Ndinthawi yakusintha (It is time for change)

My time is soon coming to an end here in Madisi, and with RiseMalawi Ministries. Shortly after my birthday I will head down to Blantyre, which is a city in the southern region
of Malawi. Although, I have made my committments to Rays of Hope, with Willie Mpsukha, I am sad to leave this rural town. Reflecting on my time here, I did not anticipate the
amount of blessings, and love I would experience here. Nor did I expect to find myself sad to leave small town life for city life. If you know me at all, I often struggle when it comes
to transitions, however I know and I cant wait to see what Blantyre, Rays Of Hope and God will teach me there!

Pray for me as the transistion period has begun. I am no longer tutoring Margaret or Maureen; as the children are on holiday from the 2nd term in school to the Easter Holiday.
Pray as we have 3 days of “Easter Explostion!” with RiseMalawi for the youth to come and interact, to be fed(mentally, phsyically and emotionally) and for Joy to be abound,
for the Lord has Risen! (RiseMalawi will be hosting 3 days of fun/bible lesson/
learning while the youth are on break.)
Also please be praying for safe transport as my huge suitcase and I board a bus to Blantyre. Honestly, I am not looking forward to that part of the traveling
especially if I go alone, but I know God will provide traveling mercies, He has every time.
Lastly, pray that I can have an attitude of readiness and love. In Blantyre I will not be as hands on, for Willie, the Founder wants me to create an Internship Program.
Obviously, I will need lots of prayer for that, but more to come on that once I get there! I have committed two months in Blantyre and plan to keep you updated on all the happenings there.

I have quite a community here in Madisi that is unique to my adventure to Malawi. The communtiy here knows me, due to the time committment here. Its been great getting to know the
people, the pastors, my German girl friends, and most of all the kids, and their families. No longer am I this new “azungu” in town, but I am someone who lives in Madisi.
As nomadic as I am, this is a pleasant feeling to just be a part of the community. On my travels to the Lake and to Lilongwe, I would get the stares and be called “Azungu” because
those communities had not seen me. I am happy that the people in Madisi enjoy my work here, and appreciate the little Chichewa I know. As mid March appoarched, I had a strong desire to return to Madisi
before i return to the states; so for the month of June I will return to Madisi. 🙂 It makes my heart smile when I know I will be back here. Especially knowing that Tinashe wants me back, and
knowing I can see my kids, my town, my neighbors and RiseMalawi before I head back to America on the 27th of June.

Thank you family, friends and fellow travelers.
Please know your support and prayers for me have sustained me. I am safe, healthy and learning new lesson everyday.
Want to know more, or have questions: please send me an email: Molly856@gmail.com
If you want to make my birthday wish come true, help keep the Rise Malawi children eliable for coming to RiseMalawi by a child Sponsorship:
http://bit.ly/GNPmBJ

Zikomo Kwambiri
Molly McCormick

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”
-St. Francis of Assisi

Night Owl, or Morning Person

This is dedicated to my mom, dad, and my sister. (Meg, all those hs days) Also, my alarm clock, sorry for hitting you so many times.

The Molly McCormick you all know, by all means is a “night owl.” I love being up late, and that is where I get most of my energy. Right? Yes! Not much has changed, but since being in Malawi, I have embraced a slightly new outlook.

If you are any of the following people reading this, please know this might be a jaw dropping read for you:

• My Mom or Dad
• Meghan, my twin sister
• Tinashe, my current roommate
• Janelle, my fellow morning snoozer/roommate
• My old ALARM clock (Snooze button)
• And any former roommates…

I am getting up when I wake up. Alarm or not!

Yes its true. Sometime I wake up to children playing outside, mostly the rooster, other livestock or the sound of someone chopping wood. I usually set my alarm for 8am. By then Tinashe and Chikondi have been up, awake and have long started their days.

Inspired, maybe…

Commanded/Convicted, a bit…

Convinced Mom has been right all these years, basically.

