Reflection

Saturday, October 19

Today is a nice day of relaxing and reflection.  Everyone at the inn slept in and it was quiet until after 7am.  Truly quiet, as in open your eyes and worry that something is terribly wrong kind of quiet.  The kids were not even yelling or crying. I got up and had a nice cup of coffee and a long and uninterrupted Bible study.  

I sat with the Dutch medical students and talked.  Last night they had picked up their things from the tailor, so we had a post dinner fashion show.  They had so many cute things made. This morning the subject was how all those things were going to get back home.  I had an extra suitcase I was planning to leave here as most of what I brought will be staying. They were happy to have the extra room for all of their souvenirs.

Today, Melissa and I rented the car again and drove to Dedza.  This is a small little town about an hour south of Nkhoma. They have a pottery factory there that has added on a little restaurant.  Lots of visitors go through and have lunch and shop. We had a short list of things that other guests wanted and pieces that have broken at the inn that need to be replaced.  It is fun to see all that they make. I should have taken pictures inside. I am a terrible tourist. Often as I type about the day, I am frustrated at the number of pictures that I should have taken but it never crossed my mind.  

We enjoy this place to eat because they have a big yard area and the girls can run and play while we wait.  In Malawi, food often comes more than an hour after you order so having things to do while you wait is awesome.  There was a sprinkler watering the yard today and the girls enjoyed running through it and away from it. Lots of giggles-simple pleasures.  The restaurant also serves a really good cheesecake which is weird but lovely.

Melissa and I enjoyed conversation focused on their current status and hopes of returning home.  I know her story has sounded mind boggling and to many people at home it probably seems suspicious and odd.  If any of you are interested, she has done a great job of posting a full explanation on her instagram story.  Her instagram is msmith1189.

On the way back, I just soaked up the scenery and thought back to all my time here.  I always am hit first by how thankful I am for all my blessings when I look around at the women here.  I am thankful I was born in a country rich with opportunities. I am thankful that I don’t have to stand in the hot sun on the side of the road with two children tied to my back waiting to load into a steamy mini bus to travel to a market.  I am thankful I do not know how it feels to carry 10 liters of water on my head. I am thankful for clean, disease free water that comes out a faucet in my house. I am thankful that my thoughts each day are full of hope, future plans, love, and security and not concerns about how to feed my children, how to be physically safe, fear, and insecurity.  I am overwhelmed with compassion for this people and the struggles that mar their everyday lives. Our cups truly overflow with blessings and yet often we just don’t even see. We passed a funeral as we neared Nkhoma. It put into a beautiful picture their hardships and yet their strength as they marched hand in hand as a community.

I am now sitting  on the porch typing.  The sounds of kids playing and the music of the chapel fill the air.  The sun setting makes magical shadows on the mountain. While I am so emotionally and physically ready to go home, I still am so thankful for this amazing adventure and the blessing it has been.