Marla and Malawian Women

I have been very blessed with many opportunities for that. Yesterday at the seminar, I was almost adopted by a Malawian woman. When I walked out of the church at lunch break with my bowl of rice, goat and cooked cabbage to sit in the dirt with the women, this lady said in good English, “Come.” I sat where she patted the spot beside herself and began eating my lunch with my fingers. She helped me improve the way I give greetings. She also tried teaching me to ask, “Where are you going?” and the answer, “I’m going to church.” Sorry to say, that didn’t stick with me! She offered, “You stay in my home 6 months and I’ll teach you.”

Then she stood and jumped up and down several times. All her friends laughed and I thought the joke might be that she was shaking down the food to make room for seconds. You wouldn’t believe the size of her first helping! A seminar meal is a real treat!
Her jumping then turned to a Chewa version of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” So I stood and sang the English version. Then we both did it together. So fun! Soon there was a whole circle of us singing together another song we taught at the Childrens' Ministry seminar a couple days ago. We continued singing until time for the final session.

By the time we piled into the truck for the return trip home, I was feeling quite a connection with these women. The back of the pickup filled up with many of them wanting a lift closer to their homes. At one stop the woman who invited me to stay at her home for several months made sure I knew where she lives. (;