In the past few days I was putting together my bookings for this year's trip to the US, using an app that I would recommend to everyone, App in the Air. This mobile application is available for all important platforms, iOS, Android and Windows Mobile.
While checking some things out I was amazed to realize that I am very close to 60,000 miles done with the plane only. I was wondering, how is that possible? Where has the time gone?
Due to privacy reasons, I don't normally allow any third-party apps to connect to my email account but I did give permissions to this one just for a brief period of time. It can go through all the emails and find and import all your bookings and plane tickets, arranging them neatly, in a clear and organized way. That's where I found our very first flight to Malawi, from January 2009, and quite a few memories from that period in our life came to my mind.
I remember the reactions from some of the people who found out we wanted to go to Malawi. Someone in our church even said that I was crazy by wanting to take my young family in Africa, where we could die. I was accused of being irresponsible, brainless, a spy or even an adventure seeker while risking our lives. Very few realized at that point in time that maybe we were just following God's call in our lives.
I remember the long drive from Northern Romania to the capital, Bucharest, to get our visas. It was the winter of 2008 and the heater in that car we were using did not work properly. Jessica was freezing in her baby chair in the back, so we decided to bring her in front, close to the air vents. Of course, we got stopped by the police and I received a hefty fine and risked having my license suspended for 3 months. It took a lot of convincing on my part until they released my driver's license, but only after I showed them our passports and told them we are leaving soon for Africa and that I needed it there. They were understanding but I still had to pay the fine.
I remember how tired we were on the way back. We left for Bucharest the night before, driving the entire night, reaching the capital in the morning. After sorting out the visas that day, we started back home, driving again throughout the night. I did leave Lita and Jessica at the motel outside Bucharest were they were able to catch some sleep, but I didn't have time for that. About 1 hour away from home I couldn't take it anymore, and I had to pull over and rest, even for a few minutes. It was freezing cold outside, everything was covered with snow and there was full moon. I can remember that Jessica was screaming in the back, while we were not sure of how safe we were, there in the middle of nowhere. After about 20 minutes, we continued our journey.
I remember the long trip to the airport in Budapest on the day before our departure to Africa. We were tired, stressed, nervous but also very excited.
I remember the mixed emotions on the day when finally had to leave. We were happy to take the step of faith, but we were scared of what we might find in Africa. We were also sad to have to leave our friends and family behind. My mom was there with us. Some of them knew that we were prepared to die here, if it came to that. We really had to think about everything.
I remember the lady at the ticket counter in the airport. We were loaded with our stuff, even the laptop bags were stuffed with books and anything we could fit in them. She realized that some of our bags overweight but she let us go through after we told her we were moving to Africa. Even now I can see the look on her face when she saw us with 4 large bags, and that was all we took with us to move to Africa. How many airport workers see young families with a 7-month old baby and a pregnant wife, moving to Africa with 4 bags?
I remember that first flight to Amsterdam. We had never been there before, but we'd heard that it was a huge airport. The bad news was that we only had 1 hour to catch our connection flight. I think the stress was quite visible, because a certain gentleman (who was from Amsterdam) offered to draw the airport for us, showing us the arrival gate and where we had to go for the next flight.
I remember the crazy run through the airport to catch our flight to Nairobi. With the carry-ons and computer bags hanging off our shoulders, with a screaming baby and Lita pregnant, we barely made it in time. I was jealous with the lucky travelers who had plenty of time on their hands, so much so they could afford to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee.
I remember how relieved we felt after we took our seats in that big 777. Finally, we can rest a little bit, or so we thought. In the beginning, Jessica refused to sleep in her baby bed. With her in our laps, we couldn't sleep either. Eventually, though, about half way into the flight, she finally went to sleep and so did we.
I remember the moment we stepped in the airport in Nairobi. I then realized what I have done: I arrived in Africa!!! I will never forget how shocked I was that everyone was black. Strangers in a strange and poorly marked airport, away from home, tired and hot, we started once again to look for our next gate. Then we realized our biggest mistake yet; we were not dressed appropriately for the weather. But how could we? It was our first trip to Africa and we didn't know that January on this continent is one of the hottest months of the year. January in Romania, on the other hand, is one of the coldest. With no air conditioning in the waiting area and without enough water, our only option at that point was just to wait patiently until the next flight.
I remember when our plane landed in the capital of Malawi, Lilongwe. I then realized that we are finally there, that our trip is close to the end. We were calm once again, knowing that we are in the place where God sent us. Wow! We got off the plane, passed though all the Immigration and security hassle and got in the car that was waiting for us. We thought we would soon be home, but no, our driver needed about 5 hours to make that 200+ mile trip from the airport to Zomba. It was so hot in the vehicle and we were stretched to our limits, but we were happy we would soon be home
I remember when we almost got stranded in the middle of the road, because our ride ran out of fuel. Our driver did not planned things out and now everyone was scared and frustrated. Will we be stuck in the middle of Africa when we are so close to home? I thank God even today that I had enough money on me to refuel the car and keep going. As I landed that day, I decided to exchange some money, just in case. Just in case!
I remember the moment when we finally arrived home. Although we didn't expect much, since it is Africa after all, a warm and genuine welcome would've probably been enough. Maybe also a place to stay with working electricity and a bare minimum of things to start with, like some plates, at least one pot and maybe a fridge. Looking back at that time, though, I know it was good for us. God prepared us from the very first day, for a life of service and a healthy and every growing ministry. We needed to start from square 1.
I remember my first full day in Malawi. I was walking through the town of Zomba and I experienced my first cultural shock. Zomba is a small place and everyone knows everyone. If you are a foreigner and you just moved in, people will stare at you and analyze everything you do. I was not used to that and it took me a while to learn to accept it and mind my own business.
So yes, this is how everything happened in the beginning of this new adventure in our life, here in Africa. With good things and some not that good, with mixed emotions but also the peace from God, we took this big and bold step of faith. We left everything to gain something else, the joy that comes from being obedient to Christ. I don't know how many people really understood us then, but I am almost sure I could have counted them on one hand. Even so, the choice we made was not due to people, but it was because of our Lord. The hardships and difficulties that we to come over us had demonstrated this truth: we are not here for a man and we will not leave because of a man. We came for God and we will leave when He tells us so.
There are many more memories and details I could talk about, but I would need to write a book to contain all that information. In a future article, I will write more about what it meant for us to leave everything. Like other missionaries before us, we had also "burned our ships" and "sacrificed our oxen", stepping by faith in the life and ministry God entrusted to us.
Pray for us!
Pray for Malawi!Labels: Africa, call to missions, Hope for the Future, Malawi, ministry, missionaries, missions, trip
