I am thankful for my fourth graders...

After too much time away from blogging, I am finally writing to all of you. I thought it was about time I wrote about the place I spend a majority of my time and pour into each and every day…



Reading Day Costumes!

Although ministry to the community and at the myriad of outreaches here in Malawi is an incredible blessing, my primary focus has been on fifteen pretty special kids. My class has become some of my favorite people to spend my days with. Each morning I look forward to greeting them with a smile, hearing their prayer requests, and laughing with them. As I continue to learn more about their personalities, struggles, and stories, I am amazed that God chose and equipped someone like me to teach them. Don’t get me wrong, teaching is no walk in the park. There are the days that putting on a smile is an effort and answering one more ridiculous question feels like it may kill me, but overall, nothing beats the knowledge that fifteen students trust, admire, and confide in you. 


A present from a student

The diversity of my class is challenging, hilarious, and just a unique experience. With kids from America, South Africa, Lebanon, England, and Malawi, you really never know what reactions you may get. The word “Eesh!” is one I hear often. Whenever you say something that shocks or disgusts them, the common Malawian expression “Eesh!” echoes through my classroom. On a heavier note, you would also never know that some of them walk to school or live in poorer outskirts of the city.



In comparison to the American education system, there are some key differences here in Africa. One thing that I love, but has also been strange, is the lack of clearly drawn lines between teacher and student. Whereas in America, you would never go to families houses for dinner or students’ birthday parties, that is very common at ABC. I can easily have my students over to bake cookies or plan a movie night at my house for the class. This just doesn’t seem to happen anywhere else. I love how involved I can be in my students’ lives. I feel like I really have the opportunity and privilege of investing in each one of them.

 
From swim galas and soccer tournaments, to international celebrations and reading parades, I have been blessed to be a part of so many activities at the academy. Sometimes I feel more like a soccer mom than a teacher, but I can’t say I mind. These students are truly incredible. Each one has brought something special to my class.

In just two short weeks, school will be out for a month long Christmas break and my adventure here will be halfway through. It is hard to believe! Time truly has flown by, and so much of what I have seen or experienced here has profoundly changed me. When the time comes to leave Malawi, I am positive I will be a different person than when I arrived.

 

Living Water

John 4:14
"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

It has been another beautiful week in Malawi. I can’t believe it has been over two months since I stepped off the plane. What an incredible journey God has taken me on so far! I cannot imagine what my life would look like if I had never taken the leap of faith and traveled here, to Malawi.

Each time I sit down to write a blog post, I have a difficult time figuring out how to express all that I am experiencing here. The simplicity and focus of my life is just so foreign from the American culture. Joy is found in successfully baking a cake, watching the brilliant red sunsets, or just driving the unfamiliar roads of Africa. One of these drives was to the Children of the Nations orphan home.

 I love that I can travel ten minutes down the road and hang out with orphans for an afternoon. The set-up of this particular ministry is like a foster home- housing about twenty orphan kids from ages 1-17. They live with two “parents” and several “aunties” who care for them. So far, I have just had the opportunity to play games and sit with them. But building those little connections is still meaningful. By the end of my second time there, the kids were already calling me “Auntie Dani”. From what I can tell, they have many people and teams come to see them, but just as one-time guests. I am excited to be a consistent part of their lives and not just another visitor. Building relationships may be difficult, but I think it will be so worthwhile. This past week my visit was a bit different than the usual (Not that any week there has been usual). In addition to the orphans from Children of the Nations, there were also about forty or so village children present. They were all seated on the dirty, concrete floor listening to a Bible lesson. Since I had jumped in the week before and taught some hand motions for the Ten Commandments, I was put on the spot again. If I’ve learned anything in the profession of teaching and just in being in Malawi, it’s that you have to embrace the uncomfortable.

 

The next portion of the day is what rocked my view of the world slightly off kilter. We were asked to help hand out old clothes and shoes to the village kids. You would think that this would bring immense joy, which it did... at first. But quickly, the scene turned into pandemonium. There was just not enough to give. Girls were ripping dresses from my hands; boys were kneeling at my feet begging for broken pairs of sneakers. What struck me in that moment was that not only did we not have enough to give, we would never have enough to fill their needs. No matter how many dresses were lovingly sent from America, there would never be enough to satisfy.

 

This seems like a horribly depressing thought process-and yes, there was an intense ache inside my heart accompanying this realization. But my main concern was- what can I leave them that is lasting? Sharing Christ and His love with them is ultimately what is important. If I give them a sip of my water bottle, I quench their thirst for a minute. Yet if I can help them come and drink from the fountain of living water, that never runs out, they will never be empty again. I don’t think I’ll ever be okay with the fact that the children here go without food, clean water, shoes, and other basic necessities. Furthermore, I hope to continue to do all I can to satiate those needs. However, there is only so much I can do. The rest has to be surrendered to God’s loving care. He is truly the only one who will ever be able to rescue them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All that to say, God is continuing to change my heart and open my eyes to the reality of life in Africa. The longer I’m here the more I recognize how ignorant, sheltered, and coddled I have been. I think I understand less than ever before. Even so, there is one thing that I do know: there is no where else I’d rather be than in Malawi.