24 hours in one day, and often I wish for more. Time always slips through, might as well EMBRACE what I have. (Of course while I am writing this, its middle of the night, but due to some other reasons, I am unable to sleep.)

The first noise that wakes me up in the morning is my new alarm clock. I choose to rise from slumber, and take on the day. I am trying to embrace this new action, and to take time to Thank the Good Lord Above for giving another beautiful morning to see.

Oh, Malawi… how good you are to me. 

Hope for a Generation

Malawi is full of beauty, kind people and inquisitive children. Despite all the good things, our children face many challenges and lack basic needs. Underwear, clean water, clothes without holes, two shoes, shoes that fit, money for a haircut (keeping hair short is urged in school to prevent lice), school uniforms, desks, and the list goes on.
Please pray for justice, pray for equality and pray for our children to succeed despite these setbacks.

Rise Malawi children arrive at our office everyday after school, looking over school notes, or reviewing what we covered in tutoring at the program the previous day. In school they learn English, Science and Technology, Bible(Malawi teaches Bible in schools), Agriculture, LifeSkills, Mathematics and Health. They sit on the floor, next to 150 of their classmates. They are required to be in uniform, or they are kicked out of class. Same with the haircuts. Daily kids walk from distances we would not dare to walk, through terrain and weather we cannot bear. Barefoot. And on empty stomachs.
Consider sponsoring a child through RiseMalawi.

Sponsoring a child guarantees them a chance to eat a meal. We serve every child a heaping plate of rice, greens, and one more side dish.

Often times, this is their only meal, all day.

If you cannot sponsor a child, pray for them. Do a fundraiser for Rise Malawi, ask how can you help make a difference?

All of our kids have a unique stories. They are beautiful children. They are so honest, so loving and noticeably respectful.  Even with setbacks, they exude laughter and honest smiles. These children are the best teachers of joy.
Please help
Please take action
Help the children get some of the basic needs
Support them for a chance to stay in school

Please consider changing a life

Interested, please Contact
Kelly Malefyt, ChildSponsorship Officer,
Urban Promise International
856-382-1858
kmalefyt@urbanpromiseusa.org
Zikomo.

A Day In The Life Of An African Child

Night of March 8, 2012

Excitement maybe, anticipation…. yes! Tomorrow is my first day of school! “Ide ku pita ku Madisi Primary School.” I am happy to walk the path my students walk, sit the floors they sit, and experience how they learn. Everyday. Friday, March 9th, 2012 will my my first day back to grade 6. lol. I will be joining Fatima and Falida. They are Risemalawi students and also my neighbors. I am thankful, ndatakoza for this opportunity. I believe this will give me a better understanding of the challenges each child in Africa must endure for their chance at education (survival). Although, I am excited, I am praying we have sun in the am, so we do not have to walk in the rain and mud. I am not looking forward to staring the journey at 645am, in order to to get to school by 730.
Will my uniform be alright by the standards of the teachers? What about the students who come from deeper into the village.. no food in their bellies… I desire to hold onto that feeling of hunger, just to have a glimpse of the shoes these precious kids fill.

March 9, 2012
Goodmorning… well I knew it would be, yet, 5:48 am did not scream good to me. When I saw that time, I thought, “Yes, ten more minutes!” Yes, I woke up at 6am.
Promptly, at 6:35 there was an “Odi” at the door. It was Falida, Fatima and Jessi the three girls I’d be walking to school with. They were as excited as a child on Christmas morning! I was still waking up. Feeling the pressure, I ate a few bites of milk-less cornflakes and a bite of Malawian Sweet Potatoes, brushed my teeth, and was out the door(Oh of course I got the “first day of school photo!).

The ground still muddy, with puddles from last nights rain, however, as I prayed, there was no rain for the 20 minute walk to school. Fatima and Falida, twins, grade 6 and their cousin Jessi, grade 2 lead the way avoiding puddles, minibuses, cars, and bicylce taxies. Seriously, a huge responsibility for so many children, walking, hoping just to arrive safely to school.

