Third Base

Muli Bwanji? (Hello, how are you?)

I can’t believe that I am entering my last week of this internship here in Malawi!! I feel like I have just gotten acquainted. Again, it is hard to put words to what I am experiencing. I have a lot of processing (connecting emotions to experiences) to do and am fully aware that this trip really begins when it ends. It’s “trippin” me out; that is for sure. I have witnessed so much cultural diversity. Not only have I experienced Malawi I have also experienced other ex-patriots (people who aren’t Malawian) and their cultures as well. My eyes have been opened wide to the realities of what takes place outside the comfortable walls of the U.S.A.

God has been showing me a lot about walls. In the states we have cement walls along the freeways, walls in our buildings, and walls around who we are. In Malawi if a person is fortunate enough to live in a house, there is most definitely a brick wall at least 6 feet tall around the perimeter of their property. In fact, most of these brick walls have glass edges on the tops or electrical lines that add additional security to the already permanent wall. Intruders still manage to get over the walls and therefore many families hire gate guards or have multiple dogs to ensure safety. In Malawi, people only invite friends, family and friends of friends and family inside the walls that barricade their homes.

Never have I experienced hospitality quite like this. I have drunk more tea and coffee in the last 7 weeks than I have in the last 7 months. Any time we are invited into the walls of someone’s home we are offered tea, coffee and biscuits (cookies) at the minimum.

This last week we went on a road-trip from Lilongwe south through Dedza to Blantyre, Mulanje, the Mozambique border, then back up north through Zomba and home to Lilongwe (LLs). It was so nice to have a “family vacation” and just be who God has made us each to be. It seems that we all play certain roles within the walls of this internship and in the walls of the Flood office. These roles and the walls around them have manifested without our control. They are controlled by who we are as individuals and the on-going goals of this internship. Sometimes, however, we get stuck in certain roles. Personally, it has become difficult to see the other parts of me that need to come out and develop when I am blinded by the motions (walls) of life. This road-trip allowed each of us to come out of our intern shells in unique ways and see parts of others we didn’t know existed. It also allowed us to be refreshed by the changing scenes that quickly disappeared into the distance.

I can confidently say that this last week, I saw some of the most beautiful creations I have ever seen. I am thankful for colors. Even though it is hard for me to choose, God revealed to me that my favorite color really is green. If you have ever seen the Napa Valley covered in vines, imagine that glistening with the deepest, brightest, fullest greens. There is something riveting, capturing, majestic about fields and fields of tea leaves at the base of the Mulanje Mountains. The green popped out at me saying, “God created this for you in this moment.” I saw the bright green contrast against the deep dark blue Mulanje Mountains, bright blue sky, and ominous clouds. The sun shined down and the fields looked as though they were sparkling. The beauty of the lands concealed the pain of being squished into the back corner of a Toyota mini-van; the claustrophobia of being surrounded by people and food, and the complete loss of understanding.

When we embarked on this journey we prayed that God would provide for us. We left unaware of where we were going to sleep and what foods we would be eating. Our contacts (rather Edith’s contacts) pulled through and eagerly welcomed us with tea and crumpets. The boys stayed with Eunice and her family while us girls stayed up the road about 7 minutes, with Keissner and her family. We stayed two nights with these families and saying our good-byes was soo hard. Especially because us girls got so attached to Keissner, her husband Emmanuel, and their 3 boys: Nate 9, Usher 5, Evan 2. The boys were so entertaining, really smart, and showed us as much hospitality as their parents did.

We embarked on the next stretch of our journey to the Mulanje Mountains and to Ndawa’s family’s home. I fell asleep for about 30 minutes even though it felt longer. I was so tired and could have slept for longer but the roads were so bumpy and bouncy. The drive from Blantyre to Mulanje was about 3 hours and brought us to the base of the mountain range. There were fields and fields of tea leaves. I was reminded me of the landscape in Maui, Hawaii on the road to Hana. Again, the fields were the brightest green and the Mulanje Mountains appeared navy blue as the sun rays bounced off them and fell into the dark grey clouds. They were hard to see, but if we looked closely at the mountains we could see waterfalls pouring out. We winded down and around villages, and up through the big green pine trees. Throughout Malawi there are paved roads but most of them barely allow for two cars to pass each other head on. I am truly perplexed as to how there are not more car accidents. I think I see more car accidents in the states where there are reflectors, bright orange lines, street lights, and divots indicating where your lane ends and another begins. I think Americans are get more distracted in general.

As we turned off the main road Ndawa announced that we were very close to his house. It was almost like driving through a tea-leaf vineyard as we neared. We passed several houses before I saw a man walking toward us. “Wow, Ndawa looks just like that guy,” I said. “Because that’s my dad,” he exclaimed. We were invited to sit down upon entering into his home, which resembled a small east-coast (of the U.S.) cottage. After our Malawian accustomed introductions we were escorted to a dining table and I entered into my own little world. I was so distracted by the feast that had been prepared for us. The table was not set for 8 rather it was crowded with hot dishes of rice, goat meat, chicken, peas, nsima, greens, and bins of carrots, papaya, bananas, and pineapple. It seemed that each family we stayed with served us with a Thanksgiving style meal for breakfast and dinner. If it hadn't been for us being out during lunch our midday meals wouldn't have been any different.

While Ndawa’s father introduced us to the meal and informed us that we were not just visitors, but family, I was overwhelmed by feelings of acceptance. It finally struck me that this family had looked forward to our arrival more than I had. After all, they hadn’t seen their son or brother for more than two months. I was suddenly reminded that as much as Ndawa feels like my brother after these last 7 weeks there is still so much I will never understand about him. My eyes filled with tears and I immediately dismissed them as I entered back into reality. I lingered in the back while my other teammates rushed toward the food. Even though they were unaware of what I was experiencing, I needed them to take the lead. As I stepped closer Samuel, Ndawa’s middle brother, poured water over my hands. In Malawi, before a meal everyone washes their hands together. Because it is so dusty most places it is always refreshing to have clean warm water to rinse your hands in. The lunch tasted just as good as it looked and I really enjoyed conversing with Ndawa’s family. His dad was the only member that partook in lunch with us. I am not really sure why his brothers and adopted sisters didn’t join us. We were unable to meet Mrs. Lungu because she is a teacher and was administering exams at the school she works at.

