Malawi is Malawi

Malawi. Malawi is an experience that we see.

He stands by the paved road every day. He watches as mini-bus after mini-bus full of humans crammed in as if they were cattle pass by. He runs after each one, hands full of today's produce- onions, tomatoes, cabbage. All will go bad in just a matter of days and can no longer can be sold. He prays for passengers in need of the products he has. His eyes have long lost hope. But wait, here comes another bus, filled to the brim. He makes one sell. A bundle of tomatoes for K100- about $.40. The next bus comes and drops a passenger. No sale. And the next 20 buses come with no sale. The day is winding down but yet another bus approaches. He runs up to it but they drop the passenger and then slam the door in his face. His eyes drop and he sighs. It looks as if his heart just broke. The heat beats down on his dark face. It's time to walk home. Home to 5 children and a wife. Tomorrow is another day. 

Malawi. Malawi we cannot or do not try to truly understand. 

He sits in a little office all day. He can see over 300 patients in a day. Malaria, diarrhea, heat exhaustion, breached deliveries, ambulances with no fuel, lack of supplies, patients coming at midnight. He is the only doctor at a clinic servicing over 18,000 people. A mother with a sick child is sitting in a long line just waiting to be seen. She has been up since 5am walking to the clinic. She arrived around 6:30 am. It is now past 11 and she's waiting. The doctor tries to hurry. 

A car approaches. Full of what Malawi calls "azungu"- foreign people. They are tourists at the expensive safari lodge down the road. They've come to see a Malawian clinic. To take pictures. To add to their 7 day "tour." They are experts now. They know all about "Africa." They've even seen a rural clinic! 

But as they pull the doctor out of the office unexpectedly to chat and talk statistics and take a tour, the mother is waiting. The line stands still. Children cough. The doctor appeases the visitors. He's late for lunch; they've just finished a three course meal and have snacks in their backpacks. They leave excited to have new knowledge and pictures and to tell everyone at home what "Africa is like." He wearily goes back to the 50 patients. 

Malawi. Malawi we are ignorant of. 

A Peace Corps volunteer has lived in his rural village for 6 months now with no electricity and no running water. He carries water in buckets alongside his friends as they chat in the local language. It was hard living here at first. The children would scream "azungu" all day every day along with phrases such as "give me money," "give me a bottle." It was exhausting. But he explained how not all foreign visitors have a lot of money and it's better to work together. They worked hard to fundraise and write grants. They develop projects jointly. Finally after 6 months people are understanding. Children now scream his name and laugh as they greet him. He is now known.

As he rides his bike home one day there is a bus full of tourists visiting the area. Children run after the bus screaming. The people inside are throwing dollar bills out the window as they drive. He's filled with rage and wants to scream! Is this development? Is this pity?! Is this relationship? Throwing cash at children solves what?? It certainly does nothing but further instill the stereotype that foreign is cheap money. Not love. Not relationship. Not followers of Jesus. Not understanding. Not humanity. Not humility. To complete his day the volunteer rides by the market where there is a man selling a pile of Tom's shoes. Shoes meant for children who have none. Yet he looks around and children everywhere have no shoes. Instead they ended up in the hands of merchants in a trading center. The volunteer goes home and ponders all this as he drifts to sleep. 

Malawi. Malawi is beautiful. 

He loved her from the moment he saw her. She was beautiful. They were both from families who worked very hard to make sure their children could go to and finish secondary school. He worked on a tea estate which was very hard work but he was moving up and got a management position with a beautiful house on a small hill. His love agreed to marry him after dating for over a year. Life was perfect with a beautiful wedding under the mountain surrounded by lushes green tea plants. They became pregnant with their first child. The wife carried it 9 months but something went wrong. The baby died. There were tears, confusion, sadness. But they tried again. And she became pregnant and elated with joy. They had made it. Their love kept them going- kept them fighting for that happy, beautiful life so rare to many they knew. They are now examples to friends and families in Malawi of the importance of education and treating your spouse well. 

Malawi. Malawi is hospitality. 

He has been traveling in the hot sun all day. Before he gets all the way home he just needs a break. He stops by to see a friend. The friend welcomes him in and sets a feast before his friend. In Malawi there is almost always extra for visitors. They chat and laugh and enjoy the company. As its getting dark the weary traveler is offered a place to sleep- no problem! All the children are squeezed in one bed so there is room for the guest. They are happy to help their friend. It gives them joy. They all sleep soundly. 

Malawi. Malawi is Malawi.