At the school building the kids began the day by singing songs, doing some stretches and singing what might have been a National Anthem. Lined up by grades 1-8, full of awe and shock to see me at school with them I was still welcomed. Students were dressed in a range of bright hues of pinks and greens, to dull and tattered uniforms. Some students wore shoes, others barefeet. Children were still arriving at 7:50am, sweating and tired. It was hard to watch as youth were barefoot, with one shoe and a few whom do not even own a uniform.
Too poor for a uniform & too poor to be ontime. What made them late? Was their commute an hour? Did they stop to find food? And this was all before a 6 hour day of school…

Eunice, the teacher of grade 6a was happy to have me in her class. Fatima was in this class, Falida in 6b. Fatima claimed her spot in the front row… I was a little intimidated, yet I went for the seat next to hers on the floor. No desks here, not even electricity. Just a brick building, windows for light and chalk for the teacher. The lessons were simple, the youth eager to be called on. Once called on the youth rises to his or her feet and recites the answer. There was a range of students in the class, much like any 6th grade classroom, however many of the RiseMalawi students were leaders. Many sat in the front row, answered questions correctly, and were the majority of who participated. This was a neat observation, for sure!

At 9:15am, I joined Falida in the grade 6b class and was way more impressed with her teachers. In 6a the teacher teaching English, was completely incorrect in her teaching. Of course that made me upset, because one of the girls I tutor is in that class, and it is no wonder she struggles. The lessons she learns in English in school is completely contradictory to my lessons. I know teachers make mistakes, yet now I know why Mureen is struggling. Back to 6a, again I pleaded with the teachers to let me sit on the red, dusty floor as they offered me a single bench. I politely refused. I replied with, “I really want to experience school as a child in Malawi…” They looked at me like I was slightly crazy, but let me be. They were engaging, fun and inclusive. I was “just here to observe” however when the class was learning about various topics, I was also treated as a pupil. Learning about Malawi and its physical features in Science, the question I answered was: name major lakes and rivers in Malawi? I raised my hand, stood proudly, dusted off my skirt and said “Lake Malawi!” The kids cheered me on, smiled and giggled!

With much thanksgiving in my heart, I have so much more to share about this day. As my day ended, and I was nearly home, Elijah, a friend Iv made asked me, “Is it true you were in 6th grade today at Madisi Primary School?” I said “Yes! But who told you?” Elijah replied, “My son, he is in grade 1. He said he saw you there…” Even with this little first grader in Malawi — he is observant and wise. I am thankful to all the teachers, the community, the kids who helped me in math class today… and to God! This special day is a day to remember. It is not everyday we get the opportunity to learn life lessons in such a humbling way. Zikomo Kwambiri. 

The key question to keep …

The key question to keep asking is, “Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have.” —Randy Pausch

Sunday Mornings…

In Camden I attend church in the evening…. which is such a treat. This morning, I woke up at 6am, and attended a church service with my “azungu” friends from Germany. They are 3 girls around my age, serving a year here in Malawi. I am extremely lucky to have found a great friendship/community with them, and their larger German community here in Malawi. They are serving their time with St. Francis Catholic Parish, here in Madisi, and this morning, I sacrificed my sleep to join them in worship. Ha.

It was really the best 6am morning I have had since being here. Most of my 6am mornings involve me trying to block out the sound of the dogs barking, children playing or the woman next door chopping wood. I walked about 10 mins, then paid a bicycle taxi to take me to the church about a mile away. A thrill of a ride on the back, my smile as bright as the sun. Then it was five minutes to 7am, and I was about to enter the church. What was beautiful about this morning were the children  I know from Rise Malawi attending church. Praying, and even giving offerings. I would say about 400+ people attend this service…and wow! How humble to see the poor give. literally. It’s a beautiful act of service, and quite an act of humility. It was beautiful to see the 40 women singing and dancing in the choir, to the simple beat of a jembe.

Worshiping God is beautiful especially when we notice all our provisions. …