the rollercoaster that is Malawi

Posted March 12, 2010 by Kara
Categories: Uncategorized

down      Lanecia woke sick on her first morning

up     VIM team orientation provided intimate time to share and prepare

down     no luggage

up     making simple lunch together and breaking break around the table

down     too many errands to run with one car – tooth brushes and deodorant, groceries for training event, cheese for dinner and…

up     bakery and luggage arrived!

down     crazy traffic and trying to get home at peak hour

up     another oasis of conversation and sharing with friends over Jeff’s delicious macaroni and cheese

down     Jeff running all over town to pick up people for section meeting

up     Janet reading a story to Carter and Claire and a house prepared to receive guests

down     realize topic for the evening is Sodom and Gomorrah and the abomination of homosexuality

up     conversation handled with the same grace, wisdom, humor and gentleness that defines the Malawian spirit

and higher up     fellowship, conversation and tea with new friends

down     taps stolen in the middle of the night and no water for our guests

up     stay tuned…. We will visit Mpenya Nursery School this morning and begin a training event for nursery school teachers from across Malawi at 3pm.

Prayer: for gentleness towards myself and others this day (The Awkward Season by Pam Hawkins)

Comments: 1 Comment

Claire Marin and Carter

Posted March 8, 2010 by Kara
Categories: Family, Mission

smiling kids

I’m so proud of our kids. They have taken this whole experience in stride, adapting, embracing and assimilating with good humor and joy.

This weekend we arrived early to one of the local churches in Ntchisi. We got out footballs and friendship ropes and Claire Marin and Carter joined in the games, helped with the ropes and seemed to feel right at home.

headed out to join the fun

Claire Marin sits patiently through worship service after worship service, even listening and participating with increasing enthusiasm and Chichewa. Carter (often) copes by running outside to play and make friends with any child he can find. They both tolerate the meetings reasonably well and somehow keep up with school in the midst of our crazy, busy schedule.

when the meetings get long... play in the dirt!

Carter is in constant motion and chatters incessantly. He can wear me down and exhaust me but he is almost always happy. It’s really amazing to see his love for life, his generosity as he colors pictures and gives them away, and hear him vow to play with new friends “on Mondays and Saturdays” even if they are three hours from home. I can learn a lot from him.

And Claire Marin… so conscientious, responsible, thoughtful and kindhearted. She shoulders more responsibility for Carter than we should allow her to. When we are at class, teaching or visiting churches she is amazingly patient and good with Carter. And she can cook and bake more now than I could when I got married.

She’s kind and sensitive to people’s feelings and discerning of people’s attitudes. And a prolific writer. She must have half a dozen journals – a journal for stories, for poetry, for Malawi, for drawing. Her teacher praises her for her creativity, imagination and skill.

I’m so grateful for both of them. Their ability to embrace this adventure, the culture and the people have made this journey so much less stressful and much more wonder-ful.

They are amazing really. And I thank God each day (or I should) for the privilege of being family with them.

Comments: 5 Comments

Appointed, but not Ordained

Posted March 3, 2010 by Jeff
Categories: MUMC, Mission

This past Sunday at the Second Annual Conference of the Malawi Missionary Conference, I was appointed as Local Pastor, Assistant at Mpenya Circuit. And Bishop Nhiwatiwa gave six pastors, including myself, a special dispensation to administer the sacraments (Holy Communion and Baptism).

When Bishop Nhiwatiwa read my name, “Mpenya Circuit Assitant, Abusa Kara Lassen Oliver,” I walked to the front to stand with the other 22 pastors it was with great pride to be counted among their number. But also with great humility. These pastors often do not have what they need to survive and to support their families, yet they give all they do have in service to the church. And they do so with grace and commitment.

This appointment as a local pastor came after three days of anxious waiting to see if I would be ordained an Elder in the United Methodist Church. An Elder is appointed and itinerant (available for new appointment each annual conference meeting) and able to administer the sacraments. My District Superintendent in the Tennessee Conference conferred with the bishop and cabinet at home and they sent their “implicit blessings” for my ordination but also stated that it would not include any commitment from or to the TN Conference when I return from the mission field. Bishop Nhiwatiwa wanted further clarification on this stipulation and was an advocate for my seeking strong affiliation with an annual conference before I return. So, I was not ordained.

I have wrestled with this call to ministry since I was 17 years old, (Communion at St. Joe, March 25) and continue to wrestle. I feel and live as a pastor (I am, Sept 19) but, honestly, I was relieved to be appointed as a Local Pastor as opposed to a full elder. My soul is still not fully at peace with my own calling and ministry.

My time and ministry here in Malawi aids in the process and discernment each day. And I’m grateful and humbled by the Board of Ordained Ministry’s invitation to join them as an Abusa (pastor).

Comments: 3 Comments

Hope

Posted March 2, 2010 by Kara
Categories: MUMC, Mission, Uncategorized

My heart is full this morning.  It’s painful within my chest, heavy with the death of a United Methodist leader who went out to the Shire River looking for food for his family only to be killed by a crocodile; pained by the deceit of pastors willing to take donor money; broken-hearted that we can’t support our pastors well enough that they would have to consider such temptations.  My heart aches to go home and hug those who love us and my heart beats faster thinking about leaving behind those whom we love and who have become family here.

This morning I’ve read the prayers of Pam Hawkins in The Awkward Season, and she gave words to my sighs.  I am listening to God is Alive by Brother Henry and I feel like they have surely walked these dust roads with me because their songs name my deep groans.  I’m so grateful for artists and authors and servants of God who are willing to share their gifts and support people they may not even know and people so many miles away.

The scripture this morning was Romans 5:1 – 11, suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character hope and hope does not disappoint.  I pray that this full heart, that the pain and leaden weight in my chest are the birth pains of hope being born in me.  This hope cannot be born of naiveté or academic study, but only through hard-fought, brutal, foolish-to-this-world, tear-stained life.  It’s a hope that echoes through every worship chorus in the villages, through every song in worship on Sunday.  Because the people of Malawi have lived in a place where hope is all they have and it has not disappointed them.

I pray that this hope be born and live in me, to expand my heart that it may hold the multitude of joys and that it might grow stronger to hold the weight of suffering that confronts me each day.

Comments: 1 Comment

One must see for themselves… reflections by Myra Lassen

Posted February 26, 2010 by Kara
Categories: Culture, Family, Mission
I received this email from my mom yesterday.  She wrote so beautifully and honestly about the transition back home after her three weeks in Malawi. Please pray with her that God will give her the words to share her experience with those who need to hear it.
It is odd being back to this land of plenty.
So many have asked about the trip, and some I tell stories and some I just say it was an amazing journey. Sometimes I find myself getting angry at peoples comments, but I know the comments are out of ignorance (as so was I until 3 weeks ago). I see the faces of many of the villagers each day. I do my work and find myself wondering why.
I want my family and friends to know about Malawi. To know the beauty of the country, the hospitality of Malawians, the fast pace of the language, the awe inspiring love of God felt in the villages, the desperation of the villagers, the amazing music, the hardship of each day, the horridness of the hospital, the ruggedness of travel, the laughter “okay” brings, the peace I see in Carter and Claire Marin, the amazing love showered on you by your Malawi family, the joy and sadness and frustration your work and the country brings to you and Jeffrey and on and on.

Mom in Kholosi Village

But, as I hear myself speak and look at the pictures I took I do not have the tools to tell our story. One must see for themselves.
For me, today, I am not the same, I am different. I pray I am different tomorrow, too!
Alleluia, Amen.

Comments: 5 Comments

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