The “Joy Joy Joy” of Malawian Worship

One of the greatest joys about going to Malawi is getting the opportunity to be a part of Malawian worship. As I explained to our kids’ choirs here at home…we are spoiled by pianos, guitars, drum sets, CD players, microphones and screens with words. In Malawi, the people use what God gave them…their bodies! Malawian worship is more than simply singing. It is clapping, it is moving, it is dancing, it is raised voices and it is genuine worship from the heart.

One of the most-loved songs that American teams bring home in their hearts from Malawi is “Palibe Ofana Ndiye”. This is a popular worship song that has been heard in places other than Malawi, and is posted in various forms on the web. There are motions that are performed along with the chorus section. Although the tune, tempo and even exact lyrics vary with each hearing, the general translation is simple:

There is no one like Jesus, there will be no one like Him. I have walked all over the world, I have rounded everywhere, I have searched everywhere; there will be on one like Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXJrBrzyzAk Watch “Palibe”

A new song that I learned from the children is called “Njo, Njo, Njo”. It is a very fun song that is done in a statement/answer form. The leader sings a line and the children add in with “Aleluja” and repeat the line. Each set of words are repeated 4 times, the statements are made in whatever order the song leader desires, and the chorus is interspersed throughout. There are actions for each word set. The best part of the song is the ending words the leader sings. When I asked what the words meant to signal the abrupt ending of the song, I was told the literal translation was “Shut the mouth”. Now THAT was funny!

Jesus gives me joy. (What are ways we show that joy?) By smiling/laughing, jumping, clapping, dancing, making sounds, sitting down and standing up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrsAoct5Gr8 Watch “Njo, Njo, Njo”

Last is a familiar song to people who have ever attended Vacation Bible School. Some Americans thought it would be fun to teach the Malawian kids how to sing American songs. One of those songs was “Father Abraham”. The Malawians listened, learned and then promptly “made it their own” by adjusting the tempos, rhythms and pronunciations. The result is a delightful version of the song that will leave you singing the rest of the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZKNiWnh0Hk Watch “Father Abraham"

Widows Lesson

The following is an outline and brief notes of the lesson we shared with the widow women on Saturday morning. It is a lesson that is more than worth reading for us all.

When we become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we become responsible to tell others about Christ. There is no greater privilege than sharing the love of God with your friends, family and neighbors. –Thirty Discipleship Exercises, The Pathway to Christian Maturity

WHO does God call to tell others about Christ?
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19.

Jesus was a rabbi who bypassed the learned scholars and instead chose ordinary men to be his disciples. There are not any who are “more” or “less” qualified to tell of the blessed hope of Jesus Christ. God calls anyone and everyone to follow Him and share the good news with others.

HOW do we tell others about Christ?
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

We don’t have to say a word in order to share Jesus with others; our inner peace and joy coupled with the outward extension of selfless good works will go further in speaking to people than a lecture ever could. However we must guard against Satan the Tempter, who comes to steal our light and ruin our testimony. We must be diligent to daily put on the full armor of God so that we stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)

WHEN do we tell others about Christ?
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

We should always be ready and willing to tell others about Jesus without shame or hesitation. Yet we must remember to speak out of genuine love or we risk being as appealing as a “resounding gong or clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1) As Christians, we should strive for our lives to exhibit the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23) When others see us set apart living for Christ, we will have every opportunity to share with them the reason for our hope.

WHY do we tell others about Christ?
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard…Acts 4:19-20

Peter and John were thrown into prison for telling others about Christ. They were later questioned and warned to stop speaking in Jesus’ name. Peter and John answered simply and to the point. They could not help speaking about Jesus, and the impact He had in their lives. Sharing the good news was not a choice for them and it should not be a choice for us.

WHERE do we go to tell others about Christ?
But you will receive my power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

We are called, as a Christian people, to go anywhere and everywhere sharing the good news of Christ. We all receive the power of the Holy Spirit when we invite Jesus to be Lord of our lives, so none of us have the excuse of weakness or ineptitude. As far as where we go, it is no more or less important to go across the world as it is to go across the street. The only question left is: are we going?

Zosangalatza Malawi - Day 9

Wednesday, September 1

Our last day of the trip is always safari day—a day to relax and enjoy the sights that God created in Malawi. Seeing the animals is always neat, but I enjoy the most getting to see the scenic views that give my heart a moment of pure peace.

