Approximately the first 18 months of my life were spent in Africa. Malawi to be more precise. Blantyre to be even more precise. My father was working for PwC (Then just the Pw bit!). And so as an entire family, the five of us, lived out there. (The rest of the family for longer before I was born, they then came back to England, I was born, then we went straight back out!) Sadly due to my age I have no recollection of this place. However looking through old and rather embarrassing photo albums and the wonderful opportunity to know my Godmother Anne Scarborough and know her work with the Nchima Trust. I have been able to have a taste of what it was like. Not through visiting but through photos and stories etc.
This is a batique from Africa that my father had in his office for many years, that I now have in my living room in Newmarket:
This place has always had a special place in my life. I'm not entirely sure why. Partly because it makes an interesting story (living in Africa, despite not remembering it!), also it often turns up on the news because of the devastating poverty and high levels of AIDS. It has also recently come up with the whole Madonna saga!
I have always had a desire to go there.
When we lived there (so the story goes) I had a nanny called Ruth. I pretty much lived on her back for the entirety of our time out there. She looked after me, bathed me, played with me, took me places etc. All the things a nanny should do. There are apparently very few photos of me and her together, I have been told the reason for this is because as a child I was very white! I had very white hair and very white skin. (Macdonald trait. We don't tan well!) However Ruth was as black as they come (not in a racist way!). Thus trying to get the exposure right in photos of us both rarely worked! Because if she looked normal I would be super white and over exposed, and if I looked normal she would be underexposed and you couldn't see anything but her teeth and eyes! Anyway! I don't remember her, much to my sadness. However I want to. I have always wanted to head back and visit the places I have visited before but have no recollection of. Africa is a place that strikes a chord with me when I hear about the things that are going on. It is also an incredibly beautiful place. Here's a word. Juxtaposition!
For a while I have contemplated how or when I should go back. I feel the time is coming. Largely because I want to see Ruth before she dies (the average age of an adult is about 45) thus she may be dead already. But I don't think I want to go back there just for a holiday. I want to go and help. I want to do something, be a part of something that makes a difference (isn't that many people's cry for their lives!) Basically I want to go on some mission/aid trip. But have the opportunity to see some of the people that made my family welcome. I asked my Godmother if the Nchima trust do trips but they don't really do that sort of thing. But I would like to find something.
I have lots to accomplish before I settle down into a normal job (if that's what God calls me to! (I'm kinda hoping it's not! :P)) This is one of them.
I also hope my dearest will come with me. It's something we've talked about. Africa comes up in our conversations from time to time, and I know she knows how important it is to me. And I also know she wants to do a mission trip too. So maybe this will happen. Hopefully very soon after uni. It needs prayer. It needs planning. But I believe God puts desires on our heart for a reason.
Done for now.
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