The mountain

On Thursday it was cool enough to hike the mountain. Usually I make a very early start but I didn't get out of bed in time for that. I thought of waiting for another day but the weather stayed cool and I decided to do it.

Lizzy (9 year old who is staying with Isabelle -with her mom) asked if she could come with me. I said yes and in my head rearranged my expectations of my hike. I figured we would go as far as she likes and I could do the top another time. We packed water and some snacks and started off. After two false starts (Lizzy's socks kept crawling down into her shoes before we even left the yard) she changed socks and off we went.

She is a mountain goat! Sure of her feet and ready to go! We made it to picture rock, then to the mountain hut where we took a little break. I asked how she was doing and if we'd gone far enough. She asked how far I usually go and when I said the top she said let's go! And so we did.

It gets steeper from the hut to the top and we took our time but we made it and really enjoyed the view!

By the time we made it down our legs were shaky and now 2 days later I can still feel it! But Lizzy is so excited that she did it, she's ready to go again! So maybe on Tuesday...we'll see.

Prayers

Soon after my arrival and on the way to the lake we were informed that there had been an accident that involved a minibus that transported Ebenezer students from Nkhoma. It was a head-on collision with a truck that carried bags of cement. 5 students were killed, 4 adults. 1 child is still in critical condition at the hospital.

We passed the site on our way back to Nkhoma on Sunday and my stomach dropped.

School has only been in session for 2 weeks. This week there has been a prayer memorial service Wednesday and school will resume on Thursday.

Prayers for the families, the school, and the community are appreciated.

The Lord who created the mountains is always with us. He does not promise that things will be easy, but He does promise to be there, even when they are not.

Arrival

I left home Wednesday. Kelley drove me to Charlotte where we said hi to her sister and kids and then were taken to Paco's Tacos by her parents. (loud, busy restaurant with some very tasty tacos) 

Then we were up at 345 to get to the airport for my 610 flight. While checking in at the kiosk, it wanted to charge me for my luggage. (On an international flight!?! Never!) The desk clerk helped me to link my flights (which should have been done as I bought them as one) and got my free bag. I was impressed and grateful. 

Plane number 1, leg 1 (clt->iad): before takeoff they had to turn it all off to reset some error message they were getting. Didn't take too long and we were on our way!

#2, 2(iad->add): 15 hours, 3 movies and one book down along with a few naps and not nearly enough time moving around the cabin.

#3, 3 (add->fbm): stop added after I bought the ticket and added 2+ hours the trip, Delayed take off because of something wrong with fuel getting to one of the wing engines. Another movie and nap. 

#3, 4 (stop for an hour but can't get off) (fbm->llw): an hour on the ground, some new passengers, a little more sleep. Then through the grinding gridlock of customs and visa requirements. To pick up my bag and meet Isabelle! 

3+ hours later than expected but I'm back in Malawi! Spending my first weekend at the lake with Isabelle, to relax and fight that jetlag. (6 hour difference!)

We are ALL Needed

For just as the body is one and has many members,

and all the members of the body, though many,

are one body, so it is with Christ.

~1 Corinthians 12:12

We are all different. We all have different things that we are good at, that we need help with, that we can help with. We can't do it alone. If we were all the same, how would we get things done? We would have the same ideas, the same talents.

This week at camp, or 2 weeks at camp, would have been different if any one person had not shown up. Each and every person is needed and loved by the Creator, and hopefully each and every one of you felt that love at camp. Many find such friendships at camp that people become like family. But not everyone. My prayer for all is that you have a place where you know you are loved, that you know deep down in your heart that you are loved for who you are. May you find a place to share yourself and be yourself and rejoice in being you!

We could GO SOLO, but it is BETTER TOGETHER!

Call in the Reinforcements

You’re going to wear yourself out--and the people, too.

This job is too much for one person. You can’t do it alone. ~Exodus 18:18

This comes from Exodus 18. Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt and back toward Midian. He had witnessed so many of God's miracles. He let his father-in-law, Jethro know about them. Jethro watched Moses as he judged and arbitrated between the people. Jethro watched and offered advice to Moses about getting help. About training others and delegating responsibility. He said that the tough questions can still be brought to Moses but as for the rest, others can fill that role.

Sometimes we feel that to get it done right, we have to do it ourselves. Jethro tells us to train others, impart responsibility and knowledge on others. Sometimes it takes that outside perspective to show us how and where help can be used. Moses was in the middle of it, couldn't figure out a way to not be the go-to person. Jethro helped Moses see that delegating would save time and energy to be used for the good of the people.

