Saturday, July 23, 2011

are there any words?



It’s been a week now since I’ve been back home in the States. A WEEK! It’s flown by just as fast as the six weeks I spent in Malawi did. To be honest, this is my fourth attempt at writing an updated blog post. I’ve had many ‘requests’ to blog about my adventures and stories for the past month and a half in Africa, but every time I sit down to type- I just have this blank stare. As the title of this post says, are there really any words? I struggled with this after returning from Haiti for 10 days last spring. Tons of people ask “How was Africa/ (Haiti)”, “How was your trip”, etc….very few actually REALLY want to know and get down and dirty into the experience. It’s kinda like walking by someone in Target, Hyvee, or even the foyer at church and saying more than asking- “How are you?”…do we really wanna know what’s behind the ho-hum greeting as we keep on walking, not even hesitating a few moments to really hear their answer?
So, I’ll do my best to convey through pictures and words on this blog some of my most treasured memories and encounters while being in Africa. Some I’ll just story tell, describe the pictures shown, or some just plug in journal entries from the journal I kept while traveling. It’s a cliché to say that most pictures and words absolutely won’t do the actual situation justice- which bums me out. BUT we’ll see what God does through this web page as people read through….
On the other hand, I haven’t figured out how to process the last six weeks upon reentry to the U.S. I’m kind of surprised how easily I slipped back into the routine of things: an overhead shower with running hot water to where I can use two hands to rinse, a bed without a mosquito net, using this little switch that when you flip it up or down causes a light to go on or off, a vehicle that always has gas in it- which also means I can get up and drive and go wherever I want to- when I want to, with no worries of a gas crisis, and with that- driving a car on the right side of the road but in the left side of the vehicle…ha! All things that weren’t “so” in Africa.
Week 1 shower:

Can you see?? Ya, neither could we when we showered. A candle stick, a bucket, and cup to pour the water over you!                          





Weeks: 3-5: this shack, you can't hardly stand up straight inside of it- of course with bucket and pouring cup!

to the far left, the man in the 'green' is a military officer- there for security purposes with the gas crisis. Riots break out when word comes in that a certain station has gas....


week one: A BED & net of course!
Week 2: Mattresses on the floor with nets!
Weeks 3, 4, 5, and 6: TENTS

I do miss to a certain degree the pace of life in Africa. The common remark is that we American’s have watches, and they have “TIME”…..everything is so fast-paced here in the States. It’s annoying. Really annoying. If we had somewhere to go in Africa, and it started at lets say-- church at 10:00am, we LEFT at 10:40am, and were the first ones there! (and we were living with the Pastor even, so we left with him) We also made an appointment at the hospital for some testing to be done, the appointment was at 8am….again, we left at about 8:35am. But as they say, “Palibe Vuto”….NO PROBLEM! CRAZZZZZZY! At times, it was quite aggravating- God broke me of some patience issues through those instances. 
There’s a TON more stories, and even MORE pictures…and I’ll definitely do my best to explain and describe what God was doing over there in Malawi, and to no surprise how I think He worked even MORE in MY heart. Funny how that works, huh? We’ll start tomorrow!!
Thank you ALL to who financially supported my way to and from Africa, thank you to ALL that were praying for the team, and I as an individual as well as the hearts and people we encountered, and thank you to those who loved and prayed for my Beau as we were away from each other.
We love and appreciate each and every one of you!

3 comments:

Janel said...

Hey lady~ I know this feeling well....there are no words to explain the suffering, the injustices, the opression. There are no words to explain how on earth these people have such purity of trust in God when nothing in their physical life can vouch for His goodness and blessings. But these are the things we all need to hear and see through your words, pictures, and thoughts. I am so excited to watch the Holy Spirit speak through you as you share your stories. Some of your processing will happen as you write. :)

Jen said...

Loved reading the beginning details of your trip. Can't wait to hear more!

Jon and Nicole Sage said...

I'm going to say exactly what I'm thinking and it's annoying!!! MORE MORE MORE!!!!!!! WOW!!!