After our meal, Mr. Lungu said, “Come with me.” We followed him outside where he showed us his garden. There were potatoes, tomatoes, taro root, pineapples, bananas, and a variety of other plants as well. Since we didn’t finish all the fruit during lunch, when we were leaving, Mr. Lungu insisted we take the left overs along with 2 additional papayas and 1 stock of bananas. I have never seen so many bananas in one bunch which is why I am calling it a stock! There have to be about 50 green bananas on this stock. Our car kept getting fuller and fuller each place we stopped. Not only were we getting fuller, but each family supplied us with enough snacks to feed us two times around. When we left Keissner’s home she said, “Well, you need to take these [scones] (which she made herself) because there is no Shoprite (a Malawian grocery store) on that side.” She definitely out did herself!

The summit of Mulanje Mountains, Sapitwa, is the second or third (there is a debate) highest point in Africa while Mt. Kilamanjaro remains the tallest. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to hike because it would have been an all day excursion. But, since Annie had relayed to Ndawa the suggestion that we tour a tea factory, Esperanza was our next stop. In Malawi, “next stop” doesn’t necessarily mean the actual “next stop.”

When we had been en route to Ndawa’s house for lunch we passed through a series of police stops. It is not common to see police cruising the streets like in America, and highway patrolmen in patrol cars don’t exist. Rather there are police stops that you must stop at and answer any questions they ask. The police usually look really intimidating, sometimes have guns, take a peek at who is riding in the car, glare at everyone and the driver, then let you continue on. We have heard horror stories the passed seven weeks about how the police are always trying to make money, often pocketing the money themselves by making up laws on the spot and keeping you or your driver’s license until you pay. I have become accustomed to the stops and don’t feel particularly nervous at them anymore. I think the police are a bit more bored at the stops in Mulanje. At maybe the third stop we were held up for longer than usual. Although I don’t speak Chichewa I am starting to pick up on the language and the tones used therein. I became aware that we were not going to be able to get through as easily as before. The policeman thoroughly examine Humphrey’s driver’s license and the tags on the windshield. There are 3 tags that are required to be posted on the left side of the windshield: certificate of fitness, vehicle license, and motor insurance. We had all 3 tags clearly displayed and up-to-date. According to this policeman there is also an ownership tag required to state who the vehicle belongs to. This tag we did not have. After some dispute between Humphreys and the policeman he issued us a ticket for K1,500 (K=Kwacha ~ $10 USD). It was funny to hear our Malawians talk about the absurd charge. It was even funnier to watch Edith create an ownership tag on the spot. On the interior side the tag reads, “Abusa (Pastor) Sean,” on the exterior side the tag reads, “Sean Kampondeni…” along with his address. Edith has an uncanny way of getting through any police stop. When she posted the very official “ownership tag” she eyed the policeman, smiled and hinted at the tag. He read it and as we drove off he tried his hardest not to laugh. It was the funniest thing! I said, “If we had to go through all of that just to make him laugh I’m happy it happened.” In order for Humphreys to get his license back we had to go to the Malawi/Mozambique border office to pay the fine back. This was our detour before we toured the Esperanza tea factory.

Mr. Lungu happens to be a popular guy in their town. He knows the head hauncho at the tea factory and enabled us to take a tour. Ndawa’s whole family came along and we dressed up in gowns and little hats that looked like miniature baker’s hats. The tour was about one-and-one-half hours. It is definitely a highlight for me for the entire trip. It was one of the only times we felt like tourists besides our visit to Henry Henderson Institute (H.H.I). H.H.I. is the home of the oldest church in Malawi. It is a Presbyterian cathedral that was built in 1881 and is beautiful. I was so excited to go inside and insisted we visit. It reminded me of the Catholic Church in Chicago, IL that my mom’s family played an integral role in. The tour of the tea factory was awesome! It totally put into perspective the things that I am learning in class and why standards of fill, quality, quantity, edible portions, waste portions are all so critical. As others tuned out because they were unsure of what our guide was referencing, I engaged even more. At the end of the tour we even got to taste the teas. The teas were the strongest aromas I have ever tasted. Unlike wine tasting where you swallow the sample, in tea tasting, you spit the tea out. We had fun spitting tea.

The next stretch of our road trip was about a six-hour drive bouncing along the roads north to Lilongwe. We stopped in Zomba to visit Chancellor’s College, one of the more prestigious business colleges. We also drove to the top of one of the mountains there Kuchawe and passed the Mulunguzi Reservoir. There is a beautiful hotel at the top that attracts tourists. There were monkeys roaming around so Brock and Cameron got carried away feeding them bananas…typical azungus. This was also the first place I had seen any horses. The concierge advertises trail rides from the stable there around the reservoir. It was really neat to be able to experience other parts of Malawi other than Lilongwe.

This final week will be a typical week in the office and in our non-flood ministries. We will welcome the four other Malawian interns home from San Diego, host the Ark (our Friday night ministry), send off our short-term Flood San Diego team home, and get to travel north with the Malawians. We are heading to Salima to a section of Lake Malawi to hang out there for the day and share our experiences of the internship with one another (the Malawians with us the Americans and vice versa).

Lake Malawi is known for it’s freshwater diving and being the largest freshwater lake in all of Africa. If you look at the southeast section of the continent of Africa on a map you will see a small body of water. Compared to the whole continent of Africa it looks similar to a strand of hair enveloping the country of Malawi. If you look at a map of Malawi and compare the lake to it you will see that the lake is massive. The Norwegians we met on our safari said that they have seen the most beautiful freshwater fish here. In fact they dive yearly at Lake Malawi because of the scuba diving is that great. I won’t be diving, but I’ll definitely go for a swim…no water parasite is going to attack me, my name is Sarah Colin! Actually, I swam in Lake Malawi in 2009 and still have not experienced any adverse reactions.

