Readjustment

We have been home for 2 weeks now and still nothing feels normal. Malawi is a part of me now and a huge part of my journey personally and spiritually. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”. Everything about Malawi makes me happy, from the country itself to the incredible and inspirational people I met and became very good friends with. It’s different being home, it’s not as I remember it. I feel out of place here. It’s weird to walk round and understand everything everyone says, it’s weird to be able to speak and not need a translator, my mind hasn’t fully comprehended everything yet and that unfortunately put me in a bit of a tizzy, I started becoming very anti social and didn’t want to talk to anyone or go anywhere and no one really understood, which made it a little frustrating. I don’t know how to word how I feel which is also a little annoying. I am slowly coming out of this dip and it’s definitely a learning experience and an acceptance of what is. My experience in Malawi has made me appreciate so much of the life I have here and I am constantly left speechless at this world we live in and how much we take for granted. From the small things like safe drinking water to the bigger things like constant electricity and food. To compare the lives here vs in Malawi is insane, the world is not fair. I’ve been struggling a lot recently with the fact that life is so unfair, and questioning why I am so lucky to have what I have and what I have done to deserve this amazing life I have been given and incredible opportunities I’ve been offered to grow and experience life to the fullest. Why me? Why us?

In other news we have been informed that two kids from the nursery have been adopted. These girls were two of the oldest kids at the nursery, both around 3 years old, and have been at the nursery for way too long.

Princess (left) and Pempero (right).

These girls were just incredible to get to know over the course of the 3 months away. Princes took a little bit of time to warm up to us but once she did she never stopped laughing and smiling, both absolute bundles of joy. And although I never really understood them I connected with them so much and fell in love. One of my hardest goodbyes for sure. But to now know that they have found a forever home with a loving family brings my heart so much joy and so much hope for the rest of the kids. They are called Ministry of Hope for a reason!! God has answered our prayers big time!

Looking back at pictures of our time in Malawi I’m left smiling all the time, seeing the smiles on all the kids faces at the centres, hearing the laughs of the babies at the nursery, witnessing important moments in the babies lives such as their first steps or their transition into solid foods and to know I was a part of that makes me so thankful, singing at our 5am devotions camping at Matapila for our Easter Weekend away with the ABC students, stealing the WiFi at the office, screaming/singing our hearts out on the mini bus every day (sorry Bobbi and Ramek), the people we encountered who had nothing yet praised God, the people who we met who were angry at God, the passion and full out love that everyone at ABC and MOH has for God and the amount of work and energy they put in to sharing God’s word and love at any cost is astounding. Something we can learn a lot from. The astonishing hospitality, one day we were all at Khwamba (an MOH centre) and myself and Sarah were shown around the locals housed. A lovely lady called Eznar took us to another ladies house, this lady then offered me a Sarah a massive bowl of nuts to take back to our lodge and eat, she had so little yet she gave what she had. We were blown away by this generous offer and had to take it for manners, we didn’t need this food but she did and she still gave it to us. How incredible are people. On our walk back to the centre we were stopped by a random women who told us to wait as she was fetching something for us, she then came back with a full massive watermelon, knelt before us and handed it to us. I wanted to cry, this women has never met us, didn’t know us and yet still gave what she had. I am still in awe of the hospitality of the people in Malawi. It really is the Warm Heart of Africa. And I can’t wait to go back again.