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      Usually when I write a blog, I like to pick one topic or occurrence that happened during that specific week and write about it. However, I haven’t written a blog in all of February! And I have been in Africa for one month, so here’s just a concoction of an update of everything that has been going on, where I’m living, and what I’m doing here. Let’s start on the plane ride over to Africa..

I had 4 different flights to get here to Malawi Africa. From The Philippines, to Malaysia, to Thailand, then Nairobi ,and finally we landed in Lilongwe, Malawi! Traveling this time around was quite an adventure to say the least, because of a wonderful thing called- food poisoning. After our Malaysia flight I felt incredibly nauseas, and spent my 10 hour lay-over in Thailand, curled up in a ball, lying on the cold airport floor. My squad is wonderful and took great care of me though. For example, I’m on an escalator, barely able to stand and my team mates are holding a plastic bag open, while I’m throwing, and throwing up. They even carried my very heavy 50 pound pack for me, and were taking care of me the whole time. They’re wonderfulï�Š Then when we got to Malawi, I come to find out that Kenyan airlines lost my luggage, as well as others. ( However, we ended up getting it back a couple of days later along with $100! So, it ended up being a blessing in disguise:): )

Now, fast forwarding to what my living situation looks like here- I live in Senga Bay. I am staying at Zehandi Missions, and they’re in the middle of building their missions site. They have many amazing ideas, and a great vision for the people here in Malawi! Some being- building a bible school for the community, as well as building an orphanage. So, it is exciting to be a part of it! I live in my little tent over-looking BEAUTIFUL Lake Malawi. I can not even tell you how blessed I am to be waking up to that African sunrise every morning. I can’t fully grasp the beauty in this little country tucked away in Eastern Africa. I wake up around 5:30 every morning, and spend some time reading the bible. At 6 my team gets together, and then we start off with our chore for that week. Either it’s walking to the well, pumping and carrying 20 liters of water back. I could be axing down branches of trees, or watering and caring for the goats. I then finish at 7:30 to eat breakfast. Which is either oatmeal, or the most popular dish- Sima. It is a mix of boiling water and white all-purpose flour. Weirdly, I am one of the only people who actually enjoys it. I try and convince my team that if you put enough sugar on it, it kind of tastes like a sugar cookie. Kind-of.. After breakfast we have manual labor duties, and this last week has been pretty intense. I’ve been digging, and digging so many holes. Like 4-5 hours of digging. I’ve been planting a whole lot as well. It’s nice though, because I’ve learned how to plant fruit trees! It gets very tiring especially because we’re in the hot African sun. It’s very, very, extraordinarily hot here. At one-o-clock in the afternoon we have lunch, which is usually sima and cabbage. Then, in the afternoon we have outreach. We sometimes go to orphanages, or visit the people in the villages. We spend time, hang out, pray and build relationships with them. We get done with outreach around 5, and then it’s hygiene time. So we can either walk back to the well and carry water for our showers, or go walk down to the lake and bathe there. I prefer bathing in the lake. At 6:30 it’s time for dinner. Again, usually we have sima or rice with a small side of cooked vegetables. After dinner we have either have team time, worship, or we just hang out. Then it’s time to sleep and get a lot of rest for the upcoming day.

        So my days are packed, and very busy. Also, our last month in The Philippines I got asked to be a team leader for the month of January. However, when arriving in Africa I got asked to team lead the rest of our time here, so I agreed. And, I absolutely LOVE my team. We have grown so much, and it’s amazing to see. Once being a team who wasn’t as close, and was quick to complain; Now to being a team who works hard, encourages one another, and feels like a family. I really am proud of them all!:)

I fall asleep with sore muscles from manual labor, but I love working hard. My feet are constantly black from the dirt here. It’s impossible for me to get them clean. I also wear the same outfit 3 days in a row. I never wear makeup, and my hair is always a catastrophe. During the day I am constantly sweating, and the only time I see a mirror is on our off days, when we go to a hotel to take a real shower, and use wifi. The life I’m living is a foreign land to the world I once knew, and I love it. I wake up every morning completely blessed to be here. I breathe every breath with a thankful heart. Every day on this trip I’m learning to be so much more appreciative of this life. Like for example, Running water. You never realize how precious it is, until you have to walk a mile 3 times a day to carry heavy, HEAVY canisters of water in the hot sun, dripping sweat, feeling like you just ran a marathon. I’m thankful that if I want to talk to someone I can just pick up a phone or log onto Skype, and not have to travel far to use wifi. I’m thankful that back home I can eat an abundance of fruits, veggies, and anything I desire.-That I have so much freedom and options in this life. Being on a trip like this, you realize a lot. You become so grateful for the smallest things back home, that you could easily over look daily. I realize how BLESSED I am. Thank you for everyone reading this, and who has been keeping up with me on this journey! I really feel your prayers from on the other side of the world! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

7 responses to “My Life in Africa.”

  1. I just finished reading Kisses from Katie that Virginia lent me. Amazing young woman…just like you:) We are so, so blessed, and should never take anything for granted. I pray to always have a grateful heart full of thanksgiving to the Lord. God bless you Nay Nay. Sent with love and prayers.

  2. Thanks NayNay for sharing with us your smorgasboard of what is happening with you in Malawi. Like Jody mentioned, we as Americans are so blessed in so many ways and I too just wish others in our country would see what you have seen and experienced realize this more. Also, as others have said above, we are very proud of you as well.

    I am especially glad to see that your mission organizers see your spiritual and organizational leadership abilities and that you are now an effective team leader. Our prayers are with you as you set the tone for your small group as you all serve the Lord there.

  3. Love the things you are thankful for NayNay. Like that you’re thankful for things going to bed sore and your awareness of everything the Lord is blessing you with. Praying that you continue to see all the blessings around you

  4. sweet sweet nay nay , i can not begin to express how much of an inspiration you or how proud of you i am ! im sooo glad that you are having the time of your life and not only that but you are doing something that ACTUALLY matters!! your words and actions are so kind and tender , your an amazing person with the most beautiful soul , i CAN NOT wait for you to come home though so i can see and talk to that beautiful self of yours

  5. Love you Naynes! and miss you! So proud of you and so excited for the work God is doing in your life and through your life.

  6. Our Sweet NayNay, You wrtie straight from the heart and it touches each one of us who read your words. If only 1/8 of Americans could spend only 3 months doing and experiencing the things you do each day. They would come back and fall on their faces in appreciatioin for all the blessings God gives our nation. My heart, soul and mind walks with you on those dirt paths to gather water. Such an uncomfortable walk with sweat pouring but you feel the humility and that it’s God giving you the strength to carry on. Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace He gives each and everything day.
    Love you and praying for you. I feel your “joy” in your every word.

  7. Nayns!
    We are so proud of you!!!!! It sounds like you are in such a beautiful place, both physically and spiritually. God is such an amazing creator and He is (and has been) creating such a beautiful person in you. It’s an honor to be part of this journey with you. Can’t wait to see you in 3 months.
    Jason

    PS. Happy to learn you are now a digging expert, I’ll remember that when you get home!