Taking our first steps

Eleven days ago, John and I have started a journey in which we know we won’t emerge the same.  But really, this journey did not start the minute we boarded our first flight out of Seattle.  God has been directing each of our steps down paths that eventually led to a common path together.  And as we traveled together, a common desire to see the world through God’s eyes was formed.  This blended with a longing to use the abundance of opportunity, gifts, and talents we have been blessed with to serve the world.  And mysteriously (to each of us, but not to many that know us well), Malawi emerged from this strange recipe.  Malawi: a place, a calling, a people, a country. 

I suppose I should start with the professional reasons (or excuses?) for what has brought John and I to live in one of the 10 poorest countries in the world for the next 2 years.  I (Dawn) have begun a 2-year global women’s health fellowship through the University of North Carolina (UNC).  UNC has been working in Malawi in some capacity for 24 years.  I was drawn to pursue this opportunity as it provided a chance to work as an Ob/Gyn and explore research in a international setting with on-the-ground mentors.  I have long felt that the opportunity to become a physician was given to me to use my skills and education with women in parts of the world who struggle against enormous obstacles to remain healthy mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters.  There is a part of me that lights up with joy while treating patients overseas.  Perhaps it is part conviction at righting the inequality of the chasm between the wealth into which I was born and the poverty before me.  Perhaps a part is my love of making connections with others across cultural or ethnic barriers. Perhaps it is part calling, discovering a piece of God’s purpose for my life. 

John’s work in Malawi stemmed from seeking a way to serve and empower locals in a personal way.  He is excited to meld his desire for Christian ministry and skills in business and communications with World Relief.  The organization seeks to empower local churches to serve the vulnerable in their communities.  Since arriving in Lilongwe last week, John has enjoyed being the only non-Malawiian in his office. His colleagues have been quick to help him expand his Chichewa vocabulary (the language spoken in Malawi), teach him how to eat nsmia (the staple food in Malawi), and introduce him to how dress “smartly” (his boss regularly wears a 3-piece suit to the office). 

The first week has had plenty of practical adjustments beyond the understanding of what our jobs entail.  After 44 hours of travel, we arrived in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi on August 8^th.  God answered prayers to help us get our visa less than 48 hours before our flight, which got us get through customs.  We had received a small moving allowance and spent the past month paring down our belongings for the next 2 years into 11 bins and suitcases.  To my disbelief, every piece of luggage arrived with us and intact.  UNC has guest housing for those taking short term trips and we started our transition in the “surgery house”.  There is a couple (Jared and Laura) from UNC who are running this house for the year.  We have loved getting to know them and their 2-year-old son.  Jared is a general surgery resident and Laura is a social worker in a pediatric HIV clinic at UNC.  John has enjoyed walking the house guard dog, ZaZa, in the evenings.  We have both enjoyed Laura’s “everything from scratch” cooking.  The guest housing arrangement felt like a perfect fit-to the point that we don’t feel ready to leave anytime soon and have made arrangements to stay until December.  In December, we will move next door into our own 2-bedroom house in the same compound.  Community living has thus far included sharing coffee in the mornings, story times with our favorite 2-year-old, a trip to the beach, exploring local churches together, meals, card games, and Seinfeld episodes.  We are excited to see the many other ways we will grow as individuals and as a couple through our relationships with the travelers in our house. 

We have just begun to travel (on the left side of the road, of course) in our new country.  Though the roads are dusty with plenty of potholes, they have led us to hear local musicians, experience passionate worship services, travel to the beautiful Lake Malawi, visit new friends’ homes.  We can’t wait to see where the road leads next.  We love you all and are so grateful for your prayers and support. 

Photos: 

Above-John and I happy to be in Malawi while waiting in line at Customs

Below: All of our luggage finally packed the night before we left Seattle, A potentially prophetic sign at the Addis Ababa airport, Laura with one of our amazing community meals, John relaxing during a day trip to Lake Malawi