Failing to Comply

Malawi seems never lacking in adventure. This week was full of more experiences in culture. One particularly exciting and memorable moment happened last Sunday…



It started out with a few of us teachers (Myself, Woody, and Gret) attempting to try a church in town. We started out with clear direction and a well thought out plan- We would drive a stick shift car for the first time into Lilongwe with a crudely drawn map, a rough idea of when the English service may begin, and no knowledge of the name for the actual church. Our odds of successfully reaching this church were probably slim from the get-go.



After turning on to a dirt road and searching for the church, our car began to stall out at the most inopportune time…right in front of a group of Malawian police officers. Their wave for us to stop was met by Gret speeding up. Maybe not the best move. The officers angrily surrounded our vehicle and asked to see his license. Mistake number two: he didn’t have his license with him. We tried to play dumb with several excuses- we are new to the country, Gret doesn’t know how to drive stick, Woody (who had his license on him) was instructing Gret- but police officer Sebastian was having none of it. He insisted that we hand over the keys until someone could bring Gret’s license to us. Luckily, we were smart enough to bring a phone along and were able to call for help from ABC. But by this point, the police were growing impatient. Officer Sebastian got in the car with us and instructed Gret to drive to the station. This didn’t sound like a great idea to any of us. We were unsure what would happen at the station.



The infamous ticket

Next tactic was to begin reasoning and conversing with the police officer. As I have mentioned before, Malawi has a very relationally built culture. Officer Sebastian actually said in his broken English, “You are being mean to me.” Basically, we were in this whole situation because we had offended the police, not because we had actually done anything illegal. I relayed we were not intentionally being rude, but that we were scared of what would happen at the station, this being a foreign country to us. Surprisingly, this seemed to bother Sebastian. He reassured us that he was not a bad cop, and that we shouldn’t be afraid. I then continued to ask questions about how things in Malawi work and his job as police officer while we waited for help to come. Once they arrived, we headed to the police station were Gret paid 5,000 Kwacha (Roughly $15) for a ticket for “Failing to Comply”. Well, I guess that’s a pretty accurate judgment.


So by 11am that morning, we had already had quite the experience. I found this whole venture overly amusing. When life doesn’t go as expected, I believe the best option is to laugh.


Police Officer Sebastian and Gret.
We took him a Bible later on and made amends

Especially when living in Malawi. Nothing ever seems to go according to plan. One of the most important lessons I have learned during my month here is that flexibility is key. Whether this means eating dinner at nine at night because you cannot bake potatoes in a broken oven, spontaneously joining the women’s college basketball team, learning to drive a stick shift while also driving on the other side of the road, or just spending three hours to obtain groceries, everything here demands a bit of patience and a lot of joy.

 

 

 

 

On a deeper level, I am finding out what it truly means to sacrifice your own desires to fill the needs of others. I have seen this done on a small scale my whole life. And yes, I know this is a familiar concept to most people, particularly Christians. But here it is different. It is not obligation or coercion. At ABC, everyone does whatever is necessary to keep the ministry afloat and they are happy to do it. When conveniences are not available and your wants are not always met, you are forced to die to yourself on a daily basis. It is something I am looking forward to practicing this year in Malawi!

 

 

"No one can do everything. But everyone can do something."

It’s hard to know where to begin when writing about my adventures in Africa thus far. So much has happened, and many of these experiences are difficult to describe or express with simple words.

I have now been here nearly three weeks, although it feels much longer than that. I am adjusting to life as a foreigner and learning to live in a third world country. Conveniences that I have never thought twice about are now obviously missing- such as a microwave, high speed internet, good staplers, working stoplights, etc. Luckily, the challenge of going without these amenities is, currently, entertaining. There is somewhat of a thrill in the fact that every day offers a new trial to tackle.

This past week I FINALLY finished setting up my fourth grade classroom, decorating each nook and cranny for my students. Thursday began the new school year and I excitedly met an anxious bunch of fourth graders. I already love the close knit community at the academy, values the school upholds, and the diversity in the student population. The first two days confirmed that teaching is exactly what I want to be doing. My favorite comment of the week was a student lamenting on Friday afternoon, “I wish it was Monday already!” This definitely made me feel like a successful teacher, whether this is true or not is another question entirely. I guess we’ll see if he feels the same way in a few weeks…

As for free time and weekend adventures, I have had the opportunity to visit Lake Malawi twice. The first time was just to enjoy the beautiful beach, Jet Ski, learn to paddle board, and relax. But yesterday, our trip looked very different.

