So I recently packed up and went back to Malawi, Africa. Malawi is a beautiful place full of warm smiles, lots of laughing, and some of the most gracious and loving people I know. It was pleasant. Things are obviously so different from here, and I enjoy it! This was my second time back and I just fell deeper in love with this country! I went with Drops of Grace ministries and we partner with Somebody Cares in Malawi. The ministry in Malawi is probably the healthiest and most effective ministry I have ever seen! They go into communities and truly build them up from the inside, it is so harmonious! Much of my brief time there was spent playing. I pretty much get off the bus make some noises and the kids laugh at me. It is honestly a humbling experience to have 30 little kids laugh and point at your face. Going in I didn't think I was taking any tangible skills or anything, boy was I wrong! Soccer and giggles can break any language barrier. This is true. I am glad that I serve a God who sends a tall white boy just to laugh with kids in Malawi. While I was in Malawi I was super attacked by just thoughts of being inadequate. I mean I was only playing around and failing at speaking Chichewa. But again I was wrong, I am pretty good at that. The majority of Malawi is under the age of 20.. These kiddos have to grow up quick. There are children who are taking care of their sick parent. Or some don't have their parents around anymore and they're now the head of house. These kids don't get to just play. When I am in Malawi I get to do what I love and that is giggling and playing! The kids have absolutely no problem joining in with me either! As soon as I got off the bus this year I recognized a familiar face in Kalimbira. His name is David and he is different from the other kids! Most kids usually run up and just get to playing, but David likes to sit back and observe. I respect that. I know in my life I like to sit back and observe and just scope it all out. I can always look up and see David watching, he follows. One of the days we were driving over to a neighboring community for like 10 minutes and then heading right back to Kalimbira. So we went over there I made the kids laugh and we picked one of our teammates up, we started to head back and we passed by David on the way. The only thing is David lives in Kalimbira not Kasakula where we were leaving. As we arrived back I got out and David was there! This dude ran all the way back! David was running to simply play with me.. That changed everything for me. I am nothing special in worldly terms, but David ran for me.. I don't even know the last time I literally ran towards something! Do you? I am a sinner. My choices hung Jesus on the cross. But Jesus chose to give His life for us and die on the cross. Three days later He rose victorious and beat death and whoever put their faith in Him will be cleansed. That is my only hope! So as David ran to me I hope I show that type of faith in Jesus. And I hope as I chase Jesus, David can chase me and see Jesus through me. "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 12-14
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AuthorMy name is Andrew Berry! I am just living my life chasing after Jesus and trying to point others to Him. Archives
January 2017
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