We drove a couple of hours to Liwonde National Park and took the boat tour. We went to a different location for our boat tour in March, so I got to see new things this time. We walked over a bridge, boarded a boat and crossed the river to the other side. We stopped for a bit at the lodge, to pay and register before taking the tour. As we were sitting in the veranda area, we took pictures of a baboon that was foraging right on the other side of the wall.

On the boat tour we saw many beautiful views. We drove past mounds of hippos and got very close to large smiling crocodile. We boated into an inlet and sat for a long time looking at two different herds of elephants. Along the way there were many birds, deer and even a camera-shy warthog.

Instead of taking the land tour this time, we drove another hour to Lake Malawi. When we walked into the resort area there, the view completely took my breath away. Had I not known better, I would have sworn I was on the shore of the ocean. The water came in to the beach in small waves and the expanse of sand was warm and inviting. The resort had beautiful grounds, a gorgeous pool, and cabanas to rent. It was a tiny spot of paradise set right in the middle of Malawi. We sat in the outdoor patio area and ate good American food. I think the hardest part of the entire trip for many of us was deciding what to order that day!

Before any of us were ready, it was time to head home so we could get back by dark. Many slept on the bus ride back, but I spent my time deep in thought. It was impossible for me not to be reflective after such a day. My biggest resounding question was Why? Why give me such a heart for Malawi when my home and family are in NW Arkansas? I didn’t discover the answer in full that day, and I can’t answer it yet today. But I am convinced that God has a purpose and a plan for everything. The Malawians have a favorite saying and it is just as true for me as it is for them. The success of the trip proves it to my head. The awesome sights of God’s creation proves it to my heart.

Mulungu ndiwabwino nthawizonse. Nthawizonse Mulungu ndiwabwino!
God is good all the time. All the time God is good!

Zosangalatsa Malawi - Day 8

Tuesday, August 31

We spent Tuesday doing various physical jobs. A large group went to Esther’s House and spent the day scrubbing toilets and other cleaning, re-hanging shower doors and other handyman jobs and organizing/straightening the supply closet. The rest of us remained at the mission house to help Cindy.

The main order of business was to repaint Cindy’s room and the hallway to compliment the remodel that the living room received this summer. We moved some furniture into other rooms and the rest into the center of hers and covered it with a tarp. Doug ran to get the paint. A long time later Doug returned with the only paint he could get—a very runny oil-based concoction. You get what you get in Malawi! A couple members of the team got started right away, but unfortunately one coat was all that got done that day. Cindy was forced to move her mattress to the dining room to sleep that night, and the paint was still wet the following day. We all hated to leave it like that, but Cindy assured us that she would get it finished after we left.

I spent a great deal of the day helping Cindy on her computer. It was time to rehire staff; new pictures needed to be uploaded and cropped, and new applications printed out for signing. I also got the privilege of going with Cindy to buy some chickens for supper. We walked out of the front gate of the mission house (it struck me later how crazy it was, two white women walking down the road like we belonged there, talking nonstop, on an afternoon stroll to buy chickens) and proceeded to walk down the road a ways to Dear Mama’s. There was a restaurant in the front (the smell of fried chicken was amazing) and broiler houses in the back. Having some exposure to Tyson broiler houses on my father-in-law’s farm, I simply had to sneak a peek at Malawi chicken houses. I was amazed at how clean they were and how similar they were to our broiler houses here, just on a much simpler and basic scale. We left there with two chickens, fresh from the butchering that morning.

The day winded down all too soon, and it was time to head to Esther’s House to join the others and say our goodbyes to our translators. Except for our safari the next day, our Malawi trip was over. A couple were ready to go home, many of us were not, and the ones that were staying were just getting started. But we all agreed the trip was amazing, truly zosangalatsa. We prayed with our translators, gave them gifts, took pictures and said goodbye for now.

I took a picture of Esther’s House at sunset, closed my eyes and breathed in my surroundings. I felt the sadness more this trip, because I understood the stakes so much better this time. There is so much to do in Malawi. There are so many needs, physical and spiritual. There is such a hunger for God, and such a desperation for the message of hope that we as Christ-followers can provide. It puts my life into a new perspective.

I pray for the opportunity to come to Malawi again. I also pray for the grace to live my own life back home to the fullest in the meantime.

