3 minute read
Lessons and Blessings
Some of the things I’ve learned in Malawi are practical skills such as how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, how to determine which critters are friends and which are foes, and how to sleep on blazing hot nights without a fan. Many of these learning opportunities have come through interesting circumstances.
For example, Madelyn, my fellow student missionary, was turning 21, and to celebrate her birthday, I wanted to surprise her with a cake. I was frustrated to find that our oven only went to 230 degrees. This seemed ridiculous to me. Weren’t most cakes baked around 300 degrees? I proceeded to bake the cake, assuming it would take hours. But I was shocked to see it was fully done in about 10 minutes. I eventually realized I had scorched Madelyn’s cake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in our Celsius oven. Somehow, it turned out delicious!
My students at Malamulo Adventist International Mission School have given me a thorough education on which creatures will harm you and which are safe. Centipedes and millipedes have frequently visited our classroom. Thankfully, the larger millipedes, known as bongololos, are harmless. The centipedes, on the other hand, give painful stings. While chameleons cause widespread fear in Malawi, they’re safe, and we’ve had several as temporary class pets.
A very memorable day was when our firstand second-grade students found a snake on the playground. Rather than running away from it, they got closer and closer, debating whether it was dead or alive. Cosmas, the groundskeeper, took care of it. He later informed me that it was a deadly and aggressive black mamba. This reaffirmed my commitment to stay away from snakes at all costs.
My new experiences in Malawi have not only taught me practical skills but also taught me spiritual lessons, such as the importance of surrendering to God. Water shortages and the abject poverty around me have made it clear how much of life is outside my control. I’ve learned that amid the chaos, when nothing seems to go according to plan, God gives me power to fulfill my main purpose of serving Him faithfully.
Another lesson I’ve learned is to appreciate beauty in simplicity. Some things that have brought me joy would seem miniscule at home. For example, the little fan attached to my ceiling makes a huge difference in my ability to sleep on hot nights. Getting feta and chocolate at the closest grocery store (one and a half hours away) has been a source of joy. Some of my most cherished moments have been the Friday nights spent reading by candlelight during lengthy power outages.
The missionary families have taught me the power of community and the necessity of sometimes asking for help. They’ve welcomed me into their homes and treated me like family.
These are just a few lessons and blessings I’ve been grateful to receive during my student missionary experience. Please remember Malamulo Adventist International School, Malawi Mission, the people of Malawi, and all the student missionaries serving in various countries in your prayers.
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Watch video stories about Adventist Volunteer Service missionaries at m360.tv/avs.
