It was not only a dream

I'm now back home in Sweden and time goes so fast (I won't even be surprised if I'll see my first gray hair coming out of my head tomorrow). Everyday-life at home seems to go faster than ever... And that's why my staying in Malawi, sometimes feels like a dream or just like a documentary I recently watched... But it wasn't! And to prove that for myself, I finally took the time to put a small video together. :)

                                                          Watch the adventure of Malawi!

Orphancare Lusungu!

The ones who knows me, also know that I love mini-humanbeings... What would the world be like without kids..? For real? Just asking... Kids are smart, open and recognizes genuine people. (And false people too for that matter!) I like the way most kids think, it makes me happy just to be around them... So, coming here I kind of only had (except participating in the ministry) one particular thing I really wanted to do. -To visit an orphancare! 

With time I found an orphancare called Lusungu. And the women who (very unselfish and lovingly) works there, got the biggest smiles on their faces when I suggested we could come there and teach the kids about the resurrectionhope. Too good to be true? Not in Malawi..! 

It was just to go home and start preparing! (Which was so much fun..)

The final result:

I wish I could explain how it was to look these kids in the eyes and tell them about the resurrectionhope ... But I honestly don't think I can. It was one of those gigantic feelings, that no words seems to match... 

When I saw their big, beautiful eyes looking at me I almost felt like crying. Just thinking about that each one of them has lost their parents... What a great loss that is for anyone, but for a kid? It surely must be unbearable at times.

This is a wonderful couple, Frank & Lusu. (I simply love them!) They spoke Chitumbuka with the kids and were just amazing!

Of course I could not leave the place without playing for a while! :)

Lusungu, I won't forget you.

The warm heart of Africa

One day I was walking down the road close to the house I'm living in. I met a group of schoolgirls and asked them what kind of fruit they ate and it's not quite a suprise that I forgot the name of it already 5 minutes after the conversation... (This girl needs to practice her Tumbuka!) Then we talked for a couple of minutes and later said good bye. So... Why am I telling this deeply interesting story?

Well, a couple of days later when I was going to the Kingdom hall, one of those schoolgirls saw me and started to walk with me along the road. We became friends and eventually we started to study together. Her name is Reshina, she's 14 and loves her bible. And today she attended the meeting for the first time! She liked it, (although it wasn't the easiest subject in the watchtower-study this week...).Yesterday we studied about why God allow suffering to happen and she told me that she got to use that new knowledge already the same day! Her cousin asked her, just that question, and she was happy to be able to give him an answer! 

                     

          (Reshina is the one in pink next to me and the rest of the kids are her cute neighbours!)

Ahh, friends..! It is such a nice feeling to be in an environment, where believing in God is not viewed as strange. Unlike home, this is a place where it is common to have a faith. I grew up in a secular country and I respect that people might not think as me. I do not by any means believe that someone should be forced into have a faith. We all have our own right to think, feel and believe. Right?

But sometimes I get the impression that it doesn't work the other way around (back home in Sweden). For some reason it seems like it's okay to view religious ones in a disrespectful way. As strange, weak, brainwashed or whatever thing someone might say. And sadly I think I let those prejudices affect me sometimes. And because of that, I kind of feel more free in an environment like this. Like if I can breath better here. I'm not getting judged because of what I beileve and carry in my mind and heart. I'm just me, and i'm getting viewed as.. me. 

I'm longing for the day when it won't excist any prejudices and when we all will view each other as one big lovely family. And until that day happens, let us try to view each other with love and with love only. Let us try to be like the nation of Malawi, the warm heart of Africa.

Moments like this

I havn't lived for that long, but still long enough to recognize a certain pattern. Sometimes life is incredible, and other times it's just a little extra imperfect... You know the times when everything seems to go wrong and on top of that, you realize how many things you have to improve at..?

 (You know, those times when bad qualities tends to shine very clear...)

But every once in a while you will experience one of those moments. One of those moments that very efficiently deletes every trace of daily life-irritation you might have carried inside you. A moment that will refill you, with whatever you need in order to feel that life is just incredible and nothing else. 

This was one of those moments.

Life in Mzuzu

In the beginning of my trip, every little moment seemed to develop into a certain and special long-lasted memory. Every little scent, noise or sight really stood out, compared to the life at home I had just left.

But after a while, things tends to become normal. You learn and you adjust. A daily life is created and all of a sudden you find your self wondering; how can time pass by so quickly..?

So, what's life in Mzuzu like?

Well.. You wash your clothes... And this is something that really requires time... You do it by hand and once you are finished you desperately hope that it wont start to rain! (Which is quite common since it's rain season at the moment.)

If you are not washing clothes, you might be cleaning! This is also something that requires some time and effort, especially since a vacuum cleaner only excists in your dreams...

And if you are not washing or cleaning, you just might find yourself waiting... 

But no matter how long you wait for the guests to arrive, you are always so encouraged and refilled with joy when you get to hang out with the local friends! These two girls (Maureen and Bethel) are two of my new lovely buddies! They are both in sign-language and some days they walk extremely long distances just to reach one person... I really admire their endurance.. I would put it in a museum if I could!! (But I guess it wouldn't really serve it's purpose there..)

 What's also special with Maureen and Bethel is that they attented to the school I "teached" at, (I was the one being teached...) 5 years ago. It's a wonderful experience to get to know them better and as my beloved sisters!

It's true that things does take time here in Malawi... But why do we love being here? 

The ministry is with no doubt the biggest reason behind the smiles we smile everyday! It's also the main reason why we deeply wish that the time wouldn't pass by so quickly...

A gift, more precious than life itself

 

To get the opportunity to meet new people, (all with different experiences), really is a source of new things to learn. And I'm learning. 

I'm learning how important it is to never take something or someone for granted. I'm learning how different we all are, and yet we are so alike. I'm learning to expand the meaning of the word: perspective and to widen my own picture of our lovely brotherhood. 

And most of all, I'm learning that no matter what life might bring, we will always be able to draw closer to Jehovah. Which is something that surely must be, a gift more precious than life itself.

Is that a buffalo?

On my way up to Mzuzu from Lilongwe (the capital of Malawi), I got to ride with three bethelites who were going to Mzuzu Translation Office for an errand. It was such a nice start on my stay here. Talking with them and hearing about their backgrounds was really encouraging!

Since it takes about 5 hours to drive, I decidede to give a little attention to my sketchpad... Looking out of the window, seeing the nature of Malawi made me want to draw something "typical" Africa. Well... "Let's go for a Zebra!" I thought to myself. "A horse with some lines on it... Shouldn't be that hard..!"

After been sketching for a while, the malawian brother (who was sharing the backseats with me) looked at it with a very serious face... And what did he finally say, after some seconds of silence?

"... Is that a buffalo?" 

Hahaha, I had to literally concentrate on not laughing! The situation was just too absurd. There I was, trying to draw something typical Africa, and the malawian brother next to me, just didn't see what it was... I guess I kind of failed that one huh! Hahaha.

These are the wonderful friends I went with. If you look at the facial expression of the brother to the left, you will see exactly how he looked like when he asked, "..Is that a buffalo?", (totally confused..)


Well, one of the good things with being in Africa, is that you seem to have more time. At least that's the case for me. So.. I will try to dedicate some of the time to my sketchpad... I guess I'll have to go for a buffalo then!