I will continue to post as I re-enter the states. I know that there will be some fun stories of traveling home and of enjoying this last week. Please continue to pray for me and my team’s safety, unity, health, and emotional and physical reentry to the U.S.A.!

Zikomo for reading!

Sincerely,

Ymisarah

"The Real Africa"

Wow the safari has already come and gone and we are back at work planning our next event, The Ark.

The Ark is headed up by us, the interns and happens every other Friday on campus at African Bible College (ABC). It is a place for people to gather during the transition season of their regular community groups. Just like in San Diego when every one leaves for the summer so does Flood Malawi have a winter season when everyone is gone visiting families and taking a break from school. Community groups that usually have a consistent amount of people during the rest of the year diminish. This also means that people are in town visiting; people like us who are here to serve on a short-term basis and looking for a place to experience God and community. Therefore we host The Ark. Two weeks ago was “Won Love.” Our theme was based around games and learning that we don’t, win God’s love, He has already won us. This next week is In Love. We will focus on being in love with Jesus. The night will be filled with prayer, worship, and communion.

However, since we were on our safari all week there was no time to plan it. Since The Ark is happening tomorrow night, we will spend tonight planning. We will also be doing our regular Friday ministry tomorrow. We have a staff meeting in the morning, make lunch, and travel to Kudoku Village for the afternoon. Although we had a fabulous time on our safari we needed more down time to rest and just be humans.

Unfortunately we were playing catch up on our safari. Four hours into the trip in Chipata (passed the Mchinji/Mfuwe, Malawi/Zambia border) our driver pulled over to the side of the road (the left side). Having been on a South Luangwa Safari before and with the same company, Land & Lakes, I had a flashback of a nightmare. On our return home in 2009 our vehicle broke down on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. A piece of the rear axle had dislodged itself and we waited for 4 hours for the part and fixing. This time it wasn’t the rear axle; instead the engine of the 20 passenger bus was overheating. The driver wasn’t sure if it was the fan belt or the water pump but the bus began to fill with a burning plastic smell.

We all got out of the bus, and after urinating in the reeds, settled about 3 feet above the road on another dirt road/path thing. It was the four of us, American Interns + Edith, our Malawian supervisor; 2 Brits, a mother and her son, who were working with endangered species with the organization, Born Free; 10 Norwegians who were Lake Malawi divers, and on Holiday; 1 German who was a very liberal, English, German, Literature teacher on vacation. The British son, Oliver (15yrs) made it into my quote book when he said, “that German guy is crazy.” Let’s just say we became a big family while we were stranded on the road from 2pm until after dark at 6pm. To make a long story short we finally arrived at Thornicroft Lodge around 11:30 pm. It was one of the happiest moments we’ve all experienced after enduring the bumpiest, dustiest, most exhausting ride one might have. Not to mention being squeezed into a mini-bus with absolutely no suspension, having to pee, having a scratchy sore throat, stomach cramps, and being on the road at night with drivers that have never driven the route before makes for a great story. Fortunately, they held our dinner for us and that dinner was worth all the trouble. It was the most warm, mouth-watering, 3 course dinner I have had in a long time. Our beds were real mattresses and the blankets were so snuggly.

The next morning our wake up call was at 5am, tea at 5:30am, and our first game drive at 6am. We were all like zombies but were blessed with the fragrance of God’s creation! We saw more animals than I know how to describe…God is so awesomely cool!! There is nothing like hearing the roar and purr of a male lion. There is something so unique and calming about sleeping giraffes. Honeybadgers DON’T CARE! Civets are weird. Hyenas stocking Impalas are gangsta. Hippos are just funny. Crocadiles are so suave. Mongoose are sneaky. Porcupines are legit and extremely fast. Elephants are intriguing. Baby elephant trumpets are like music to the ear. Lion cubs are the cutest thing I have ever seen! Mama lions aren’t kidding. Leopards are beauuuutiful and stealthy. Water buffalo are like water buffalo. Zebras blend in despite their black and white. Warthogs (Hogwarts) are brats! Baboons need wet wipes.Vultures are crazy especially when there are like 30 eating a dead hippo. 1 day old dead Hippos smell worse than the toilet hole at Kudoku village. Frog living in my closet…you are so cute and can stay anytime!

In conclusion, the excitement of living in Africa has not gone away and ABC feels and smells like home now. (Mom, Pop, and Alyssa don’t worry, I’ll be home before Christmas haha.) I am excited to relish in this next month. This last month went by so slow and fast all at the same time.

In Pursuit of the King,

Sarah

p.s. Malawi = "The Warm Heart of Africa." Zambia = "The Real Africa"

It's A Whole New World...

So about the new pictures...not sure how to make them smaller, but I figure it will give you a better sense of what it feels like being here.

Tomorrow will be our 3 week marker of being in-country. I can't believe how fast the time is going! Today is Malawi's 47th Independence Day so we have a holiday! The Human Rights Flood San Diego team arrived on Saturday. Therefore, instead of taking my rest day on Monday I decided to go to the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre and take my rest day today. Although it was really informative and I gained a lot from attending the meeting today took forever to come!

Last night was so much fun! A couple who are from Costa Mesa but currently live here in Malawi had a birthday party for all those whose birthdays are in July. There were four of us birthday peoples. We ate lots of pizza and then had birthday cake and ice cream. It was SOOOO good!! I ate more candy and sugar yesterday than I have for more than a month. The Riesens that were sent from my mom with the Human Rights team are definitely gone too. We played Twister, "danced off" to Christian Hip-Hop music, and reminisced about Keith Greene. There was also time for us birthday peoples to be affirmed by the rest of the crowd. The first thing I heard was, "TALL!" I also heard, "responsible young leader," "laughter," "funny," "y misala," "crazy," and "beautiful." At the end of our time we each shared a moment where we God wow'ed us. It was really a sweet time.

