Madagascar
At first I was overwhelmed and afraid, but then I met the people and they taught me the beauty of their country. I have never been more sure that I was called to be a missionary than when I was walking through the streets of Mada, seeing everything all at once and feeling totally at home in the midst of the chaos. I loved the adventure of catching the crowded buses into town and weaving through peanut sellers, chickens, carts, traffic and children.
At first the noise is too much but then you start to pick out the calling out of prices in Malagasy, the engines of the buses and the whistling language that the drivers use to communicate with their money collectors in the back.
If you like shopping at the mall, then Madagascar will teach you what it really means to shop as you weave between lines of Nikes and Adidas hanging from the ceilings of stalls and duck inside little tents to see what treasures you can find. Once you find something you like then the game begins as you bargain in a foreign language to get the price you want.
We started the Sound Of The Nations school after about 2 weeks of english clubs and hospital ministry. At first I was worried about how we would be able to relate to the students, but that was never a problem. I am now worried that I have never properly related to my own culture. They were friendly, welcoming and so open to share about themselves, God and their culture. In the space of the 3 weeks I witnessed more guitar jam sessions and spontaneous dance parties than I thought possible. I made friends for life and fell in love with a culture I didn't really know existed until April this year.
We got to live life with the beautiful Malagasy people and I lost my heart to the nation. How could you not when the sunlight is golden and the language sounds like a song.
These people taught me about generosity and what a real smile looks like. We ate like kings, and got spoiled by our host in every way she could think of.
A if you want to feel what it is like to pour out your heart in worship to God then they can show you.
When we had to say goodbye to the students I cried bitterly and spent the day asking God why I had to form such bonds with people and then say goodbye. It is how I know how much I loved them, the new branch of my family that I will carry in my heart forever.
Now we have all gone our separate ways, moving back into life with a completely new outlook and value for each day. When my thoughts are wandering just know that I am probably wandering through the Malagasy rice fields or staring at the infinite stars as guitar music floats away on the gentle night breeze.
