WOOOOHOOOO!!! I'm here!! It has officially been 2 weeks and a couple days since I was last in the States. In some ways it seems like a lifetime since I have been home and in other ways it feels like the time is flying by. Malawian time is not like American time at all. I pretty much never know what time it is, and for the first time in my life I'm waking up at 6:30am without using an alarm.. I know it's hard to believe. But, maybe it's because it gets dark at 6 and I'm ready for bed by 8 hahaha. Anywho... thank you sooo much for all your prayers! The whole intern team is an awesome group of people and it is evident that God has hand-picked each one of us for this particular trip. The National staff is amazing... Malawians are so crazy and fun to be around.. I can't believe how much I have been missing (my loud uncontrollable laughter fits in perfectly here haha) The beginning was kind of rough since it was a huge culture shock... I usually don't consider myself to have blonde hair, but for some reason it really sticks out here!! haha there is no such thing as blending into the crowd that's for sure.. but the people here are amazing!! I have never felt so far from home but so at home all at the same time. I have never gone to a place before where I am always welcomed with smiles, hugs, singing, dancing, and uncontrollable waving! Every time I think "I'm really not that cool...." but then God reminds me that it is His Spirit that draws people close and gets them excited which is pretty sweet when you think about it!
So let me share a few stories with you to give you a little picture of what I am experiencing here:)
The first time we went into the village I was taken back by the amount of poverty surrounding me. Tons of children with not that many adults to account for them, only a few sets of shoes on people's feet, homemade brick houses with hay roofs, families of 10 sleeping on one bamboo mat with no blankets. I didn't know what to do with what I was seeing, but then I felt a child's hand slip into my hand. I was surprised at first and I looked down to the biggest smile I had ever seen.. so full of joy and peace. It didn't make sense to me. This kid had nothing. But then God said to me in a small voice (which is hard to hear when I am constanly surrounded by noise) that only He can make us complete. He is truely all we need. I have known that and heard it over and over but this was the first time where I experienced it in it's truest form. As we continued our walk through the village we started as a group of 20 white people and ended with over 100 kids with us... I never thought that 2 hands wouldn't be enough!
Welcome!!
As many of you know this past summer I spent 8 weeks in Malawi, Africa serving as an intern with an organization called Children of the Nations. As you read further you will see ways that my heart has forever been changed because of this experience. It is a journey of losing myself and finding Christ in the eyes of the poor and orphaned. I have come to realize that this was not just a 2 month vacation, but that I am now responsible for what I have seen. I am now in the process of taking what I know and applying it to my world here. Please join me in this as I become more aware of the hurts in Africa and search for other ways to serve at home. I pray that this website will not only be informative, but also encouraging. Thank you for visiting!
God Bless!!
Love,
Karin :)
As many of you know this past summer I spent 8 weeks in Malawi, Africa serving as an intern with an organization called Children of the Nations. As you read further you will see ways that my heart has forever been changed because of this experience. It is a journey of losing myself and finding Christ in the eyes of the poor and orphaned. I have come to realize that this was not just a 2 month vacation, but that I am now responsible for what I have seen. I am now in the process of taking what I know and applying it to my world here. Please join me in this as I become more aware of the hurts in Africa and search for other ways to serve at home. I pray that this website will not only be informative, but also encouraging. Thank you for visiting!
God Bless!!
Love,
Karin :)
Encouraging Words of God
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
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3 comments:
that sounds sooo amazing! i'm glad everything is going well and that God has placed you in such an amazing place to fulfill such a job that he obviously has cut out for you!
culture shock! Malawi is certainly an amazing place and a person visiting from Europe or US for the first time can be overwhelmed with what they see. So welcome and enjoy the warm heart.
One factor that I think people often forget is that Malawi has a different climate and that has an implication on the infrastructure, clothings, behaviour, etc.
Sister!!! I am here writing with Mom & Dad on the couch in our Tahoe abode. We are so happy for you & we love you VERY much!!! Of course Mom and I had a cry fest with your entry which was so precious. It was the second time Mom cried since she spoke to Amanda at the beach today about your apartment which is all set and no worries :). Amanda read the blog to Mom over the phone this afternoon with tears rolling down her face (happy tears) and Dad of course got concerned (his precious self) but we told him you were okay and just so proud of you! I called Josh since he is up here and we are going to try and get together which should be fun. Also there are Sacramento fires burning still which has made the lake area so smokey! While sitting at the beach we look across at Round Hill and you can't even see the mountains! Very weird.....We also talked to Marg today and she says hi, loves u and misses your face! I am going to hopefully see her this coming week while she stays with Chris and Russ. Joan and Wayne were up here for one night. It was a blast and crack up for instance...we all went to the Chart House for dinner..yum yum and then decided to go somewhere else for dessert. Dad had the idea to go to Harvey's and walk around to find a place. As we parked we heard an outdoor concert for Journey!! I totally thought of you and how fun that would have been to see it. We heard as they started playing "Don't Stop Believing"..it was awsome! Anyway....the funny part..so Mom and I say to go to Hard Rock for desert and Dad says no no let's go to this Choices Cafe (which by the way is one of those 85 year old plus places with foreign watresses). We all order: Dad: Cherry Pie Alamode, Mom: Rootbeer float, Wayne: Apple Pie, Joan: Carrot Cake, J: 1 scoop of strawberry ice cream. The end result: Dad: Cherry Pie with Strawberry ice cream (not alamode which should have been vanilla), Mom: no vanilla ice cream was present - all root beer, Wayne: Apricot Pie??? & Joan and I were fine. Oh man I wish you were there for the realization of everyone's order coming out wrong, it was so hilarious! Then we all gambled a short bit just the penny slots and got home about midnight. We keep saying how weird it is without you this year. However, we know you are having a blast. (Here is Mom): I really miss you! Now I know why I have been prompted to pray for you when I wake up in the morning because it's so close to your bed time! It sounds like you have been sleeping peacefully which is what I wanted :). Have Rachel give you a really big hug from me and a kiss cuz I didn't realize how hard this would be to miss you!!!! (Now here's Dad): I love you very much Kare Bear. I wish you were here with us and I am praying for you everyday. Big hugs and kisses and come home safe so I can play with your loobies! Okay we are signing off now but don't worry about the airport just call me when you get in and I am now planning on picking you up and I will figure it out with work. Love you!!!! And when you can please write us back something, we miss you!!!
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