In the last week we have moved houses. The seven of us are now living in a 4 bedroom 2 bath house a couple doors up from where we were living. We're just a big 7 person family and color doesn't matter whatsoever. We are forced to trust each other and love each other faster than we've had to trust and love before. When someone is missing it really affects the whole team. We miss each other quickly. I am cherishing the moments we are sharing and the laughs we are having because it won't last forever. I am so blessed to be part of this family.

The new house is closer to the Flood offices which is nice because a lot goes on there. We also have 3 dogs that we (mostly Cameron) are caring for. Terra the Great Dane that was living at our first house has followed us to the new house. We can't get rid of her. Lol

The Holy Spirit is showing me just how many things are gifts from above. "Every good and perfect gift is a gift from above." Simple things like receiving a piece of gum from Annie, or a whole pack of gum from my mom and sister via Rachel on the Human Rights team mean SO much and bring me so MUCH joy!!! The moment that cobalt mint or spearmint start crackling in mouth is seriously a reminder of God's love lol! Today, the simplicity of the only garbage truck in Malawi coming by the house to pick up our trash was a true blessing!

This Friday we will head to Kudoku village and we will stay the night there. I am looking forward to all that means: sleeping in the dust, peeing in cockroach infested holes, eating mysterious foods, suscepting myself to disease, receiving the best hospitality from African woman, playing with the happiest kids on earth, blowing black boogers out of my nose, and possibly praying for the 22 year old witch doctor AGAIN = Experiencing life to the full for the glory of God, so I can continue to see, hear, smell, feel like He watches, listens, breathes, and loves.

The First 2 Weeks

WOW there is SO much I could tell you…I don’t even know where to begin….It’s been 2 weeks since we’ve arrived.

Okay so we have a pretty rigorous schedule. We were all surprised by the fact that there was actually a plan considering we had no idea what we were in for.

Our weekend begins on Sunday afternoons after church. Monday is our rest day J. Monday has ended up being a sleep-in until 8am, then catch-up day on laundry and cleaning day. Wednesdays have also been a day that’s been sort of relaxing. We usually work in the morning until about 3pm and then are able to take a nap in the afternoon. Wednesdays are designated “family nights.” That means the 7 of us (Cameron, Brock, Annie, Me, Edith, Humphreys, and Ndaba) have a family meeting and then hang. Last night we prayed over one another. We are all trusting each other more and in turn are able to be more vulnerable. Last night was unifying.

Everyday we have group quiet time at 0630 for 15 minutes, then 30 minutes of personal devotional time. After that we eat breakfast, clean it up, and go to the office for staff devotions, meetings, etc. (depending on the day).

Saturdays are service days where we go out to the community. We have been to Onesimus in Chitipi Village, which is a home for boys who previously were living on the street; Crisis Nursery, which is an orphanage for abandon infants; we will go to Kachele Juvenile Hall this Saturday, and to a widows home, and other places in the future.

Friday is Kudoku Village day, but we couldn’t go last Friday because there has been a really bad fuel shortage. There will literally be lines of cars and trucks 2 miles long that need petrol or diesel. Every so often there will be a delivery. When there is a delivery we’ll send someone out to wait in line, but sometimes the filling station will run out before our vehicle gets filled. The situation has arisen as a direct result of decisions made by the government. [please pray for the government, authorities, and leading officials not only in Malawi but the rest of the world too.] It has been really cool to listen to world news on the radio instead of just hearing all American news.

We have ended up walking from ABC to Flood, the nursery and to some markets. ABC is like the Beverly Hills of Lilongwe. There also are huge houses that the wealthy Malawians are building. So much development has occurred since I was here last. I was looking forward to riding our bikes almost everywhere, but instead we pile as many people into a car as we can.

I also have a little friend. This is a friend that wakes me up in the early morning and middle of the night. It is a rat that lives in my ceiling. The first time I heard this pest I was so scared!! I just kept reciting Joshua 1:9 “Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Ana. Adam Wright, Ndawa J) I ended up praying one night as I blessed the food that the rat would go away haha. I didn’t hear it for 2 nights and the next day there was a rat in the kitchen. The Great Dane, Tara that we are taking care of took care of it. I ran away screaming when I saw the rat. There is ANOTHER rat in my ceiling though and it keeps waking me up!

There is also a Mosque nearby. If we aren’t sleeping soundly at 5am, it will keep us awake for about 30-45 minutes, which stinks when we are waking up just after 6am.

We’ve been able to play with so many kids!! We’ve interacted with kids with special needs at Children of Blessings, changed the worst smelling diapers ever, and taken care of the smallest baby ever. Her head and body fit in the palm of my hand and I’m not sure that it was even healthy that I was holding her. Her legs looked like like doll legs but like pruned…you know how your hands get when you have them in water for too long? I had no idea what the heck I was doing.

The babies have melted my heart. There are two other babies we often hang with. One is Jordan (Pastor Sean’s son) who just turned 1 yr, and Thomas (Pastor Tom’s son) who is almost 6 mo. God has been showing me His faithfulness. He is faithful to remind me to become more child-like in my dependence on Him.

My team and I are bonding well. We are definitely a little family. For these first 3 weeks Annie and I are living in a 3 BR 2 BA house with Edith, who is our leader. Edith is the epitome of me except black and weighs around 90#s. Her and I laugh SO much because we just understand each other and have similar joyful spirits. We seriously have so much fun together.

The boys: Cameron and Brock were living with Humphreys and Ndawa in the dorms, but now they have moved into our house. Humphreys is an old friend from last time. Ndaba is 20yrs and is an intern like the rest of us. Humphreys is the boy’s leader. We are still figuring out our housing situations.

On Sunday night Annie, Edith and I made the shopping list for the next week. Let's just say it reminded me of Yours Mine and Ours. Everyone loves to look at my shopping list especially Pastor Sean. "Sarah, what exactly does 1 pile of potatoes mean?" Things like the biggest one they have, 10 loaves of bread, 20 apples, and "tomato paste-HUGE" are commonly found on the list. On Tuesday, we bought 20 kilograms of sugar which is about 44 pounds. Yeah...that better last us at least 1 month if not 2 LOL!

So that's the latest/the best glimpse I can give you. I am happy to expound if you would like to know more specifics. Just post a question and/or rate this post below.

