Do You Know Where You are Going?

Death, yeah its inevitable. Everyone will die. That is the harsh reality of this world. I only hope people die with dignity, and know they were loved on earth, and eternally by the Creator. Everyday we see examples that remind us a death. Death can even be like a metaphor; dying to something, and changing your old habits into new, healthy habits.

As a child of God, and someone who believes wholeheartedly in Jesus, I too want the lost to return home. To know Christ fully, and to walk with the faith knowing that their fate, is only in their Father’s hands.

Today I heard of some physical deaths here and at home, and how heartbreaking. An ended life and unanswered questions… however what stings for me the most is thinking, ugh, I wonder if they knew God? I wondered where they ended up? Did I ask the hard questions? Did I show Christ’s love? Did I lay down my life for others…

I guess, I can only do better. There is nothing I can do but pray, and be more like Him. We all can. Truly, that is life’s purpose; to Glorify God, and to share that news.

In this conversation about death, it is also about love and community, family and growth. Everyone knows someone who has died. Close to them, or a distant relative but we all have that in common. Death as my friend Kim said tonight, brings family together. When a loved one leaves us, many come together, here in Malawi, communities come together, and share in the mourning. Sharing this time, is an act of love, and through this, growth happens.(These also apply when you are changing old habits to new ones in your life. What can you die to today?)

What in you life is worth dying, so you can live more fully?

Adventure Time!

Just before I sleep, I wanted you all to know about the ADVENTURE ill be on in the hours creeping up on me… As per advice from some friends back home, Kate and Jarrod Schafer, who used to live in Malawi– I am headed to LAKE MALAWI, SENGA BAY! Google image this!  The Lake is a great attraction of Malawi, and tomorrow is the day I will see it! Senga Bay, here I come! Isaac, a good friend of mine who I got to know from Blantyre (both times I’ve come to Malawi) and I are going to find the Jem that Senga Bay is! We will start by taking some minibuses and possibly jump into the back of a truck for the second part of the trip.

The first trip to Malawi, my group was unable to see Lake Malawi, but this time, with only 16 days remaining, its on my bucketlist of things to do before I leave. Not to mention, we will check out the restaurant, Cool Running’s, since EVERYONE says its also a must! I will try to post pictures when I return in the evening!

I Write to Remember

longing for
familiar faces and
happy places,
a spot to rest my head.
people I know and
ways I can grow,
a spot to rest my head.
direction and light
bringing me to new heights,
a spot to rest my head.
“longing for a home” says this
Earth wanderin’ soul, wanting to be planted, yet
uprooted again,
longing for
familiar places and
happy faces
a spot to rest my head.

Maize for Days, Yet Wishing for Water

Upon arriving back to Madisi, my lovely little village community, I’ve noted what is going on. People are greeting me, and amazed by the new confidence I have in speaking Chichewa, but there are so many more things to note.
It’s no longer the rainy season which is very evident due to the high grass and maize fields that have been burned down and observing creative african reuse the cobs from the maize for firewood.
Upon leaving Peoples, the local “grocery” store, where I have the employees as friends, and often buy my bottled water; I stopped to notice what was happening on a neighbors porch. Id say it was 10 women or so, practically drowning in maize kernels that were removed by hand to prepare for their families for maize flour, for the upcoming months. Not only the sight, but the sound; boy these women were having a blast! I mean, I was literally 20 steps to my house, but could not resist; I stopped, dropped my bag, and joined in. I wanted to laugh too(and help). Despite not knowing much chichewa beyond my 4 months of knowledge, I tried to communicate, and allowed the community to happen. Love & laughter were in the air, as we worked on burying ourselves deeper into the maize.
***The Maize here is the staple food, made for making nsima.
—
So to me it seems as if there is maize for days, yet I know many people will still suffer. In addition to these findings, I knew something else was different…
Tinashe’s kitchen is quaint and tidy, however, very different that what I am used to. There are at least 3 large drums of water, stored in the kitchen. Yes, we have a sink with a tap in the kitchen, but as of lately, its run dry. Now, if you do not already know, water usually comes 2-3 times a week to the tap. It is not always just “turn the knob and get water” type of kitchen sink I am used to. When the water comes, its pressure is very low, and Tinashe is generally up for 2-3 hours refilling the drums.
Now, you are aware of this typical day-to-day water crisis, but now, 7 days in counting we have not had any water. In fact, I have not seen the drums replenished with a drop of water since I returned on Wednesday. Not only here at our house, but all the taps in this trading center, and our only other alternatives are wells.

Picture with me…

a house with a toilet,
dirty dishes, dirty clothes,
dirty bodies/hands,
and thirsty bodies.
Without water coming from the tap, we are in need. We are in crisis.
With the alternative of fetching water from wells, well, that in itself is another blog post. (time to walk there, or money to hire someone on a bike/foot)
Its costly,
time-consuming &
quite unfair.
Not to mention, when the power gets shut off, and stores close early, buying water is no longer an option either.

