Starting a New Chapter…

Starting a New Chapter…

In some recent posts, I’ve let slip a little bit of news that I have yet to make “Facebook public”–

my family and I are moving to Malawi.

Yes,Malawi–the Warm Heart of Africa and one of the poorest countries in the world.

My husband, Tim, and I–along with our two sons, of course!–will leave for Malawi sometime in the next six months or so. Next month, we’ll be attending orientations and trainings with the Presbyterian Church (USA)–whose mission arm, GAMC, is sending us–to prepare.

Why Malawi?

Well, it’s like this.

Ten years ago, a friend from college went to a country that was so beautiful despite its terrible poverty and found great satisfaction working there.

Five years ago, I found myself bursting into tears one night after dinner telling Tim about a story I’d read on a midwife’s blog, where a woman had died giving birth because she hadn’t had enough to eat during her pregnancy.

Two years ago, I read with interest about a boy who managed to build a working windmill out of scraps and provide electricity to his village.

And a few months ago, a friend sent us the link to an advertisement asking for an Old Testament/Hebrew Bible Ph.D. to teach at Zomba Theological College…inMalawi–the place where the boy built a windmill, where the midwife blogged her stories, where our friend went almost on a whim.

And so we applied…and so we are going.

While in some ways I’m beginning to feel all the mix of feelings anyone feels when facing transition, the truth is that I’m really looking forward to going. I have loved working with the folks at GAMC/World Mission and eagerly look forward to knowing them better, and to meeting our neighbors in Zomba.

As for what I’ll be doing in Malawi (besides all the same things I do right here, like write, take care of my kids, cook, garden, and eat…), well, I’d very much like to stretch my little doula wings and attend as many births as possible, to learn what birth is like in that culture.

I suspect I have much to learn. And I’m looking forward to learning it.

Now, dear regular readers, you probably have questions. Fire away!

6 Responses »

  1. Rachel,

    What a blessing that you’ll be a doula there. Anyone is blessed to have you alongside them. And I know you’ll be blessed by those who surround you. I am looking forward to hearing what you all learn about global theology/issues, too. I look forward to hearing your stories and learning from your experience.

  2. Rachel, I am so happy for you and Tim and the boys! Teaching God’s word, coming alongside mothers as they prepare for their new babies, raising your own kids in one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. What a blessed adventure! I bet you have a lot or preparations to do to be ready, but I am also sure that God is already fully prepared for you and the family to be there.

    Wow, Rachel, you’ve got me feeling excited right now and I’m not even the one who’s going.

    Tim

  3. What a wonder, the ways God has been leading your family to this place! And holla at a comrade with little doula wings! Do you guys know at this point how long you’ll be in Malawi?

  4. I grew up in Zomba, my piano teacher taught at ZTC, and working with birth here in the states I look forward to hearing your take on birth in Malawi. I’m more than a little jealous.

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