At camp we have about 5 directors. If we ran camp ourselves, we would wear out quickly, camp would be smaller, and it just wouldn't work as well.  So we hire summer staff: counselors, lifeguards, specialty help and spend 2 weeks training before campers arrive. We try to impart so much knowledge and ability that they can take care of most of the day to day, most of the leading. We are still there, to help with the bigger things, to give more specific help or to facilitate the camp spirit and experience but this way we can reach more campers, have more programs, and watch with joy as relationships form and grow.

Teamwork

Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd,
they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging
through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.

~Mark 2:4

We get farther when we work together. If it had been me alone trying to get myself or a friend in through such a crowd of people...it probably wouldn't have happened. We come up with more ideas, have more strength, have more faith when there are more brains and bodies. I've seen studies of brainstorming sessions that go better with more people to bounce ideas off of. The creativity is higher and even better with more diversity in the group. People can come up with solutions where it looked like there was no way. We are meant for community and working together! Going solo? Better together!

This story ends with Jesus saying that he saw THEIR faith (the friends') and then he healed the man. YOUR faith can be what helps another through a tough time. When we pray for others, God hears us.

I have to do this

Esther responded to Mordecai: “Go and get all the Jews in Susa to fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for 3 days. I and my attendants will fast with you. If you do this, I’ll go to the king, even though it is against the law.”

~Esther 4:15-16

Sometimes we have to do things on our own. Queen Esther was the only one who could possibly approach the king to try to save her people. She was scared. She tried to turn down Mordecai saying that she could die if she approached without being summoned. Mordecai told her that this could be why she was in the palace and that living in the palace would not save her if the Jews were to be killed. She plucked up her courage, asked her community for support and acted. She had to do the actual action alone, but she was supported in prayer and fasting.

There are things we do on our own. There are things that are scary or uncomfortable that we wish we didn't have to do, or that someone else could do. Our inner voice tells us to step up, to speak out, to stand up to the bully even if we would rather not. We have to find our community who supports us even if they aren't physically there with us. Our parents, our friends, our church...

When I went to Malawi for the first time to teach (kindgergarten!), I knew no one there. It wasn't a problem until I got on the flight and then I worried. But it was an adventure. Then came the first day of class...and I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn't do this! They didn't speak English and I didn't speak Chichewa. I knew next to nothing about teaching kindergarten or any early childhood education. I went to the principal after that first day and tried to resign. I can't do this! I don't know what I'm doing! It was chaos!  

She sent me back to my house with the directions to journal, pray and remember that I had support in prayers from people at home, strangers who pray for the school and teachers, parents of the students and so many more.  So I did. And I went back the next day. Class was better (ish), still chaotic, and I still felt like I didn't know what I was doing, but I got to love on some students and do my best and help them to move forward.

Support comes from all around. From friends and family and complete strangers. Be the support of others. Feel your support!

I can't do it alone.

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been there for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

The sick man said, "Sir, there is no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. By the time I get there, someone else has gotten in."

~John 5:6-7

The sick man was there waiting for the angels to come down and stir up the waters. He believed that if he could get in first he would be healed, but also knew that he wouldn't be first. Jesus reaches out, asks him if he wants to be well. Jesus could have come in and healed him without asking. Who wouldn't want to be well. But that isn't what happens.

My first summer, I used the same lesson each week. This summer, I was out quite a bit camping and left the message to be given by others. Sometimes I got to hear it, sometimes not. I also found that even my message changed some week to week.

I talked of how Jesus reached out to those who others would have ignored. It was believed that the sick were being punished for some transgression and therefore unclean. It teaches us to reach out to others who are on the fringes, whom others overlook. We can offer help.

I spoke of community and how we may not know or like everyone in our community. That we can help some but probably not all of them. The Bible has directions about loving your neighbor as yourself, and who your neighbor is. It doesn't say that you have to like them, but treating others as we would want to be treated would mean that we are nice, polite, helpful to others.

Others spoke of asking for help. The sick man reached out and said that he can't do it alone. There is no way that he would be able to get to the water to be healed without help.

From my life, I remember a time when I had a flat tire. Before cell phones. But that is ok because I knew how to change a flat...so I got the tools out and began. But I didn't get far. I couldn't loosen the lug nuts. I pushed, pulled, I even stood on the wrench holding on to the top of the car, I jumped. Nothing doing. So I had to cross the highway to the rest area and call highway patrol. When he arrived, he had no problem loosening the lug nuts and changing the tire. I just had to reach out...

Community is key. We do better when we work together. Communication is necessary. It is something we should all keep working on. Reaching out offering help and asking for help.