man I met at Grace Bandawe) He pulled me aside and asked if I could do him an honor. I said sure. He said that he had a baby girl 2 weeks ago and that he wanted me to name her. I was very shocked and after a little while I agreed and told him that I would think about the name.
We had a huge dinner where I was treated like royalty. It's a very strange feeling. Had some food, gave a speech, and met a lot of people.
That night I stayed with my first host family. The husband and wife were Amos and Ndiu (which she said was pronounced Deuce-a), their two kids Glady and Levi, and their nephew William.
Monday, September 14, 2009
August 10, 2009
Today we exchanged money in town and we saw the president of Malawi drive by. He waved at us. It was cool. After that, we went to the Nayala National Park. There were all kinds of animals there like zebra, giraffe, impala, monkees, wildebeasts, and a bunch of other deer like animals that I couldn't identify.
Next we went to see this village. It was a really poor village and they showed us how the Presbytery was helping them. They got them this pump to help with irrigation and farming. They were growing their own crops. I think it would be a good cause to donate the extra money I got from fundraising.
We also met a group of about ten people that were HIV positive and seeking whatever help they could get. It was good to see some people that had gotten diagnosed and were seeking help. Most people don't do that there I guess.
Next we went to see this village. It was a really poor village and they showed us how the Presbytery was helping them. They got them this pump to help with irrigation and farming. They were growing their own crops. I think it would be a good cause to donate the extra money I got from fundraising.
We also met a group of about ten people that were HIV positive and seeking whatever help they could get. It was good to see some people that had gotten diagnosed and were seeking help. Most people don't do that there I guess.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
August 9, 2009
Today is Sunday and we are all supposed to go to a different church. Unfortunately my church, Mt. Pleasant, forgot about me so I went with Gary and Fletcher to St. Columba. But it was nice. We went to 2 services there. One in English and one in Chicheawa. (I'm sure I spelled that wrong)
There was gifts being exchanged there and one of the gifts given to the church was a live chicken. That was funny.
After church we walked around the Synod of Blantyre and then went to Kay Day's house for tea and cake.
Tonight was a big welcome dinner for all of us. I ate dinner with Ellen and we talked a lot about family and church and stuff.
Tonight I'm taking and Ambien because I slept horribly last night and I have like 9 of them. Let's hope it works.
There was gifts being exchanged there and one of the gifts given to the church was a live chicken. That was funny.
After church we walked around the Synod of Blantyre and then went to Kay Day's house for tea and cake.
Tonight was a big welcome dinner for all of us. I ate dinner with Ellen and we talked a lot about family and church and stuff.
Tonight I'm taking and Ambien because I slept horribly last night and I have like 9 of them. Let's hope it works.
August 8, 2009
We had a 2 hour flight to Malawi today which seemed like nothing to me because of my last flight of about 18 hours. When we landed was when it really hit me that I was in Africa. Lots of dirt with a few little houses and huts all spread out upon landing.
When we landed there were about 200 people or more there to greet us. Everybody was singing and dancing. It was crazy. I met Ellen who was from Chilumba (Heritage's sister church) and she said that I would be staying in her house and another families house for 3 days each.
We then went to Grace Bandawe, the hotel we were staying at for 3 days. It was pretty nice. Nicer accomodations than I thought I would be getting. I have my own room and I share a bathroom with whoever is staying on the other side.
When we landed there were about 200 people or more there to greet us. Everybody was singing and dancing. It was crazy. I met Ellen who was from Chilumba (Heritage's sister church) and she said that I would be staying in her house and another families house for 3 days each.
We then went to Grace Bandawe, the hotel we were staying at for 3 days. It was pretty nice. Nicer accomodations than I thought I would be getting. I have my own room and I share a bathroom with whoever is staying on the other side.
August 7, 2009
We arrived in Johanesburg tonight with no major issues. Long flight but a lot to keep me entertained. Plus no one was sitting next to me so it was freakin amazing. We spend the night in Joburg at a hotel and then we fly to Malawi in the morning. Really excited to get there and meet all the people.
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