I got back to the city of Lilongwe last night at 2 a.m. and
here is the story.
Last Monday we took a four-hour mini bus ride to Lake
Malawi. It was a rough ride, my knees were never without a metal bar against
them. When we finally arrived the beautiful view made the long travel worth it.
All I wanted to do was relax and that’s what I did for about an hour until we
had to go to a work crew meeting. This was a YoungLife camp at the lake and we
were staying at a resort that was really a hotel with individual rooms around
its property. The place was run down and it was out job as work crew to make
sure that the kids felt like they were at a 5 star resort. The first full day
was spent doing manual labor. Once lunchtime rolled around I was completely spent,
with nowhere to sleep. Later that night we finally got our cabin assignments
and I crashed hard for longer than I was supposed to. This week at the lake was
going to consist of three different camps. When one left after three days
another batch of kids would show up. Preparing for the kids was harder than
actually having them there. I think the disorganization of tasks was the most
frustrating. Once all of the activities started things improved, there was
beach volleyball and soccer, a bonfire, a food fight, and swimming in the lake.
The campers had cabin time with their leader and a few times for lessons about
what the Christian life looks like.
I have realized that I am not a natural born camper. I
didn’t enjoy the aspect of being dirty all of the time or smelling like the
lake, but I tried to work as hard as I could everyday to make camp a memorable
experience for the campers. I met so many wonderful people, mostly from the
work crew. I am always amazed at the relationships that I am able to form in
such a short amount of time. Its my friendships with these people that is going
to make leaving Malawi so hard.
We had a few free hours between camps yesterday so all of
the work crew jumped in the back of a truck that drove us down the road to a
fishing port. We got into a boat and set out for an island in the middle of the
lake. The boat ride was so nice, and once we got to the island we climbed
around on all of the rocks and went swimming! It was such a fun adventure and
the water was so clear we could see all of the fish we were swimming with!
My friend Krysti was sharing a room with me and had started
to feel sick. I did my best to take care of her with the limited supplies that
I had with me at camp, but she ended up having to go to a local doctor who told
her that she probably has Malaria. Not good new. Her and I were asked if we
wanted to head back home and we did so we had two Malawians go with us to
navigate the public transportation and we were off at about 4pm. We got a ride
to the bus station and caught a mini bus to the first stop where we waited an
hour for a large bus that should have taken us all the way home but they were
all full. Luckily our new friend Andrew took good care of us and speaks the
local language so he did his best to figure out an alternative plan. We decided
to take a mini bus all the way home so we jumped on the next one because it was
getting pretty dark and was almost 8pm. The bus went down the road for about 5 minutes
and then decided that it wasn’t going to make the two-hour trip back to
Lilongwe after all. They pretty much just kicked us out and tried to help us
find a random passing car to take us to the closest bus depot. After about a
half an our we found a random man driving a mini van that took us to a local bus/
truck stop. We waited on the side of the road for another hour waiting for a
large bus or even a truck that hauls goods to agree to give us a life home. It
was about 10 pm at this time and I was getting cold so I busted open my suit
case and added to my outfit right on the side of my road with all of my friends
laughing at me for changing in public. We FINALLY found a businessman in a
small Mercedes Benz who was on his was to our city. We had asked about 7
different cars and trucks for rides before we found this man. We got in the car
without knowing anything about this person and trusted him to get us home.
Andrew talked to him the whole time to keep him awake and to find out it he was
trustworthy. I ignorantly fell to sleep and woke up in Lilongwe! It was about 1
a.m. when we finally arrived. Pastor Sean met us and took us home where my
wonder host Edith was waiting for us with a full dinner prepared.
Throughout this whole process and week I was diligently in
prayer. It has probably been the hardest week I have endured since I have been
here in Malawi. The camp was so trying and really tested my patience and
endurance. The journey home was so scary at times and all I could do was pray
that God was sitting next to me wherever I was. I don’t think I have ever been
so grateful in my life as when I was sitting in that last car on my way back to
Lilongwe. I couldn’t believe that we were secure and actually found a ride all
the way back home. When we arrived at my house I was exhausted and giddy all at
the same time. God has shown me that even in situations where I am
uncomfortable and not in control He ALWAYS reigns. He is always in control and
I should be thanking Him for the trials that are opportunities to increase my
faith and trust in Him.
Since I am back early without the rest of the interns, and
Krysti is resting in bed I am going to start doing all of the things we would
normally do in a week by myself! Tonight we have college hangout and Saturday
night church. I am so glad that I don’t have to miss these things! Tomorrow I
will get to go to Flood and sat goodbye to a few missions teams that are just
about to head back to the states. I am realizing how settled I am here in
Lilongwe. It is going to be so painful to leave. I don’t know when I will be
back or when I will get to see these friends I have made again and that is the
worst part. I am torn between two worlds. I miss my home, my friends, and
family, but there is something about living in Malawi that makes my dependence
and relationship with Christ so tangible. I never thought I would absolutely
love it here but I am realizing that I do and that I am not ready to leave this
place.
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