Sunday, September 13, 2009

Bunda Mountain!

Sorry its been so long since I last posted! I finally have something to write about! I'm amazed with the number of people who are reading this! No pressure!

Something fun:
I've been on the ABC campus the majority of my time in Malawi so far because I'm so busy with work that needs to be done here. This weekend, 7 of us decided to go hiking. Owen said he knew a good mountain to hike up called Bunda Mountain. We get to the mountain and Rebecca and i were a little skeptical about getting up the big rock. It was not the grassy trail I envisioned. They assured us it'd be fine so we went on. After about 10 minutes of rigorous hiking, we got to a giant rock mountain going straight up. I joked about not bringing my parachute but I was actually pretty nervous. I've never been mountain climbing and wasn't prepared for doing it with my bare hands for the first time. Luckily there were 4 guys and 3 girls so they helped us when we almost died. There were moments when I just laughed because my feet were gripping the side of a mountain with the rubber of my shoes, holding on to a little groove in the rock with my finger tips, and not knowing where to go from there. Talk about being scrrrrrrd. I sang songs to make the time a little lighter. I got more and more confident as I went and loved it! Anyway, we got up the mountain in a couple hours and there were about 50 Malawians at the top worshiping and praying to God. Many of them were in tears pleading with God. They paid no attention to us. It was an amazing experience to be looking out over Malawi listening to the Malawians sing praises to my God. My friends got pictures so i will try to post them soon. The funny part of it is that by the time I got up, I looked like I got into a fight with a rabid cat or something. My hair toolie (rubber band) broke, there was dirt all over my face, and my legs were bleeding in 8 places. Haha doesn't get much better then that. But the funniest part is that there was an easier way the whole time (The way the smart Malawians went) so we went down that way.
About 10 Malawian boys met us at the bottom and "escorted" us around the mountain to our car. They were awesome, but unfortunately, I don't speak their language:-(

I went to my first Malawian home today! We ate Nsima (the food staple of Malawi). You eat it with your fingers and use it to pick up "relish." This relish was spinach and peanut butter mixed. Nsima is made of Ufa flour and is kinda like play dough/grits.

I've been here for one month, but am already beginning to think about all of the things that can be done in Malawi. There is a need for so much and such a great opportunity to bring it to them. I love ABC, but thoughts are running through my mind for things I can do next year. I was asked by a college student if I could teach a college ballet class. I wish i had the time!!! I honestly don't have extra time right now.
Anyway, those are my unorganized thoughts spewed out. It seems so hard for one person to make a difference. Especially when I still have so much to learn from the people here. But, I know my concentration needs to be on my classroom right now so I will devote my energy towards that. Please pray that I teach my kids in a way that they will succeed. I'm scared I'll ruin them!
haha Alright, I hope everyone at home is doing well! Thanks so much for all of your prayers! I need them all the time! Especially when I'm scaling mountains and such.

Skype me sometime! Gracefuller218

Whitney

6 comments:

  1. Hey,
    Fun post, you and Carly and Bekah are really getting to see what mountains actually look like. Every place we hike down here is well, the beach.
    You seem to be adjusting, keep up the good work. Don't worry about teaching your kids wrong, whatever you say, they'll believe and then you are out of there! :P love ya

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  2. Remember, you can always use the Mr. Wimmers trick on the kids, and tell them that the earth is flat so they don't run away!

    I knew Malawi and Eastern Kentucky were similar! The mountains prove it!

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  3. haha, love Mr. Wimmers' trick, that's awesome! miss you whot and love to read about your adventures! you are loved and prayed for... :)

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  4. UGH...hate hiking. Okay,...picture what you did...now picture snow up to your belly button and -2* winds....yeah. Do you understand now why I hate hiking? haha But I'm glad you liked it.

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  5. but it wasn't hiking. It was MOUNTAIN CLIMBING. Like, a rock wall without the little parts that stick out every couple feet. A little larger then 90 degrees angle to the ground. I'll find pictures.

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  6. hair tulee! I don't even know how to spell it :) Kim and I were saying it's so cool how you never know how God'll use you, like with dance and everything :)

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