Zosangalatza Malawi - Day 7

Monday, August 30

Monday morning we loaded up on the bus and headed to Kachenga village, about an hour away from the mission house. Our goal was to share Jesus with the Muslim-heavy population there and commission the start of a new Baptist church, led by a pastor from that village and established by the new believers that God would draw through our evangelism.

I must admit that many on the team were nervous. Several had never yet shared the story of salvation through hut-to-hut evangelism and were busy looking over the Romans Road and flipping through the Evangecube. Others, like myself, were more unsettled at the thought of having to go up against the Muslim faith that permeated that area.

We were divided up into groups. Doug Sarver and his translator Pastor Kuzalo, me and my translator Duncan (Kuzalo’s son), and Stacy and her translator Ernest all went together. Doug said he wanted to take Stacy and I and give us an example or two of “how to share” to ease our comfort levels before allowing us to have turns. While it was a little nerve-wracking to think about sharing Jesus in front of the Missions Director for FBCS, I was very excited to get to hear his example and honored to be taken under his wing for “on-the-job” training!

At our first house, Doug shared the gospel with the wife of one of the village headmen. She agreed with everything that Doug shared about Christ and the gospel, and at the same time was adamant that she was of the Muslim faith. It didn’t take me long to discover that she obviously didn’t really understand what it meant to be Muslim any more than many understand what it means to be Christian. I would discover that this would be the case in many situations.

After we left her house, we stopped under a tree. Doug began sharing again with a small group. Ernest was already getting bored with simply following Doug and Kuzalo around, and was anxious to do some sharing of his own. He asked Stacy if she would share with people that he stopped in the road passing us by. Stacy turned to me with big eyes. I didn’t hesitate, and readily agreed. Soon I was several paces away from Doug, sharing with a crowd in the road. I gave a wry smile when I realized that Doug had a few people around him, while I had a large crowd around me. Surely God knew that I wasn’t nearly as good at this as Doug! But I gave it over to God, and through me He spoke the truth to the people. It was my first time to share the gospel since March, and while none of that crowd professed to wanting Jesus in their life at that time, I felt like I had done my part in telling them the Good News.

We met back up with Doug and Kuzalo further up the road, but parted ways soon again when I saw a couple of younger women and waved to them. Doug encouraged me to go talk to them so I did…and led them both to Christ. By the time I finished with them, I had a huge crowd around me, and so I began again. Many prayed with me at the end, and at our best guess, 9 of them indicated that they were giving their lives to Jesus for the very first time. We caught back up with Doug in time to take a picture of him praying with a man he had led to the Lord during our separation. And then, all too soon, it was time to head back to the village common grounds.

Many people from the village gathered that afternoon. There was much singing and dancing during the time of waiting, and then all grew quiet for the time of testimony, preaching and church commissioning. A large group came forward signifying they had given their lives to God and were committed to forming the base of the new Baptist church that would meet in their village. Ken Edwards, who joined our team from Albuquerque, New Mexico and works with the company Faith Comes by Hearing, presented the new young pastor with a Proclaimer, an audio device that will play the Bible in the local language of Chichewa. The new believers were then separated and led to different areas of the yard, where we spoke with them, encouraging them in their new faith and discipling them on what God expects of their lives as a Christ follower.

It was a long but spiritually productive day. I took a picture of the group that I discipled, and told them that I would pray for them as they began their Christian walk and meeting together on a weekly basis. I pray that God will take hold of their lives and cause them to be a bright and shining light in their village, and I look forward to meeting them again in Heaven one day!

Zosangalatza Malawi - Day 6

Sunday, August 29

Sunday was one of the most dreaded days for me in March, yet yielded the greatest blessing. I was completely defeated from the grueling day before, I was exhausted from being awake for several hours in the night, and I was nervous about leading a session for the widows. Yet once the worship service started, God proved himself faithful, and through the music and atmosphere, caused peace and joy to come crashing over my spirit like waves.

So I was pretty excited for Sunday to come this trip.

I started the morning out of sorts with God and man, for no reason other than my own selfish tendencies, and struggled to put my attitude in the proper perspective. I wanted the whole day to be perfect according to my standards, but that is rarely ever possible—a lesson one would think I would have learned by now! But once the service started, God had his way with me again.