Thanks for Reading :)

Sarah C:

It’s hard to write when I hardly have words for what I’m experiencing. I find myself in the very last row of a United jet. I am in seat A, which is a window seat and I love looking out the window! I still can’t believe this is really happening.

Our plane took awhile to taxi. Apparently there were “technical difficulties.” When planes run on technology and you hear something like that, it’s a little unnerving lol. But, I know whom I serve and have no worry. I was worried about all our baggage making the 50 lb weight limit. God showed me straight up that I should quit that worrying!!! Our heaviest bag was 45 lbs. We made it through security just fine too. Brock’s shower gel was confiscated so if any of us are gonna be stinky, it’s gonna be him haha. I’m sitting right next to him on this flight…

Our prayer time that was held right before we got to the terminal was amazing! I was truly overwhelmed by all the support. There were at least 20 people outside the Starbucks in Point Loma. The team and I sat in the middle of the circle and everyone laid hands on us. This may be the most filling, enriching, and loving time I have felt by my Flood family. I have been praying for the last year that God would soften my heart and allow me to cry more easily (except at funerals haha). Boy, God is faithful even when I don’t want him to be. It meant so much to have someone I look up to grab my hands, look me in the eyes and say, “do you know how strong you are? Do you know that you are beautiful? Do you know that you are a good investment? Do you know you are worthy of His love and grace? Do you know you were meant to lead this trip?” It was hard to say yes.

I have been practicing my leadership skills as well. As a person who wants to be a part of ALL the action ALL the time, it is hard to take time for myself. It was really energizing when I took myself to the other side of the terminal for about 30 minutes. I had my own special time and when I returned my team was so excited to tell me about what I had missed. Could this be God? Perhaps ;)

One more thing I realized this morning during my devotional time. I am fond of the book My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (well I knew this prior to this morning). As I looked at the title of today’s devotion it spoke to me rather boldly. I was hesitant to begin my day because I knew that it would end on an airplane. I was feeling a sense of loss. The title read, “Get Moving!” I decided to look at all the titles for June…Here they are:

The Staggering Question. Are You Obsessed by Something? “The Secret of the Lord.” The Never-Forsaking God. God’s Assurance. “Work Out” What God “Works in You.” The Greatest Source of Power. What’s Next To Do? Then What’s Next To Do? And After That What’s Next To Do? Getting There. Getting There. Get Moving! Get Moving! “Will You Lay Down Your Life?” Beware Of Criticizing Others. Keep Recognizing Jesus. The Service of Passionate Devotion. Have You Come to ‘When’ Yet? The Ministry of The Inner Life. The Unchanging Law of Judgment. “Acquainted With Grief.”

I can’t help but to see from this that God has been preparing me in so many ways; most of which I don’t even recognize. This morning I felt like I wanted to call up Oswald Chambers and his wife to share what they made helped me see today. Imagine how many lives each of us touch. Most of the time we don’t even know that we have and impact. I encourage you to keep or start planting seeds by seeking out the Holy Spirit.

We made it to Washinton Dulles!! It is crazy how modern and space-age the airport is here. It has changed a lot since my last trip. We had to take a train to the other terminals and it was such a trip to see life in D.C. (at least life at the airport). I am really excited for our next flight because I haven't slept at all! I am saving up my sleep so that I can knock out on this 13 hour flight.

...So we finally made it to our terminal and about 10 minutes later Cameron says, "We have to go back to the plane right now." "Why?" "Because I left my computer on it." The boys went back to the terminal and when they came back, they didn't have the computer with them. So please be praying that it will miraculously get back to him.

We also just found out that there is a 15 lb weight limit for carry-on bags on Ethiopian flights. Brock's bag weighs about 25 lbs. He said, "NO, you are kidding me. " "Nope, I'm serious." "Ah, this trip is just getting crazy." Haha indeed it is...this is how we grow :) (myself included)

I will not be posting on my blog for 2 weeks as we are taking a break from technology. We are posturing ourselves as an act of surrender to fully see, hear, and feel what the Almighty King desires.

Until then…

Gettin’ Real Uncomfortable in Jesus’ Name,

Sarah Colin :D

TWO WEEKS!!

Well HELLO!!

Time certainly goes by so fast!! It has been almost one month since I have posted...woah.

"It's a new day, peace has come, Jesus saves, hope is here, raise a sound to let all the world know that Jesus saves, broken hearts can be remade, see above the storms of life..."

- Jeremy Camp

I constantly need to be reminded that Jesus saves!

The spring semester officially ended on May 23rd! It is hard to believe I have finished 4 years of college. The end of something, always means the beginning of something greater. Whether it looks like it is going to be greater or not; it is. "It is" because each opportunity is one that grows me mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically (LOL).

This Africa thing is really starting to get to me. This is something in which I KNOW will be greater than most things I have experience in life thus far. At our last family meeting last Wednesday, I admitted to my team that I was a little bit scared. They're eyes all got big and they stopped talking.

They exclaimed, "what?! YOU are scared?!"

I hesitated, "yeah..."

"But you have been before."

"So?"

Just because you have done something before doesn't mean it is not scary the second time around in fact, sometimes it is scarier. So yes, I am a wee bit scared. I am not scared about flying for 2 days, eating strange food, or sleeping in villages. I am scared about what God is going to do in my heart. I am scared for what He will extract and what He will inject. I know whatever it is will be vital to my maturing, but it will be hard.

This is the life I have chosen to live...one that is hard, yet brings more joy than I could have ever imagined. I know my Creator created me to be a variety of colors. Right now, I am full of some neon colors, but just like solar panels need the sun to generate the light, as do I need the Son so I can keep shining :D

I feel honored to be part of something so bright!

As I prepare in these next two weeks for the coming months I am anxious, yet hesitant. I want that day to come, but I feel a little resistant. I think it will be like skydiving (yes, this is kind of an abstract reference). Once you get strapped up in that garb and up 13,000ft in that plane you ARE jumping out. There is no other way down. You just jump. Oh the adrenaline that pumps faster than you fall, my oh my it is thrilling. I am anxious to feel the thrill of this trip. To feel the challenges as well as triumphs of leading my team, and experiencing things greater than myself.

