TIA

Waterfall at base of Mount Mulanje

Plans change a lot here. It's Africa. TIA (This Is Africa). It's cool, it happens, just go with the flow. Or atleast this is how I used to handle the lack of planning and bad timing. I've recently realized how much easier it was to deal with this when Mike (azungu project manager) was still here because he was good as explaining things to me so I knew what was going on at all times. This past week, I've noticed my 'impatience-o-meter' has almost maxed out. I'm on my own now with the WatSan guys which means I have to ask about 50 questions every hour just to know what's going on since plans...well, let's be honest: the word 'plan' is pretty much moot in Africa. Today was one crazy day.

-a 2 hour meeting turned into a 10 hour day
-20 people in a 10-seater vehicle
-19 people in the 10-seater vehicle are talking really loudly all at once for many of those 10 hours
-everyone in the truck needed to run an errand at a different location

It wasn't until I got home that I realized that I need more patience. It's only Wednesday and I'm already wondering how I'll survive the rest of the week...I NEED to be patient again when TIA days come. I came across this verse:

-- May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. -- Hebrews 13:20-21

My first reaction was "God, EQUIP me with patience...don't leave me hanging here! I can't handle this lack of sense of time and poor planning! Seriously, give me patience." And then I remembered that He already has equipped me with everything I need for doing his will. He's given me the best of everything I need. He's given me Himself. I just need to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), which is impossible to do in my own strength... hence how I've come to my last straw with being patient with TIA days.

I realize this post is quite different than my previous posts, but I'd be dishonest to portray that being in Malawi is ALWAYS fun and exciting... although (thankfully)...it is mostly AWESOME.