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So for the past couple of months, I haven't been thinking as much about my time in Malawi and isn't it easy to retreat back into our comfort zones? In January and February of this year, I had the merit to volunteer at Home of Hope Orphanage in Mchinji District, Malawi, Africa. While I was there, I met a very remarkable young lady, Lauren, who is a Peace Corps volunteer. Lauren is from one of those rectangular states in the Western part of the U.S. that only have one area code...(just kidding you, Lauren) anyway, Lauren is from Montana where her parents have an organic farm! I'm not sure just how organic her family's farm is but the top picture is Lauren's pit latrine in Malawi and I can pretty much bet anyone that she has an indoor flush toilet in Montana! Isn't is cute though? Like a fairy tale with the thatched roof and sunflowers...Anyway, Lauren is helping the villagers of Nyoka with sustainable farming.
The 2nd picture is something she has written over her doorway, 'I have the courage to be myself, I speak and act in authentic ways, I trust I am capable". Can you imagine yourself as a recent college graduate (i.e., YOUNG), volunteering far away from your family and loved ones in an AIDS afflicted country in Africa, and going to the bathroom in a hole in the ground?
The 3rd picture is of Lauren and her friend in the village of Nyoka, where Lauren lives. She has a 2-room 'house' which is pretty special in Malawi. She is most proud of the shelves she built for her 'kitchen'. Lauren has an outdoor kitchen, she built her own oven and bakes the most delicious mango bread! She has a pit latrine...woo hoo!, and has another building that may be something similar to a shower but I can't imagine what THAT would be....(and even more, if I have the nerve or the encouragement, I'll write a story about the bugs here!)
Lauren has committed 27 months of her young life to volunteer service. I can't imagine making that sort of committment at her age...frankly, I couldn't hardly decide which can of soup I was going to open for supper at her age...At the age of 56, (okay, it's 57 now...) I spent a month in Africa. The disparity is what I admire most! Lauren, at her young age, has been such an inspiration to me! And you KNOW that she will make a difference in her village of Nyoka and isn't that what we're all about? Making a difference?
It's kinda like, "If Lauren can do it, I can do it"...and folks, so can you! You don't have to be in Malawi to make a difference in Malawi. I felt like I was slacking off about my committment to the AIDS orphans and then I thought of Lauren! I'm back at home with my flush toilet and grocery stores and doctors and clean water and family members in the same continent! We can still help! Malawi is rebuilding but needs the help of Lauren, me and YOU. If you can help to make a difference, donate at www.raisingmalawi.org.