When I think about the things that make me hesitant (some of which I mentioned previously) all I remember is that Jesus saves. He has saved me, provided the way to Malawi, and is going to bring me home with a new heart and a clear mind for serving others for His sake.

I will admit I feel a sense of loss. I feel like I will lose the summers I have known: spending time with my family, best friends, wakeboarding, camping, river adventuring, sprinkler running, shooting star finding, etc. But, "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Phillippians 1:21).

Huh. What the heck is she (me) talking about you ask? Yeah, that verse sounds a bit contradicting eh? The way I see it is this: truly living is living for Christ. Dying to myself means that I gain Him and lose myself. I'm pretty jacked up as an individual so I hired Jesus to piece things back together lol. Actually it takes all of me to LET Jesus break me, and then piece me back together. He is "peaceing" me back together as well.

I have a bit of packing to do. It is kind of hard to pack for two months. I currently have an ongoing list of what to buy. I am not only thinking of me, but also my team. I am creating their packing lists as well and have to critically think about what they will need and what I will need to keep reminding them of. Luckily, God knows. He knows what we need, what we will bring, what we will forget, and will continue to provide!!

Please pray for me and my team. Please pray for clarity, direction, guidance, travel safety, renewing, and cohesiveness. We are in it for the long haul and coming out of this summer I know I will have three more best friends :)

Love Always,

SC

$978 in 4 DAYS?!!!

So here is the deal:

Only 2 days until the weekend, and 4 days until my deadline!

(BTW I do NOT mean May 21st "Judgment Day" no in fact remember what Jesus said, that no one knows the hour or the day Mark 13:32)

My "grace extension" ends SUNDAY, MAY 22nd to raise my last $978.00!

This means that I need to raise $978.00 in 4 DAYS! I know that with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26). I also know that God is faithful to finish the work that He has begun in me. (Phil 1:6)

Let me break it down:
This is $244.50/day (~1 college text book, ~50 frappucinos, or < 1 night at The Hotel@Mandalay Bay in Vegas)

I honestly, have no control over anyone reading this message, or when, or what anyone will/can give, but YOU DO! Can you trust that God will bless you for blessing not only me, but others around the world? Will you trust that God is uniting His kingdom through His saints (you and I)? Will you GIVE ONLINE TODAY? Or, will you pass the word along to someone else that might be able to?

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did..." Romans 8:3

Will you UNITE with me as we fight this battle against evil together?! I need financial support and prayer support during this time!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
DONATE ONLINE:
-Go to http://www.diveintoflood.com/give/
-Register for an account (to ensure tax receipt)
-Select my team code MA611SC
-Select my name from the "commemorative' drop-down menu
-Memo my name, Sarah Colin in the comment box
-Please notify me with the amount for my records

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
-Sarah Colin
sarahcolin@ymail.com
colinsarah.blogspot.com

Need Your Help!

WOW! I was in a time-machine...

The spring semester is quickly coming to an end and has caused me to survive 4.5 all-nighters. That would be 2 sets of 2 in-a-row. I do not believe in pulling all-nighters; I do not believe they are biblical, healthy, or something to be proud of however, they happen. One was for my own personal test, and the other 3.5 were for group projects.

Now, after 2 nights of sleeping for 12 hours I feel that I have almost caught up on my sleep. My next final is on Tuesday and my last final is on Thursday. I can't believe I have finished 4 years of college!

This week has also been filled with praying, dialoguing, planning, thinking, hearing updates and such for my trip to Malawi.

Right now, our biggest goal as a team is to raise the rest of our funds!

I have raised:

$3,392!

I need to raise:

$2,808!

Technically my funds are due May 13th TODAY! However, I have received a "grace extension."

Is it crazy to think that God might provide $2,808 in just a few days?? Let's see...

I need your help! If you personally are able to give/partner in this journey with me you can give online by following these steps: If you are unable to give personally, do you know of anyone who is? If you do, please direct them here or send me their contact information and I will contact them.

1. Go to http://www.diveintoflood.com/give/

2. Register for an account (to ensure tax receipt)
3. Select my team code MA611SC
4. Select my name (Sarah Colin) from the "commemorative' drop-down menu
5. Memo my name (Sarah Colin) in the comment box

6. Please notify me with the amount for my records email: sarahcolin@ymail.com

If you are unable to give personally, do you know of anyone who is? If you do, please direct them here or send me their contact information and I will contact them.

Please continue to pray for me and the rest of the team!

If you have any additional questions about the trip, feel free to contact me by leaving a comment here, emailing me at sarahcolin@ymail.com, sending me a facebook message, or calling me.

Believing,

Sarah Colin

Quick Update #1.5

So this time I only had to get poked twice! Turns out all those fun immunizations like Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, the new Tetanus with Whooping Cough all last from 5-12 years!

Not only did I not have to get poked more, I also saved a lot of money ($100+). So I got my second Hepatitis A, which is supposedly good for a lifetime? I asked, "Like a lifetime warranty?" They laughed. "Yeah..." And they made me get the H1N1 flu shot which I wasn't that happy about because I didn't want the H1N1, anyway, I obeyed. She prescribed me 130 Doxycycline (Anti-Malaria). I was surprised that they only cost $8.50. I have to take those babies for 3-months, 2-weeks and 2-days.

My arms were tender for a few days, but luckily no side effects!! Last time I got a really bad headache, and think I even got a little cold. Thank you for praying for health!! My teammate, Brock is having a rough time with his, so keep him in your prayers too :)

This week has been exciting watching checks roll in.

It happens like this:

No checks for a few days, "God....?," four checks come the next day, "Thanks God! I knew you would/will provide!"

Then, no checks for awhile, next day...checks in the mail!!!

It's like Christmas time. I come home everyday looking forward to opening the mailbox like it's my stocking.

Some years you get awesome presents in your stockings like, earrings and lip gloss and the next year you get a candy cane and a pencil [insert laughs and possible exaggeration].