ABC has a program called Project Juembo. This project partners with churches and schools in the USA to send backpacks full of supplies to children in some of the poorest villages of Malawi. I had the amazing opportunity to help pass out these backpacks and visit the children in these villages. It is unbelievable that nestled right off the shore of this incredible lake is such a decrepit village. The children do not speak English and have little exposure to white people. What really hit me was just how crazy it is that your place of birth (which you have no choice in), dictates who you are, what you have, and what you are able to do in life. Whereas I had virtually unlimited options as a child, these kids have nothing available to them. They are stuck in a track of life that they didn’t choose for themselves. It is hard to know how to rectify this, considering there are countless children around the world in the same boat. Countering that depressing thought, Project Juembo has a motivating and comforting motto, “No one can do everything. But everyone can do something.” That is exactly what I had the privilege of being a part of- just helping in some small way to brighten the lives of these children. In this case, I think the following pictures express what words just fail to capture…

 

 

 

 The smiles on the faces of these kids are perfect reminders of why I originally wanted to travel to Malawi. I hope that gives a slight glimpse into my time so far in Malawi. I am so thankful and humbled that I am fortunate enough to spend a year in such a wonderful country. I know will have more to write about soon. Thank you for all of your prayers!  

Love,

Danielle








If you would like to know more about Project Juembo you can visit their website: www.projectjuembo.com

I'M IN AFRICA!

Wow, I've been in Africa less than a week and yet it feels so much longer. I cannot believe the amazing opportunity I have to serve here in Lilongwe for a year.



The Streets of Malawi

The adventure began last Sunday evening when I left my wonderful family at the gate of the DIA airport. It was so hard to say goodbye, but the excitement of the unknown pulled me forward. The travel process ended up being better than I could have hoped. I sat next to the nicest people, and in London met up with another girl going to ABC. Three flights and two layovers later, I arrived in Malawi, Africa.


It smelled like Africa as soon as I was off the plane. I don't know how really to describe it, but Africa smells and feels different than America. I had memories of my trip in 2009 to Zambia and South Africa when I first decided to become a teacher.. Finally, that day had come!



Rickety African Bridge
(Apparently knocked down every rainy season and rebuilt)

We were met by smiling faces and welcoming arms, the ABC staff were so friendly. It was like we were old friends. This feeling has continued all week. I have yet to cook a meal for myself, as all the families are having us over for dinner. There have been game nights, potlucks, shopping trips, and workout sessions. People here just have an openness that seems to be missing in America. The culture here is more relationship than success focused.

 

Shopping

This week I have also already had my first shopping and market experience. Let me just say, I may be living off cereal and rice for the next year. Cooking here is completely from scratch. Forget about finding the same ingredients as in America, unless you plan on spending a fortune. I also realized how much I have to learn. I am the immigrant who doesn't understand how to count money, or who nods and laughs at all the wrong times. But I am thrilled about the opportunity to discover so many new things!


Food at the Market

With all of this going on, it is no wonder I haven't had much time to write! School here starts in a little over a week, which is actually what is giving me the most anxiety. As a first year teacher, there are so many details to organize and think about. My classroom is coming along well though :)

 

 

Scavenger Hunt

All in all, I am so blessed to be here at ABC. It hasn't even been a week and I already have so many stories (like finding a lizard in my bathroom, riding in a mini bus with twenty people, scavenger hunts, and crossing rickety bridges to reach overcrowded markets).

 

 

Thank you to everyone who has supported me both with prayers and finances. I am exactly where God has called me to be and that wouldn't be possible without the love and support of everyone back home. I find myself constantly thinking and saying..."I'M IN AFRICA!" It just seems so unbelievable that I am actually living out my dream.

I hope to share with you all more of my journey soon!

Love,

Danielle

The Week Before

In exactly one week I will be heading to Malawi, Africa to begin the adventure of a lifetime. The summer has truly flown by. I think I expected to have all this time to see everyone, relax, vacation, and prepare for my year abroad.

What actually happened was that I felt like I never had enough time for the endless list of things I wanted to do. Make that several lists. I seem to have numerous lists going, all involving what I need to accomplish in the next week. Procrastination doesn't end in college, sadly. I did, however, have the chance to take a backpack trip (hiking two 14ers), travel to Minnesota, New Hampshire, and spend quality time with those I love.

Anyways, as much as I love my family, friends, and Colorado, I am thrilled about moving to Malawi. The nervous anticipation has begun to bubble in stomach and the idea of the long plane ride, a new place, learning a foreign culture, and having my own classroom is so exciting! I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune when I'm saying goodbye at the airport next Sunday, but the desire to travel to Malawi is greater than even that sadness. This is where I hope to share all the adventures with my friends and supporters. I will try to update often, as I will need the prayers and support I'm sure.

So here is the first of many posts, one week until it all begins!


Love,

Danielle