Today, October 19th is Mission Sunday in the church. It calls us to think more globally and maybe even for a few moments insert ourselves into the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world.
When I was approaching 60 years of age, I knew that something was stirring inside which I had to pay attention to. I believed that I was being called to something more!!!! I wanted to go to the edge and make a difference. I felt if I did not respond to this intuitive feeling it may never happen again.
Not knowing what this call to the more really meant I began to pray with a favorite passage of scripture from Jeremiah. “I know the plans I have in mind for you – plans for peace not disaster – building a future full of hope and then I waited for clarity.
I was led to Scarboro Missions and missioned to join the team in Malawi, located in Central Africa. My ministry was at St. Peter’s secondary school teaching life skills and social studies. I went to the missions with great energy and fervor and I was going to change the world. But it was I who was changed!!!
As a high extrovert, it was easy to become immersed in the life of the students and staff at the school and I found it very life-giving. Of course the teaching was a challenge since I was not a teacher by profession but I managed – and the students even passed!!!!
In preparing this article, I came across an African proverb that I want to share with you -
“The African world is about our living as one family, belonging to God.” And, it goes on to say “I am because we are.”
Family is the central point of life for the Malawian people and their deep faith and trust in God to provide for them is such a strong reality. Given the many hardships they face on a daily basis their deep faith in this God they love is so profound that I was often left speechless. They too have hopes of a better life for their families, dreams of education for their children and longings for a more just distribution of the world’s resources.
Many families struggle to find school fees for their children so they can attend school as there is a belief that the only way out of poverty is to have an education. Students walked miles to attend school and often came without anything for lunch.
I found myself watching the kids to see if I could figure out why they were so happy with so little. I saw their joy expressed as they chatted together or worked on a mathematics problem or were playing on the soccer field. I learned that a simple expression of joy can lift the spirits of everyone.
I was humbled when some students who were living with me would suggest that we pray together and share about a passage of scripture. Their relationship with God was personal and alive and I learned a lot from these young people.
The longer that I lived with and among the Malawian people I grew in my own awareness that is was not about what I was doing in ministry but is was about how I was being in relationship with all those who came into my life.
It was my opportunity to meet God within the other and there was always time ‘to loiter with intention’. Life is lived at a slower pace and I certainly came to like this way of going about my day.
As I reflect on my experience in Malawi, one of the things that became quite clear while I was living there is that I grew in my awareness that we are sisters and brothers to each other. This heightened consciousness of solidarity with others different than myself was certainly important for me as I sought out a ministry of meaning here in Windsor. I am currently volunteering at the refugee office and feel at my best when I am chatting with refugees from Palestine, Senegal, Bosnia or Liberia. I know this would not be the case had I not lived within another culture where I was embraced as a sister! (small ‘s’)
Since my return I have often reflected on the words of that African proverb – “I am what I am because of who we are together.” This was a gift of my 6 years with and among the people of Malawi…and my prayer is that this new consciousness will carry me into the remaining days of my life.
In closing, I would like to invite you to go to that place within where God dwells and listen again to these words from Jeremiah:
“I know the plans I have in mind for you –– plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you. Then when you call to me and come to plead with me, I will listen to you. When you seek me you shall find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me…..it is Yahweh who speaks.”
Ann MacDonald, CSJ