Some days I get bills in the mail, other days I get checks and notes with so much

encouragement!

Total as of today: $2,540

Total until flight booked: $460

Total until total-needed: $3,660

Almost halfway there!

I keep thinking positively, but I am still fearful I won't make it.

Last time 'round I wasn't as concerned...I'm trying to unpack these feelings. I'm trying to figure out what the motivation behind my fears is. I am also trying to open my eyes and ears to see and hear what God wants to show me.

Always,

Sarah C;

Jesus- the boogie that beats

I am so blessed by the cross.

When I think about Jesus as a sacrifice for me, Sarah, I realize just how much He cares for me; compared to when I think about the cross for us. Of course the cross is for all of us, but sometimes I find myself lost in the crowd. Sometimes I believe that other's needs take priority over mine.

This is not so in the Lord's eyes. Actually, that is a lie that the devil would like for me to believe. The truth I am accepting is that, Jesus sees me, cares for me, knows me, loves all of me, and puts my needs at the same priority as other's. (Some say He's gifted.)

It's hard for me to accept that He sees me as equally as His other children, because I don't feel worthy of being accepted by Jesus. I think that this hurts His feelings. If someone I had known for a long time came to me and said, "well I don't feel worthy of your accepting me, so I'm going to hang out with the people that I think do accept me," I would feel disheartened. I would think, "I don't care about all that junk you have with you, I see you for you." This is Jesus heart toward me, towards us.

With that being said...

Jesus, I've gotsta rap fo yoU dawg!

Jesus you just wanna free us,

Break dem chains that seals us,

to this earth we're consumed in,

Come into my heart remove them,

Teach me your beats,

Bouncin' on da streets,

We gettin real for the Kingdom,

Ain't no one gon be grievin',

Laughter stays in the seat of,

The one who turns and believes in,

The crucifiction of

the Savior we love,

He got from death to life,

He's our allaby,

Come don't be shy,

He's a sweetie pie,

It's okay to cry

don't believe them lies.

True Love Makes You Fly...on wings like eagles!!!

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Peace Homies,

S-dAwG

p.s. Total Raised as of Today: $1,670.00

p.s.s. Needed for Goal: $4,530

Feeling Raw & Defeated

A blurb on, "getting there" emotionally and spiritually.

de·feat (d-ft')

tr.v. de·feat·ed, de·feat·ing, de·feats

adjective

1. having been beaten in a battle or other contest: "the defeated army."

2. demoralized and overcome by adversity.

adversity [ədˈvɜːsɪtɪ]

n pl -ties

1. distress; affliction; hardship

2. an unfortunate event or incident

de·mor·al·ize (d-môr-lz, -mr-)

tr.v. de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing, de·mor·al·iz·es

1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten:

2. To put into disorder; confuse.

3. To debase the morals of; corrupt.

angry [ˈæŋgrɪ]

adj -grier, -griest

1. feeling or expressing annoyance, animosity, or resentment; enraged

Have you ever felt defeated?

This morning, I feel defeated. This isn't the first time and it won't be the last. Perhaps this realization is what makes me the most resistant to accepting the feeling, to writing about it, to sharing it.

You see, I have no control over this blog. I have no control over who reads it, what they think of it, or how they will respond. What I do have control over is most of me. I control what I say. I know that I am seeking the Spirit wholeheartedly and that what I say will be of Him.

I feel strong, when I help others see something, feel something, or become someone they never could see, feel, or become. I see myself as a helper to the master gardener of whom prunes me. Right now, I am being pruned. I do not like the way this pruning feels. It makes me frustrated, angry, irritated, "annoyed." I am sharing this to exemplify that God wants us to be honest and real with, ourselves and Him; about how we feel.

On Monday, I was reading about the battle between our ideal selves vs. our real selves in the book, Change That Heals by Dr. Henry Cloud. As I read this chapter, I felt the Spirit of the Living God telling me that what I read might not be relevant to how I felt in that moment, but it would prepare me for the future. That future is now, today, this morning.

My ideal self says, you are smart, you are going to get an A, you are pretty, everyone thinks you are cute, everyone wants to be your friend, everyone wants you on their team.

My real self says, you are smart compared to the average (whatever that is), you look pretty when you put the time into beautifying, some have said you are cute, you don't have THAT many friends, no body wants you on their team.

This morning I took a lab exam. There is only one for the whole semester. During class, I take pride in my pipetting skills (google it). Today, part of the practical of the test, was to pipet. Today, on the test, I failed to pipet within the acceptable range. There were only 2 chances. Of course on the 3rd time I always got the value they were looking for. My grade will define my pipetting skills as 5/10. That means I failed the pipetting test when I know that I excel at pipetting in class.

The graduate assistant looked at me and said, "you were probably just nervous."

My thought: "Thanks, that helps me feel a lot better!"

All I have ever known when I come to a test is, test anxiety. It is so much a part of my natural response on test day, that I don't even know how anxious I am(was) until I get the score of my test back. In my schooling career, I manage to do very well considering my test anxiety levels.

Today, my coping mechanisms failed to react. I left that test feeling angry, overwhelmed, defeated, annoyed, all of the above. Not only did I feel angry with myself, but also with God. How could He let me get so nervous? Why is getting an A or B such a struggle for me, yet comes so naturally to others? I spend my nights studying and others spend their nights,...not studying and they seem to always perform better. All I want, is to be good at something academically. I know I am good at making jokes, making people laugh, jumping off cliffs into water, and out of planes...I've got the adventuring stuff down. What about tests, what about_____?

My ideal self says, you will get into that program, get the career you have been dreaming of, and live happily ever after.

My real self says, your pipetting skills and test anxiety will keep you from raising your GPA, getting into the DPD program, and ultimately becoming a nurse.

Where does this all fit into God's plan for my life?

As I made my way to the library after the test, I realized that the look on my face was not a happy one. I made eye contact with people and my face didn't change. I was in a zombie mode. Usually, I smile at everyone. I faced the battle lines of good vs. evil because the devil had me consumed, feeding me lies, and I was believing them.

