Buy into my twenty-gr8ness

I have deemed 2015 my year of Twenty-Gr8ness!!! This is my first year out of grad school and my last year as an unwed woman. I recently accepted a position as a chaplain at WakeMed in Raleigh and will be living in the downtown area. I am super excited about all the new things I will learn and experience this upcoming year. I expect to use 2015 as a time to reflect, grow, and explore. 

Part of this twenty-gr8 transition is moving. I have accumulated many cool things that will not fit into my new apartment and may no longer have a place in the home my fiancé and I will establish. For these reasons I will have a twenty-gr8 yard sale on Saturday, July 25, 2015 from 8AM-1PM. Stop by, grab an icie, and find your next gr8 treasure. Click here to see more details. 

The Internet and My Dual Degree Experience

I decided to study social work while working on a prenatal research study at Duke. As I recruited women to participate in the program, I was captivated by the social workers around me- especially those who worked with Strong Couples, Strong Families, a research study developed by a clinical associate professor in the UNC School of Social Work. These men and women were so passionate about their causes and about helping their clients lead the best lives possible. Their work resonated with my upbringing and my desire to be a resource for people. Using the Internet, I began to research graduate programs in 2010. The dual-degree program between UNC School of Social Work and Duke Divinity School brought together my faith and my interests in holistic healing and culture in meaningful ways. I will complete the dual-degree program in 2015. The Internet allowed me to find places and spaces that cultivated my passions and allowed me to pursue professional and personal development.

            In the dual-degree program I have tailored my coursework to address theology and the engagement of others across lines of religion, race, language, and ability. I have traveled to Central America, Africa, and the Midwest, witnessing God at work in cities and on farms, in ornate sanctuaries and in lawn chairs covered by tarp. The Internet has allowed me to remain connected to the people who helped form me personally, professionally, and spiritually.  Witnessing the way that across borders of language, distance and culture, the message of the Gospel still empowers and reflects the story of the human experience has inspired me and challenged me. This challenge has been most experienced during my time at the School of Social Work.

At the UNC School of Social Work, instead of scriptures, I use theories and frameworks to justify and support the value of spirituality and faith. By spirituality, I mean interconnectedness of others and our inner being. By faith I mean, belief in the “big picture.”  Both are deeply ingrained into some, for better or worse. As I bridge the curriculum and skill sets of both professions, the Internet has proved an invaluable tool in finding assessments that engage the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Webinars and academic journals have allowed me to connect with and learn from other professionals who value spirituality and offer empirical evidence to support its validity.

While it has been interesting to research such things, I am still saddened by the amount of research that supports how detrimental institutional spaces remain for people of color, especially in the church. At times research has been mentally exhausting and spiritually draining, which leads me to explore the drawbacks of the Internet and its content. The Internet has created a cloak of invisibility for many people, allowing them to express themselves in very hurtful, derogatory and hateful ways. Unfortunately these instances fuel the reasons my professions could be so meaningful and impactful. The Internet offers a wealth of resources, but not all resources are accurate or objective. For instance, everyone loves Wikipedia, to the extent that some professors have to specify that students ought not cite it as a source for academic papers. Some do not know how to critique information and its source. My time in the dual degree program have taught me to analyze resources and their content, but not everyone does their due diligence.  

 I consider myself a vessel of a powerful message of love and transformation. The Internet has proven a powerful tool to connecting me to the resources and people I need to make my dream a reality. At the same time, like its users, the Internet is not without fault. I believe my dual-degree experience prepares me to better advocate for the spiritual and socioemotional needs of future clients. I believe my use of the Internet has allowed me to skillfully call pastors and parishioners, practitioners and patients into action.

Say, CHEESE!

Khumbo, 6, eating a slice of pizza. 

 





     A lot has happened since the last post. One highlight was the Debonair's Pizza party. Maibusa (the title for pastor's wife- not her name) always hosts us for dinner. She often prepares meals for a minimum of 10 people, so adding two more to the count never seems to bother her.

Crispin, 7, deliriously happy

Christina and I decided to host a pizza party at her house and invite all those who had a hand in welcoming us, feeding us, praying for us and playing with us. We hosted the party on a Monday, because that is BOGO day (we are ballin' on a budget). That night was amazing. The power went out. Everyone was anxiously waiting by lantern light for the pizza delivery man (who arrived an hour late on motorcycle).

Eluphy and Abusa Nkhoma laughing, "Bo?" (see Chichenglish)

For some it was their first taste of tomatoey, cheesy goodness. For others it was their first time to choose which kind of pizza they wanted and to mix-and-match flavors if they so chose.

Overall it was a great time of fellowship with our new friends and fam.

Eluphy, Me, Steve 

May God continue to knit our hearts together even though our bodies will soon be on two separate continents. (sigh).

Chichenglish

I keep track of time by looking at how many anti-malarials are in my prescription jar:

HALF-WAY THROUGH!

Favorite Phrases: 

Here are some phrases that I have learned to love. If I say them once I get home, forgive me. 

"Not so?"- Isn't that right?
"Can you borrow me....?" - May I borrow...?
"We will start at half four."- We start at 4:30.
"You are welcome. Feel free."- Welcome. Be comfortable.
"Go well!"- Safe travels.
"Zikuyenda"- All good? (both a question and response)
"Bo" and "Sharp"- (Good- put thumb up)
"I'm coming." - I'll be back.
"Are we together?"- Are you with me? Do you understand?

Favorite conversations:

6/25/2013 in Lilongwe marketplace:
Vendor: "Sister, where are you from?"
Me: "The US."
Vendor: "What?! I thought all Black people were from Africa."

