A brand new sight for sore eyes

Today there were many Malawi men and woman, boys and girls who now know what a “white man” looks like.  I think it’s comedy because their impression of a “white man” is that they are all called Brad 🙂 .  We travelled to very remote villages where, we were told, many of them have never seen someone who’s skin colour was not black.

Today was a very, very, very long day.  At 6 am we were picked up by Billy, picked up some local pastors and travelled to the ends of the earth on the most pot hole laden roads imaginable (even worse than Regina’s :-)).  The goal for today was to visit with churches that have been impacted by some of the financial support MTC has sent in the past couple of years.  On paper these funds went towards roofing and bibles – two words that our North America culture don’t think anything about.  Most of us, even if we don’t have a faith of any kind,  can probably pull a bible off the shelf in our homes (that have a roof).  What we take for granted are two of the biggest gifts we could have given.

There were eight churches in total we visited.  Each visit consists of a greeting committee; introductions, a message from Billy, a message from their pastor, stories from the locals who recieved the gifts, a message from myself and Brad (guests of honor)  and then a prayer. Very formal but incredibly eye opening.  We heard story after story of men and woman who’s lives have been literally changed because there is a roof on their church (churches in the rural areas of Malawi act as community centers and places of hope in an incredibly hopeless situation) or a bible in their hand.  What we take for granted they are incredibly grateful for.

What rocked my world today is that most of the people we talked to had no shoes, had nothing of “worth” in their lives yet they sang, they smiled and they loved the fact they were able to have another day to live.  We had children who were wearing the clothes that Value Village would not sell yet they were proud to dress in their best for a special occasion.  It is a different world around here.

Like I said, i’m tired so i want to go to bed.  Good news – the hotel is allowing me to stay!! Thank you for praying.  I’ll update you tommorrow.  Give my family a hug for me … someone please 🙂

Brad

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