is INCREDIBLE!
We had a great day today! We took the day to sleep in (recuperate after all of that travel!) and just get used to the village. We were introduced to the kids in the "standard one" class, which is basically first grade. They knew that we were coming, and they were busting at the seams to see us. They had been told a little bit about each of us, but all they remembered was that Nick played the trumpet. When they saw us coming in they immediately knew who we were (there aren't very many white people around, it was a pretty big clue) and they started saying "which one is Uncle Nick?" (They refer to the mini-missionaries as Uncle and Auntie) As soon as they figured out who he was, they started begging him to play trumpet. They proceeded to refer to him as Uncle Trumpet all day. Their little accents are so precious, and they are so incredibly happy and brilliant. Some speak English better than others, but they all try, and a smile and a wave of the hand seems to cross any language barriers. (Although the 5 year olds keep trying to teach Rebecca some Chitumbuka, and they find it just hilarious when she repeats after them. Today she learned the words for egg and peanut and milk. They chose the lessons, can you tell?) :-)
Tomorrow we start our regularly scheduled activities. We will be mainly teaching music to the 3 year old class, the 4 year old class, the standard one class, and the Junior High girls. We will also be giving musical presentations and little lessons during the "fun" time, which is from 3:30 - 5:00 everyday. They have a rotating schedule of fun events, including music in the gazebo area. Other than teaching music, Rebecca will be making play dough, dying macaroni, reorganizing the school store room, cleaning the school library and decorating its new bulletin board, mending clothes everyday for at least an hour, and helping in the kitchen to clean up after dinner each evening. Nick, on the their hand, has been given more "manly" tasks. He will be watering trees (this involves carrying 3 gallon buckets of water for long distances all over campus, as we don't have any hoses), doing sports with the kids, painting through the village, and cutting the grass. Cutting the grass, by the way, this is done by a line of men holding huge blades that they swing back and forth to cut back the high grass. They can only do a section a day, so by the time they get back to a section in a few weeks it is very tall. These national workers are called "slashers," so Nick will be slashing with them in the mornings. It is amazing to me that in Malawi, the tasks that are done by machines in the Unites States are done by humans here. In addition to "slashing," we also do not have a dishwasher for the dining hall, so more national workers do that, and they will ride their bikes or walk nearly an hour to do so, AND count it as a blessing. Their weekly pay amounts to $5.00 in American money, a very high paying job here. What we have in the USA compared to what they have, and how grateful they are is so eye opening for us. They have so much joy, too, you would never believe it. "Tis a gift to be simple."
Our guest house, in Malawian standards is much like a mansion to locals. We feel very blessed to be working with such an inspiring group of people and actually affecting the lives of these children. Today, Nick played a game with the Standard 1 children called "Walktire" which is basically what it sounds like, walking with a rolling tire. The children indeed are so amused by the simplest things. What is really interesting is that when they laugh, it is not half-hearted. Each laugh that comes from a child here is an explosion of joy.
Tomorrow we start our typical days so we must head to bed now. As they say, 9pm is "missionary midnight." God Bless!
~Nick and Rebecca
We had a great day today! We took the day to sleep in (recuperate after all of that travel!) and just get used to the village. We were introduced to the kids in the "standard one" class, which is basically first grade. They knew that we were coming, and they were busting at the seams to see us. They had been told a little bit about each of us, but all they remembered was that Nick played the trumpet. When they saw us coming in they immediately knew who we were (there aren't very many white people around, it was a pretty big clue) and they started saying "which one is Uncle Nick?" (They refer to the mini-missionaries as Uncle and Auntie) As soon as they figured out who he was, they started begging him to play trumpet. They proceeded to refer to him as Uncle Trumpet all day. Their little accents are so precious, and they are so incredibly happy and brilliant. Some speak English better than others, but they all try, and a smile and a wave of the hand seems to cross any language barriers. (Although the 5 year olds keep trying to teach Rebecca some Chitumbuka, and they find it just hilarious when she repeats after them. Today she learned the words for egg and peanut and milk. They chose the lessons, can you tell?) :-)
Tomorrow we start our regularly scheduled activities. We will be mainly teaching music to the 3 year old class, the 4 year old class, the standard one class, and the Junior High girls. We will also be giving musical presentations and little lessons during the "fun" time, which is from 3:30 - 5:00 everyday. They have a rotating schedule of fun events, including music in the gazebo area. Other than teaching music, Rebecca will be making play dough, dying macaroni, reorganizing the school store room, cleaning the school library and decorating its new bulletin board, mending clothes everyday for at least an hour, and helping in the kitchen to clean up after dinner each evening. Nick, on the their hand, has been given more "manly" tasks. He will be watering trees (this involves carrying 3 gallon buckets of water for long distances all over campus, as we don't have any hoses), doing sports with the kids, painting through the village, and cutting the grass. Cutting the grass, by the way, this is done by a line of men holding huge blades that they swing back and forth to cut back the high grass. They can only do a section a day, so by the time they get back to a section in a few weeks it is very tall. These national workers are called "slashers," so Nick will be slashing with them in the mornings. It is amazing to me that in Malawi, the tasks that are done by machines in the Unites States are done by humans here. In addition to "slashing," we also do not have a dishwasher for the dining hall, so more national workers do that, and they will ride their bikes or walk nearly an hour to do so, AND count it as a blessing. Their weekly pay amounts to $5.00 in American money, a very high paying job here. What we have in the USA compared to what they have, and how grateful they are is so eye opening for us. They have so much joy, too, you would never believe it. "Tis a gift to be simple."
Our guest house, in Malawian standards is much like a mansion to locals. We feel very blessed to be working with such an inspiring group of people and actually affecting the lives of these children. Today, Nick played a game with the Standard 1 children called "Walktire" which is basically what it sounds like, walking with a rolling tire. The children indeed are so amused by the simplest things. What is really interesting is that when they laugh, it is not half-hearted. Each laugh that comes from a child here is an explosion of joy.
Tomorrow we start our typical days so we must head to bed now. As they say, 9pm is "missionary midnight." God Bless!
~Nick and Rebecca
These pictures are from our room in the guest house. More pictures to come!
3 comments:
So glad you guys made it! I'm really enjoying reading more about what you'll be doing for the next month. Praying that you'll be in good health and quickly transition to the time zone and life in Malawi! Keep posting.
It is really good to see you are having fun as well as work. I will bet anything the kids will be better for your being there. Uncle Trumpet give them all a good concert. Aunt Rebecca I hope you can also give them a taste of a clarinet. Love to you both and keep the blog going as often as you can. Love Uncle Sandy
I was just thinking today about how much I want to go to Africa and volunteer! (well, I've always wanted to go, but I was reliving the dream today). I can't wait to read more about your trip. May the Holy Spirit be with you each and every minute and fill your bodies and souls with the strength, love, faith, peace, and joy that God wants for you during the trip!
Post a Comment