Lynne Ekdale
        

         I was excited about going to Malawi but also apprehensive. It was something I had wanted to do for a long time but it didn’t seem real that I was actually going to Africa! I wasn’t sure what God had in mind for me on this trip so I didn’t know what to expect.

When we arrived in Blantyre, it still didn’t seem real to me. It was just too hard to comprehend that I was on the continent of Africa. After a three hour cramped and bumpy ride in the back of an old van, we drove into the Tiyamike Mulungu Centre where we were serenaded by beautiful African voices singing songs of praise to welcome us. I looked around me and what I saw looked so much like what I had envisioned about Africa that it almost felt like I was watching a video.

I was able to hear those same beautiful voices many times throughout our stay. I still marvel at how well the children’s voices blended together to sing praises to God. By the end of our first afternoon with the children, I was wondering how I could take some of them home with me. None of us quite knew how conducting a Vacation Bible School program in a totally different culture with children who didn’t speak English would go but the children were so receptive to everything we did, that it went very well. We even ended up putting on a puppet play for an extra 100 or so people who had gathered outside the Centre when they heard all of the joy that was coming from inside!

I had expected that we would be teaching the children about Jesus but I think they taught us about Jesus. They showed us unconditional love from the moment we arrived. They unabashedly sang God’s praises and didn’t even seem to know how wonderful they sounded. They showed love and care for each other and for us. They shared their beautiful smiles with us. They painted pictures and wrote words about Jesus for us, words about His love and death for us on the cross.

I’m also excited about the vision Will and Pam have for the Centre and their commitment to seeing it happen. They know education is a key for the children and they are moving ahead in faith with a school building trusting in God to provide funds and teachers. One of my favorite Bible verses keeps coming back to me. It is Micah 6:8: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. That is what I saw in the Tiyamike Mulungu Centre, and that is what I am called to do.

I have a picture of my VBS group as the background on my computer so now every morning when I go to the computer, I see Jesus smiling back at me through those beautiful faces.