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 :)