7/15/2013 in the Mango marketplace:
Woman to me: Something in Chichewa...
Joyce to woman: "...She is a Black American."
Woman to Andrina: "She is Black! She is from America!" (in Chichewa)
Andrina to woman: "I tell you! We are everywhere, my friend!" (SMILES, in English)

Ups and Downs. Smiles and Frowns.

It's been a while since I posted! I am now 26 years old! Praise the Lord! There have been several highs and lows over the past couple of weeks.

HIGH: I spent my birthday at Lake Malawi with a youth group from Belmont UMC in Nashville,Tennessee. The lake was gorgeous. The cost of a night's stay included three hot meals, a sunset cruise and a snorkeling cruise, and kayaking or fishing. Christina and I woke up early on Saturday morning to sit on the dock and watch the sun rise. I truly felt that God was welcoming me into a new year of life and vibrancy. The team surprised me with a birthday cake and homemade card before we left for the capital of Lilongwe. It was quite a humbling and refreshing birthday weekend.

Sunset at Lake Malawi 7/5/2013

Sunrise at Namaso Bay on 7/6/2013

Homemade birthday card

low: On Sunday at 4:56AM I woke up with "open bowels." I could not keep my malaria meds or cipro down. I couldn't decide whether my system was reacting to the "public chips" aka street fries that I ate the day before or whether I was nervous about my next

HIGH: I preached this past Sunday and Christina led a prayer workshop. Overall both went very well! I preached on Luke 7:33-50 about the importance of seeing with our spiritual eyes in faith, wisdom and love. The topic first tugged at my heart during my New Testament Exegesis course this past semester about biblical bodies. My professor had us research the meanings of hair in Jesus' time.(long story short; unbound hair often meant single, wild etc. etc) This kept nagging at my spirit because females and youth are often held in lower esteem and viewed in stereotypical ways (girls should be in the home, boys at school; youth are less motivated/capable etc etc), and Malawi is no exception. Our supervisor has prayed for us to be prophetic voices, but in many ways I'm still operating as a pilgrim... Anyway, I read some articles from The Nation... reflected on my experiences and preached from the standpoint of being the Pharisee in the story. The one who fails to see Jesus for who he truly is and fails to see the woman as a forgiven and redeemed servant of Christ. I asked, "Do you see what He sees?" (He being Jesus).

Preaching with an awesome interpreter, Seleni

low:  Some people in the community saw the way God has blessed Galilea UMC and decided to take some of their material wealth. You see, GUMC is building a new sanctuary that is slated for completion by annual conference next weekend. Unfortunately, last night around 2AM a group of more than 10 men came to the church and removed four of the new steel-framed windows. The compound guards were unable to overtake the thieves and recover the frames. Church members have been pledging to pay for the windows and the pastor secured a loan to cover the remaining building costs so that the project would be complete by conference time although pledges are still being paid!

Abusa Collings putting a rust protectant on the window frames 7/9/2013

I know that the MOST HIGH: will continue to watch over this Zion. The hearts of the people are receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They trust in God with a deep faith that I am learning to cultivate.

Are you a woman?

One of the youth members asked Christina and I this question as we waited for the Women's Revival to begin on Friday afternoon. 

I was slightly offended and just shot him a "Are you really asking me this question" type glance. 

The evening continued with a lively sermon from the conference superintendent about the qualities of queen Esther that all women should aspire to embody: courage, knowledge, sacrificial love and being prayerful. 

The president of the Methodist women's organization in Zimbabwe then listed what a Methodist woman ought to do and Be. She follows Christ, wants to learn, and lives life with 5 items: bible, hymn book, constitution for Methodist women, and a notebook and pen. 

During this workshop the pastor nodded to me several times saying, "That's a good wife!" 

I just nodded. 

The president continued speaking. She explained that a Methodist Woman is jealous of her home: she doesn't leave her kids playing in the streets or leave her husband for long periods of time, she cooks good meals, doesn't brew beer, draws hot water for her husbands bath, doesn't quarrel, etc. etc. 

The pastor leaned over and said, "That's an African wife!" 

I just laughed. 

I have observed many things about womanhood and coming of age in Malawi. Perhaps because I am 25, an "acceptable age for marriage," I am highly aware of what women do and what they are expected to do. 

Since arriving I have cooked dinner on a charcoal burning stove, rubbed my knuckles  raw while washing clothes in the bathroom tub and danced into the night surrounded by women desperately seeking a revelation from God. 

The pastor's wife gave me an unsolicited definition of womanhood at the beginning of my stay. Her words replay in my mind often as I consider all these things. 

"We carry babies on our backs. Firewood on our heads. We are no strangers to hard work." 

I am not a mother. I am not married. I am not 35.

And in Malawi I am not yet a woman. 

First response

The leaves rustle in the breeze and I am at ease.
Crickets chirp, men chat, kids play.
A minibus sputters up the road.
One groans under the weight of people packed 4-4 or more onto wheels burdened by an almost empty tank that feeds on K698/liter fuel,
weighed down by mothers and babies,
teens and crates,
cardboard and luggage,
wise women draped in chitenges,
Eyes down, voices low,
"Muzungu!" children squeal, eyes aglow
White skin?
Black American?
Either way this sight is new- or at least rare-
our presence brings truth to tales....
Heads turn. Eyes stare.
"How are you?"
"Do you play pool?"
"Will you pay 3.7 for these goods?"
"Ask GOD why Blantyre?"
"Be serious when you pray!"
If I seek-
GOD will reveal the divine purpose for these days.

-Written 10/6/2013
Muzungu- refers to people with white skin
Chitenge- is like a sarong made of fabric that women tend to wear over trousers or shorter skirts when going out
minibus- basically a 15 person passenger van used like a city bus, usually has 4 rows, and they seat at LEAST 4 people on each row. A ride to town costs 100-200 kwacha.
Kwacha is the Malawian currency, which is rapidly depreciating. The exchange rate: K320= $1