As our first month here comes to a close we have learnt so much, everyday I am left amazed at the work God has done here and the utter love, faith and appreciation the people here have for him. We have made lots of amazing new friends that I will be gutted to say goodbye too, but they assure me they will visit Scotland at some point. Being in Malawi has opened up my heart and mind in a way I’d never even imagined it would. I used to plan every step of everything and overthink every little detail to a point where is became very toxic for my mental health and my friendships. I’ve lost my spark, my me-ness but being here and experiencing what I am experiencing has made me feel very calm, and trusting – both in God and in other people. Taking a break from normal life, deleting social media, was much easier than I thought. It made me realise what was important, made me feel less trapped in this world of feeling I had to talk to people everyday or i’d lose the friendship. It’s also made me realise some very difficult things that I am coming to terms with slowly but surely. I feel a sense of peace and relief being in Malawi “no point worrying about things you cannot control” was something one of the speakers at ABC devotions said and it has stuck with me since. My heart is so full of Malawi (and Nsima), but also a little of nerves as I am doing things I would never usually do but as a result of that I have become extremely proud of myself which is something I’ve never really felt very often 🙂
I have invigilated exams (I tried to do Form 3 maths exam – students aged 18+ – but did not succeed, very thankful i was not the one sitting that exam). I can now hold a very basic conversation in Chichewa with my key words MATUKA BUANJI (good morning), TILI BWINO KAYA INU (I’m fine, how’re you?), ZIKOMO (thank you), NDAPITA (goodbye), TACOLANDIRANI (you’re welcome), TIONANA (see you soon), TIONANA MAWA (see you tomorrow), AZUNGU (white people) and VULA (rain). Vula (or mvula) has two very different meanings, so be careful how/where you use it. I have learnt a few songs in Chichewa that the ABC students taught us, as well as a lovely lady at the Office called Milca (we love Milca). The children love to sing these songs with us but we will need to learn some more as at the moment we only know a few very well and bits and bobs of other songs and it can get a little bit repetitive. I have taught some ABC boys how to ceilidh dance, it was an interesting experience but they are fast learners and very enthusiastic about learning, it was a nice memory of home. We also attended 2 sessions of ABC Spiritual Emphasis Week which was incredible, I personally took a lot away from the sessions.
With the many ups also comes some heartbreaks, a lady who works at the Crisis Nursery told us all the stories about all the children in the nursery and how they have ended up here, as we have been here for a month now we have formed bonds with the children and knowing their pasts and being able to put a story to a face was a very difficult situation for all of us, but we are so grateful to God and the work of the Crisis Nursery for giving a safe home (although only temporarily) to each of these children and loving them all as their own despite their unpleasant pasts.
I feel so privileged to be able to call this beautiful country home and the people here family for the next month and a bit. Each and every day I fall more in love with Malawi. It will forever have a very special place in my heart. I feel like I am now Malawian as often go out for a day with no sun cream on and I don’t come back a complete lobster (only slightly). I’d say I’m doing not too bad at burning for a very pale Scottish girl who is living in 26° everyday.
Malawi Blogs 