On Friday morning and
this afternoon I have had the privilege of spending time with one specific
family and their beautiful souls. This particular family includes eight children
between 3 years and 23 years, of which I have met six and they are absolutely
incredible. These children are all unique in their own way and are playful,
friendly and an absolute pleasure to be around. The one daughter however has
really taken my attention…
This beautiful young
girl has the biggest smile, loves to chat to us and play cards with her younger
brother and sister when we around her. Her name is Marcy and she is a tender
age of 10. Marcy is so gentle and loving to her younger siblings and really
helps out where needs be. Now I am sure most of you can relate to this role of
looking after your siblings and stepping in as the eldest child with
responsibilities, generally speaking. However, the reality is that most kids
today just get on with their own thing, play with friends or with their latest
gadgets (Forgive me if I am being extreme but it is to get my point across).
I have never heard of
a child this young, or even younger, in my environment doing the washing or
taking care of younger siblings while the parents are out at work. Here is
another example: At home in Arusha, Tanzania I often see kids easily under 10
walking their siblings to school next to the manic roads full of cars, bikes,
pedestrians, cows, goats…you name it. And it breaks my heart to see how young
they are doing something so responsible. These kids in rural areas and living I
poverty just have to grow up so much faster to help the family, which I totally
understand and can appreciate. Yet, is it a bit sad because they miss out a bit
of the care free childhood that most of us have experienced.
Now Marcy now is the
THIRD YOUNGEST out of these 8 children and has an absolute heart of gold…she is
simply always smiling, hand in hand with her younger sister of 3 and brother of
7. I love being around these dumplings and they truly make my day! The three of
them actually did a little dance for me whilst Marcy was singing and it was
just so pure. It lifted my soul to see such “happy go lucky” kids in quite
challenging circumstances, yet it never holds them back and that I can truly
appreciate.
My main point is that
this girl who I think is a touch of a prodigy is 10 and in Standard 6 / Grade 8
(4 years her senior) AND…wait for it….TOP student of her year!!! If that isn’t inspiring,
then you have got me because I am just blown away by her personality and achievements.
When I learnt this, and after spending time with them I was so curious to meet
the mold behind these children…which I was privileged to today.
I was honoured to meet
their wonderful Mother today, who was lying cuddled with her children while she
was on lunch break from farming. Just to quickly give some observations from
here and East Africa, the women’s labour is pretty much equal in level of
difficulty as the men’s (or so I have noticed) and they will be found doing
hard labour including most agriculture work from digging to planting and
harvesting. You should see their arms…toned like any woman’s dream and these ladies
are fit! So anyway, here we arrive at their house to see two kiddies and their
Mother cuddled up outside having a light nap (Marcy was bathing). They woke up
as soon as we approached them with smiles from ear to ear welcoming us to sit
down and chat. Her name is Anna and what a lovely woman she is; a woman who has
brought up 8 remarkable children. I really have to take my hat off to her in ultimate
respect especially due to the circumstances of not only them but everyone in
this village, which have been a complete eye opener to me.
Things in this village
are of course so different to what we know. The children look after each other
(no matter what their age) whilst the parents are working. Most children don’t have
toys, a SECOND change of clothes, flip flops, running water, electricity and
the like. Yet, you never fail to see this community greet you with a smile and
ask you, “how are you”…This makes me think back to my blog on “Embracing Life
and Lives of Others,” as these people continuously show compassion, kindness
and love for each other. And this we can really learn from…
These Malawian people really
bring on a new meaning to being happy with the ULTIMATE SIMPLICITIES of life. I
always hear the laughter of the kids here and them playing either at the lake
or around the village. I mean sure don’t get me wrong they do ask us for flip
flops and clothes or money to help them out but isn’t that such a small token
in giving compared to how most of us live every day? They do have days where
they not jumping around in ultimate joy and have something that is bothering
them…they are only human with the same emotions and desires as us all. BUT that
doesn’t stop them from LIVING and working hard.
After spending time
with this amazing family and being in this small little village, I just have a
whole new appreciation for what I have in my life. I am so grateful to the moon
and back for the clothes I have, the bed I sleep in and home with furniture that
I live in…because they unfortunately don’t have these items that are somewhat
basic to us, but what would be a privilege to them. I only wish I could do so
much more and give them wardrobes of clothes and flip flops just to make life
that much easier for them.
The Malawians truly
have beautiful souls and I am so grateful and proud to meet them and be a part
of Lifuwu, even if it is just for 4 weeks. It has been life changing up to now
and full of adventure. I really am getting a better perspective of the lives in
rural areas and how they just make it work…and its truly a beautiful story.
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