July 16, 2012
Today was an orientation day for the team. We slept in and took a late breakfast, and afterward our host reviewed aspects of village life with the team. He and I discussed more of the work assignments of the team. It was a good time for the team to get to know our host.
Toward midday his wife took most of the team to the downtown. This was primarily a shopping trip for the women to buy zitinje, the traditional dress for women in the village, worn over their dresses. These were purchased at a market (no bargaining).
During the afternoon, the team rehearsed storying with one of our interpreters. This gave everyone an introduction to working with an interpreter, alternating from Chichewa to English, as the story of redemption is explained. This all went very well. It was interesting to listen to the young women tell parts of the story in their individual styles. From time to time our interpreter would stop and give advice on how to break the sentences into smaller parts for him to work with. He also explained that for some words, he needed more time to explain the concept for the listeners. But he assured them that the interpreters would not run ahead in the story but let the team members tell it in their manner. Everyone enjoyed this rehearsal and expressed how it had set their minds at ease to actually see and hear it.
This team has been all about helping in the kitchen, and Jesica Souther even made an apple pie (with our host's directions) from scratch. Dinner was steaks, peas, and rolls. And the pie was delicious.
Tomorrow we begin the work, fully prepped by our hosts.
Continue to pray for us. In many ways we are all outside our comfort zones. But everyone has a heart for the work. Pray for our health, as some have been struggling with stresses of travel. We all need our biological clocks to reset to local time. Pray that God’s Spirit will go before us to prepare our way.
Ray Smith - Malawi
