My trip to Malawi, Africa has been one of the greatest events in my life. Not only was it an experience, but it was a life-changing lesson.
God is amazing! He had put a burden in my heart throughout high school to go to Africa, and I was blessed enough this summer to be able to go to the country of Malawi. God worked everything out for me, especially the cost of the trip. I needed to raise $4000.00 and God supplied my every need through fundraising. I didn’t need to spend a dollar on the cost of the trip. God used even the unsaved to provide funds. I was truly blown away, but He didn’t end there for me. He kept teaching me that He is who He says He is.
Before I left for Africa I did not know what to expect. I have seen a lot on TV, but I still didn’t know what I was going to see or be involved in. As soon as I landed in Malawi God fulfilled all my expectations and taught me things that no one in life could. I saw a beautiful country with all kinds of people: the rich, the middle class, and the poor.
My mission team went into different villages, each filled with 200-350 children, where we helped to serve food. Serving the food broke my heart, because the organization could only afford to provide food for the children who attended VBS. They each ate a bowl of porridge for breakfast, and for lunch two children shared one plate of food. We gave any leftovers to the street kids. The children depend on the church for their food.
God not only touched me through the lives of these children and how they were living, but He broke me down. When you go into a village in Africa, you find that the children are not healthy. Their bodies are covered in dust and dirt, their hair is orange and their stomachs are pushed out because they are malnourished. At times I felt as if I didn’t want to carry them because all my clothing would get dirty, and I was afraid that I might hurt them if I picked one up. However, it didn’t take long for God to break me down. I began to look at these children, not in my flesh, but in God’s eyes. I told myself, “I don’t care how dirty or filthy any of these children are, I am going to love them, hold them, hug them and look beyond what I see in the physical, and I am going to be Jesus’ hands and feet.” As soon as I made that decision by dying to myself, God showed me great things and my mission trip was 110 times better!
I would say the best part of my trip was listening to these children sing. None of them have been trained but when they sing praises to God, it’s angelic. They all sing in harmony with excitement and joy. They look so hopeless but when they sing I see the fruit of the spirit in them – love, joy and peace. They have so little yet they smile, sing and live life to the fullest.
I thank God for all the blessings and opportunities we North Americans have, but I wonder who actually has it better? In Malawi these children have nothing, but they value friends and family, and they praise God like there is no tomorrow. Here in Canada we have a lot. We are blessed beyond measure yet we sometimes value the blessings rather than friends, family and God.
Now I have changed my views on life. I value my friends, family, education and Jesus! They are my greatest assets. I no longer look at missions in the same way. I am no longer comfortable living in Canada having everything, yet knowing that people in different countries don’t have the necessities of life or the knowledge of the creator, healer, lover of my soul, Jesus Christ.
I have learned that I must give until it hurts, because I know there are others who are needier than I. So I know that when I finish university I will become a teacher and I will go overseas – wherever God calls me – and I will teach for free. So I encourage every youth living in North America: don’t take for granted what you have, especially your education. It may be hard, but God will bring you through. He will use you for His glory.
I urge everyone to Go! Missions will change your life!
Shalomi Chinniah