When I sat down at my cubicle, I stared at the green top of the desk. I remembered how I prayed that God would soften me and allow me to cry more. He answered that prayer, at a time I didn't want it answered. Tears streamed down my face, I thought "seriously?" "Don't you care God?" He said, "Yeah, remember the cross?" "Remember Jeremiah 29:11, one of your favorite verses?" "For I know the plans I have for you, Sarah, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I feel resistant to God's plans because my plans seem like they will offer me so much more prosperity, hope, and future. I know in my head that His plans for me are more beautiful than I could fathom. Believing this in my heart after an embarrassing pipetting experience, something I thought I was good at, lends a different perspective.

Now, I have to be strong, believe God for more, take courage, flee from the devil, and go listen to the instructor for an hour and a half, whom I would rather blame.

Being a Christian is NOT easy.

Looking Forward,

Sarah

Slow 'n Steady

Wow!

It is so cliched to say, but time flies by!! Why does time seem to go that much faster when my to-do list gets longer and longer??

This passed weekend was well spent in Northern California! I had a wonderful time with my family and a few friends. I enjoyed my car ride storytelling and making my dad laugh. My sis and I busted our moves on the dance floor at our cousin's wedding, and later I got owned on the Bocce ball court. My mom on the other hand is a champ! Not only is she a champ on the Bocce ball court, but in the kitchen as well. There is nothing like a home-cooked meal!

God is definitely refining me through this process of trusting Him to provide! I am overwhelmed by the generosity of people and am struggling to receive their gifts without feeling guilty for asking in the first place. It is all a part of this whole surrendering to the Lord's call on my life.

To date, God has provided $1,420! He is good!

I am $1,580 shy from booking a flight for me and my Malawian,

and $4,780 away from the total cost of my trip.

Please pray that God would stir the hearts of those able to give financially.

Please also pray for my vision, to continue to see God holding my hand on this path.

Friday, I will visit my favorite travel clinic to prepare my body (through immunizations and such) for 2-months in the foreign land of Malawi!

I welcome your thoughts, inquiries, and words of encouragement :)

Dancing in His Grace,

Sarah

The City in My Eyes

I sit in a Denny’s diner on the corner of University Ave and Fairmount Ave in City Heights of San Diego. My drive here was just like any drive to find a place to eat before a girl’s slumber party (these slumber parties should happen more often), except I drove through a new part of San Diego.

I ended up on this side of town because it’s just a few miles from the house that will be the home to more than 20 girls tonight. I have a couple spare hours (spare hours are new in my vocabulary) and I am so grateful for them!!!

I honestly am wondering why God brought me here today. I didn’t have to keep driving especially with gas approaching $5.00 per gallon, but I did. I watched the classes change between districts. I thought to myself, “this is not how most people would picture San Diego in their minds.” Downtown San Diego and the areas most popular to tourists, display a much more prestige environment.

The area I am in today reminds me more of Tijuana, Mexico. There is a pharmacy, pawn shop, and donut shop on every other corner. The busses are longer, more crowded, and there are people walking intead of driving. I think of Malawi. I also am thinking about how I don’t need to go to Malawi to be a missionary to the poor and destitute. What could $6,000+ do here? Well, I suppose it wouldn't go AS far since the exchange rate in Malawi is $1: 125 Kwacha. Still, I am positive there are people who won’t be eating dinner, right here, in this very district, tonight.

Honestly, I looked to see that my doors were locked and put my purse in a less visible place. One thing I am surprised that I have not seen, are homeless people asking for just about “anything.” On my normal routes I see at least 3 homeless men, usually veterans, at various stoplights.

I knew I would not be stopping directly in the heart of the oppression that I see. The 80 degree weather permitted I wear shorts, and long blonde hair sticks out like a sore thumb among the diverse population.

I can’t help but feel a sense of shame as I realize just how much I am accustom to this Capitalist America. As soon as I saw a Starbucks I knew that it would be “safe” for me to dine somewhere close to it. WOW! Am I THAT white?

Our First Family Meeting

Today, my team and I met for our first ever family meeting!!

We are 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

Some comments when they walked into the Flood Offices:

"I brought snacks!" - Annie

"This is all of us?!" - Cameron

"I make my lunch like a mom." - Brock

How I enjoy watching us grow into a little family. I now know why my professors always ask us to "wait until they get there" when we have questions. Running a meeting for 2 hours is no easy task! Thankfully, my agenda kept us on track. My fellow team members are ecstatic to serve the Lord with all their hearts in a foreign land. This is evident because of all their questions regarding everything under the equator!

"Tell us about your last trip!"

"Are we registering our trip with the United Nations?"

"What does the place we are staying at look like?"

"Can I bring my pocket knife?"

"What do we wear?"

"Is there a Wal Mart? Target?" "No."

I have to say, these are all GREAT questions! Sometimes I feel like a parent who just got asked, "Mommy, where do babies come from?" I would love to unpack that question honey, but there are so many little details that go into it! Haha

Of course I answer their questions to the best of my ability, and am seeking out the answers I didn't have. (KEEP PRAYING FOR ME!)

Our next meeting will be on May 1st, and I will show them a video of my last trip. (Props to Kyle Franchini!) I think this will give them a great visual of what to expect and what not to expect. It also will be a great reminder for me because every time I watch that video, God reminds me of Himself and His people.

Right now my fear is that I might hinder their own personal experiences. I want each individual to have their own unique transformational experience through their own eyes, ears, hearts, noses, and mouths. Although my previous experience has equipped me to lead them and I do share some stories I have; I encouraged them to stop me if I start talking too much about it. They are to say, "That was your last trip, Sarah."

In this moment, 8:00pm on Sunday, April 10th, I have quite a bit of studying and homework to do. However, Serving God energizes me so! I feel alive when I see others growing, when I am giving to the poor and needy, and when I am taking risks for the Kingdom of God! I feel strong, I feel needed, and I feel ALIVE!

So I will end my procrastinating and get to it LOL

Thanks for reading and supporting me!

In His Abounding Love,

Sarah