First Impressions: Worship and Life at the Centers
Good morning from Malawi! :)
On Sunday, all twelve of us packed into the back of a Land Cruiser and headed to church. The service was a little different than what we are used to. They held one service from the Bible and another from the Westminster Catechism, with several small choirs singing throughout. We also had the privilege of singing a song for the congregation.
After the service, we were warmly greeted by many friendly members of the church family, who loved teaching us their language. In the afternoon we enjoyed a refreshing walk, and later we watched a beautiful sunset together.
Monday was our first day with all the children at the centers. Before heading out, we visited the Timotheos head office, where we opened the week and met several field workers. Then we divided into two groups: four of us went to Mbulumbuzi, while five went to Namitambo. At both centers, we were warmly welcomed by the children, who chanted “azungu, azungu” (“white people”) and eagerly helped us carry our things. They gave us a tour before we shared lunch together, where we experienced the staple Malawian food—nsima—which we all enjoyed.
Our Bible story theme for the week is honesty and dishonesty. In Mbulumbuzi, Heidi taught the story of Rahab and the spies, while in Namitambo, Kerri-Jo shared the story of Achan. Since not all the children speak English, both groups worked with a translator.
After the Bible stories, we began teaching the children Psalter 89:1–2 and Psalm 34:13–14, which we’ll continue practicing throughout the week. Then it was time for coloring—something the children loved! They raced eagerly to the classrooms to color pictures related to the stories.
Once the coloring was finished, everyone enjoyed a snack and some Sobo (juice)—always a big highlight! We ended the afternoon with games like football, skipping rope, parachutes, volleyball, and a few other games the kids taught us.
The group of four returned home in a minibus packed with sixteen people—a very unique experience! The other group traveled back with Peter, the Timotheos driver, in the Land Cruiser. By the time we arrived home, we were all exhausted from the day. Some of us took a nap, while others helped prepare dinner. Later, we enjoyed a conversation with Bep Klok (Timotheos Evangelism Consultant), who lives just steps away. After relaxing together for a while, we headed to bed for a well-deserved night of rest.