It might sound silly, but we need prayer. We need water. I think of the less educated who are only use dirty water to feed the children, wash their bodies or clothes in polluted streams, or lastly, the toilets that cannot be flushed in the homes, because there is no water to fill the tank.

Last night Tinashe and I both had dreams about water coming out of the tap, and still nothing.

Please be praying…. this is injustice. With 80% of the country like this, access to clean water, can change lives

*Also, a favorite organization helping to change the lives of communities without clean water is Charitywater.org

Full Circle with Bruce on the Other Side of the World!

Today, I get to see Dr. Bruce Main, the founder of UrbanPromise Ministries, headquartered in Camden, NJ, USA…here in Madisi, Malawi! My journey to Malawi would not have happened if I never ended up in Camden, nor if I did not meet Bruce!  Yes, I think after 4 years of being affiliated with him, I will call him Bruce; not because I think I have some sort of in or something, but because, if you have ever met him, you know that’s what he’d recommend.

If you do not know about Urban Promise Ministries, google it, and check us out. Out of Urban Promise, came Urban Promise International: Malawi… Rise Malawi, and Rays of Hope, where I am currently serving!

The Warm Heart of Africa is where I have really done quite a lot of soul-searching, self-discovery, relationship building with friends and with God, lots of reading, teaching and learning! It might have been months after I returned from my first trip to Malawi, that Bruce encouraged me to go back. Not only did he encourage me, but he prayed for me and answered tons of questions during my days journeying in Camden, away from family and the things I thought I knew about life….

Bruce, I am so thankful and happy I took the leap of faith you always encouraged me to take… without these 5 months in my life, I would be a different Molly.

Thanks & today,  let us have a good time with the kids, community and Rise Malawi!

Worship through Art

A day we came together to fast and pray

And we all cried out to the Lord. God has given me an artsy bone recently, & I am trying to be open to that. (I usually do not know what to do with ART?!?)

So, I went to my room, closed the door, continued to hear the prayers from down the hall, and wanted to share this simple yet complex picture. To the eye,  ya maybe it looks like a kid drew it, but God filled me with the Spirit, and I drew

with scriptures in my mind. 

So, we were praying for the lost

The cross has Jesus drawn on as the RED HEART. Without His blood, shed for us, death would be eternal.

The greens and blues represent the world, and all of us living in the world, the black is the sin, that we are consumed by and if you see the bit of purple you might think Royalty. Yes, Jesus is royalty, and the greatest part is, God sacrificed his son, purely for us, he wants us to be stainless and pure and God sees us as beautiful children and sweet to his sight.

The Light coming down from the top of the picture is not accurate of the day of Christs’ Death, but 3 days later when He rose again, and God’s promise was fulfilled. Also, I think it’s the Holy Spirit living among us…

There are hills and mountains, valleys and sky…. all that is for us to know that with or without Christ we will have good days and bad days. We will be high on the hilltops and low in the darkest of valleys. However, with Christ, there is Hope in those valleys, and thanksgiving too.

The path to the cross is wide and so are the many paths in life…but living a life with Christ is not easy, nor will everyone be there. So the road is thick before the base of the cross; and its colors the same as the people there below.

The road at the base of the cross is very narrow, and like I mentioned, it’s not easy or for everyone. It takes discipline, life changing decisions, repentance, Christ in your heart, the Holy Spirit in your life, and God as your guide. Again, the yellow is knowing, that the cross, and Jesus are “The way the truth and the life…” Also, you can see that narrow path is surrounded by the blackness of sin and death. We can either distract ourselves as Christians and fall into the darkness, or we can stay on the path and lean on Christ.

Please comment, correct me, ask questions and remember to pray for those who you know are living in that dark, dark world. We are so in need of the blood shed on the cross, ask about how new life is possible!

All the glory to God

City Girl Goes Back to the Village; With another Poem in her Pocket

Yesterday, I left Blantyre. It was a bittersweet day, but I wanted to keep my promise to my kids in Madisi, and to my staff at Rise Malawi Ministries.
One of my new friends, Gilbert, who lives in Blantyre offered to drive me to Lilongwe, then from there, I caught a bigbus to Madisi.
Think of it as a little roadtrip, with friends and laughter, a fun truck stop for drinks, and then stories as we drove into the dark of night.
As we were driving, sadly I did not have my pen and paper…but in my head I came up with some ideas as I saw the sun setting.
Today, I came up with this poem inspired by what was seen….

Close your eyes
count to ten
The Sun has Gone to Hide
as we drive
the scenes have changed
The Sun has Gone to Hide
glimpses of light
pop out of the clouds
The Sun has Gone to Hide
time elapses
light gets dimmer
The Sun has Gone to Hide
Open your eyes
say “ready or not”
try to seek…
The Sun has Gone to Hide
_________________________

Happy to be back in the village, I hope to continue exploring my creative side. I pray you all find your creativity inside you too!
ziiiiiikoooomoo!!

100 Sunsets, and they are all so unique

Can you imagine 99 more prettier than this?!

Art Explosion!!!

My first abstract piece.
Turn it side to side, & it can be whatever you see!

Art Explosion!!!

The birth of my creativity!