1 Peter 4:7-11

At aboveground (my church's college ministry) we have been studying the book of 1st Peter. It was the Sunday before I left for Malawi that we talked about chapter 4 verses 7-11. It really stood out to me and screamed "Paige, stop being distracted by all the small things and focus on what God wants from this trip." Our team had been sending tons of facebook messages about packing and the schedule of travel etc. These verses encouraged me to send them to the team to refocus our aim and remember the whole reason we were going to Malawi.  Our team leader Noelle, brought it up the night before we flew out that we should think of ideas for a trip verse. It was another girl on the team that said we should do the 1 Peter verse I sent the other day. We read it as a team and decided that it went along perfectly with what we wanted our trip to be about.

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ⁹ Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Throughout our time in Malawi we would meet as a team and read this verse every time. We also would write words from this verse on our wrist so we would see it during the day. For example, pray, earnest( in a different version it says to love earnestly), love all. There are so many different things in this verse that stuck out to me on the trip and that I still want to live out in my life all the time.

Reflections

In Malawi we didn't have running water, and even if we did it probably still wouldn't be safe to brush our teeth with. So we would brush our teeth with the water in our water bottles from the filter. There was a drop off area on the compound that we didn't walk by so that's where tooth brushing took place. The view from that spot was stunning. This picture cant even capture it. There were mountains in the background and no sign of civilization. I would brush my teeth and just reflect on the beauty of God and of His amazing creation. When we would brush our teeth at night it was a whole different experience. The stars were incredible. I would always think of the song Indescribable "you placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name". Our God is so big and so powerful!

I would often make jokes about how when I got home I'd go outside and brush my teeth and gaze at Gods beauty. Upon returning when I brushed my teeth in my bathroom in front of the mirror I was crushed by the thoughts in my head. I was reflecting (literally) on my outward looks. It seemed incredible superficial and sad. I should be reflecting on how God made me...He created me in  a way that is beautiful and wonderfully made just like the stars or the landscape of Africa. He knows every hair on my head and every thought on my mind.

Every Nation

By God's amazing grace and love the entire team has arrived safely at home. I will be posting more blogs about the trip as time goes on and as I can process everything. Today I kept thinking of a song that captured the intense difference yet similarity in a Sunday morning worship service in two very different culture. It was captured by the song He Reigns.

It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plainIt's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns

To me its such an awesome concept to think about how in Malawi on Sunday morning it may be a long service, it may have lots of dancing, it may be sitting on a dirt floor but they are still singing that He the one true God reigns. It may be in the suburbs of Chicago, in an hour long service, sitting in comfortable chairs but they are singing the the one true God reigns. I think we often forget how many other believes who look nothing like us, speak different languages, have different worship practices and styles are worshiping the same God.

Africa Bound

This will be my last blog until I get back from Africa. When I return I plan to post the journal entries that I will do while I am there. If you are reading this I ask you to pray for our team. Pray often! If your reading this and will pray everyday from now during our trip that would be amazing! Here are some ideas of more specific things to pray for:

Travel- a lot of people are driving to Indianapolis, and when we return will have to drive home, that flights will all arrive on time, that we will be able to be Christ like to everyone we come in contact with during travel, that during the travel days we will grow as a team and bond.

In Malawi- Pray for our Backyard Bible Study- my role is leading activities, pray for a minimal language barrier. Circle of Hope International- the organization we will be working with. That our team will be servants to not only the people of Malawi but each other and the missionaries. That God's love will be shown to everyone we meet.

Health

Families of the team members- peace, comfort.

Thank you!!!!!!!

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

In a few short days...

In a few short days I'll be leaving STC and headed for Indianapolis. Then from Indianapolis my team and I will be headed to Malawi. I can not believe that I will be going back to Africa on Tuesday. For a while it seemed so far off that I was almost like in denial that it would ever actually be time to go/pack. That brings up packing.......packing is awful. We are suppose to pack like its a carry-on...but please tell me who in the world ever brings a sleeping bag in their carry-on. I have a feeling that it is going to take up a ton of space.

 This is clearly not me...but it is kind of how my packing looks but not that extreme.

This past weekend my brother, sister in law, and nephew visited! It was so much fun! We also went down town Chicago for a day.

I won't be able to blog while I'm in Malawi. However, I plan to keep a journal that I will post after I get back.

Things to be praying for about the trip:

• Packing-that we will only bring the things that we need
• Team unity
• Easy Travel-no major bumps
• Health-especially with Malaria meds side effects
• That our team will be helpful and encouraging for the long term missionaries
• All the glory be given to God