The Malawian singing was amazing like always. Stacy gave her testimony and did a fantastic job. A small group of us sang the Doxology, first in unison and then in parts, and although it was rough around the edges, it was a joyful experience to be a part of. Doug Sarver preached a sermon that was hand-crafted to match and address the events that had been happening over the last couple of days. When I asked for confirmation, I heard what I already knew: that sermon had been written weeks in advance. God alone could take the credit for allowing just the right words to be preached “for such a time as this”.

After lunch, we were treated to a performance by some of the local cultural dancers. I enjoyed watching them even more this time, because I recognized several of their songs. Many of the other team members joined in the dance, dressing up and laughing as they tried to imitate the steps. I carefully positioned myself behind my camera again, safely tucked away on the porch area!

We split up for the rest of the afternoon. The Pastor’s Conference had its final session while the rest of us headed out for village discipleship. The widows that came for morning worship had headed home and there were no other adults waiting for us, so my group joined the ones teaching the children. I enjoyed getting to walk around, listen to the stories, and photograph the children—a first-time opportunity for me since I am usually busy with the adults. Silly bands were passed out at the end of the session, and it was mass chaos as the children attempted to line up and receive their gift. Children shoved and jostled for position, as children do, and it was easy to feel mob panic. But yet, every time I fumbled and dropped a band to the ground, the child who snatched it first solemnly gave it back to me with big eyes. I couldn’t help but feel proud of them, and as crazy as it was, I was happy to be a part of doing something so little.

God is good, and Sunday was a Zosangalatza day!

Zosangalatza Malawi - Day 5

Saturday, August 28

After a day of preparation and two days of medical clinic, we were ready for something completely different. Saturday began our time of teaching and singing, praying and training. The team was split into three different groups for the next couple of days. My group taught the Esther’s House widows; another group taught and played with the Esther’s House orphans and village children; the third group spoke and worked with the local pastors for the Pastor’s Conference.

The Pastor’s Conference was titled “Restore My Heart, Oh God”. Invitations were extended to 25 local pastors of multiple denominations to come together for a time of fellowship, confession, healing and restoration. Like everywhere else, there is much corruption in Malawi, and because sin has no bounds and makes no distinction between men, deceitful actions extend from the greatest to the least. The conference was a powerful time for God to work in the hearts of those present. It is my prayer that many seeds were planted that will take root and grow, resulting in fresh hearts and minds among the ministers, churches and congregations in Malawi.

The two orphans currently living at Esther’s House and the group of non-residential orphans that come each day for a meal gathered on Saturday morning for a time of singing, games and Bible story learning. I had some extra time and was able to film the children singing several songs, a few in Chichewa and a couple in English. One of our team translators was a school teacher, so I used her to help me write down the words to the songs I recorded. Over the next several weeks, I will teach those songs to our children involved in the FBCS pre-school and children’s choir programs. I look forward to filming our American children singing the Malawian songs and will send a DVD back to Esther’s House with the March team. I’m sure our attempts at their language and singing style will elicit more than one round of laughter at Esther’s House next spring!

The widows walk from long distances to come to Esther’s House once a week for a meal. Once they all arrived on Saturday morning, we had a time of discipleship and singing. We spoke about our responsibility as Christians to tell others about Christ—God calls us all to go everywhere, always sharing about Christ through our actions because we cannot help but share the good news. We met again after lunch and shared a variety of stories, testimonies and songs. I had the privilege of sharing my “Africa testimony” with the women. I started with the story of Moses, and then explained how God used the passage about the burning bush to confirm my calling to come to Malawi in March. I never tire of telling my story, and I had a rapt audience as I tried to explain my feelings toward them and their land.

Getting the opportunity to tell my story, combined with the emotions and fatigue of the trip, left me emotionally spent afterwards. When I was hugged (more hugging!) and told I had done a good job, I broke down and cried. I’m sure any of the widows watching me thought I had completely lost my senses! But my greatest desire is to one day hear my God tell me that I have done a good job and that He is proud of me. There are many days that I don’t hear those words on this earth, but my very soul cries to hear them from Heaven. I feel like God breathes on me in Malawi. I can open up to people and share my passion. I feel like I can be who God has created me to be with abandon, without censure or embarrassment. I thank God for allowing me to experience Malawi. I get a tiny taste of the freedom that Heaven will be.