are you working everyday, are you working just to bleed?

i can't believe it's been a week since i left my house to start my journey to malawi, and now i'm here and the time has just flown in.

i started my time in school with joseph and kaitlyn this week.  the first day i just observed and joined in the songs as much as i could.  the school we were at this week is a public school so most of it is entirely chichewa speaking with a the oldest class knowing a bit of english.

on the second day i began teaching lessons on the good samaritan (although it wasn't as good as when i taught it in college) which was really weird because i taught it in english and then joseph translated it into chichewa for the children to understand, but it's really hard to teach a story when you don't know exactly what the children have already been told.  there were times when i said one line and joseph would talk for a couple of minutes so im not sure what bits and pieces he added in himself.

done a bit more exploring around the town and think i'm finding my bearings. also went to the big supermarket called shoprite and they literally have everything imaginable - i even found a can of mountain dew!!

keep praying
matty :)

a lucid life you never thought you'd lead

i'm in malwai!

the flights were great.  from belfast to london i had all 3 seats to myself, on the flight to Johannesburg i had both seats to myself so i got to spread out a little, then on my flight from Johannesburg to Blantyre i didn't have the row to myself but i just cracked open the macbook and watched some tv that i had downloaded before i left (the malawian guy beside me on the plane seemed quite interested in what was happening in flash forward)  The most annoying thing about the traveling was that i couldn't find a starbucks in any of the airports :(

i spent the rest of the day unpacking and getting to know Lionel (one of the guys i'm living with) and learning bits and pieces about malawian life.  bed was a strange experience because it's the first experience i've had of sleeping under a mosquito net, which felt like i was trapped there, hopefully i get used to it quickly)

this morning i experienced church in africa for the first time at chilomon african evangelical church.  i didn't have a clue what was being said most of the time but i sat beside a woman called Ruth who works at the bible college here and she let me know roughly what was going on.  the singing was all done in chichewa but i sang along with the hymn book because its pronounced exactly as it is read - i didn't have a clue what i was singing but God did and that's all that matters.  there was a time of free praise and worship lead from the front by a few people without hymn books so i couldn't sing along but there was actions which i could follow (which i loved) and lots of clapping.

when i arrived yesterday it was 26 degrees but it's a lot cooler today and overcast - although its still quite warm for me compared to back home, all of the missionaries were talking about how cold it was and telling me i must have brought the irish weather over with me.

i begin orientation tomorrow and then start my ministry mid week but already my schedule is filling up as people invite me round for tea, lunch, dinner, or even for a game of mafia!

i'll blog again soon

keep praying

matty :)

a million miles an hour, while lying in your bed

Today's the day, checked with the airlines and all my flights are scheduled to depart.  I'll probably be out of contact until I arrive in Malawi but i'll try to update as soon as I can.


I'm getting more and more excited but more and more nervous at the same time.


Keep praying!


Matty :)

and ideas are flowing through your head

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED!!!

Please pray that the flight ban is lifted before Friday and that I am able to fly out of the country and make it to Malawi.

you can look alive, but you are not at rest

aaagggghhhhh so much to do!! yet so little time.

i've got 2 essays to write, clothes to wash and pack, spend time with rachel, sunday club lessons to plan, college presentation to give, an exam to study for, an exam to do, work, a concert to go to, placement orientation to go to, classes to go to, and a bible to read

but hey if i can succeed in ticking each of the boxes in the picture everyday i'll be happy

stop the press, everything's a mess

i'm gonna try and keep this thing updated while i'm away but i cant promise anything

it's 12 days until i go and im feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.  lots to still get ready before i jet off but over the past few day's i've really seen God providing for my finances through the kindness of other.  thank you to everyone who has helped me out

i'll blog again soon (i hope)

matty