There is no way to possibly count how many Malawians our team encounters in a day. Dozens, and on certain occasions, hundreds even. The language barrier offers minimal conversation, but somehow, every man woman and child knows how to greet us with a friendly hello. A typical interaction will sound something like this;
“Hello! How are you?”
“I’m fine, how are you?”
“Fine, thank you”
Sounds pretty standard, right? In fact, it sounds a whole lot like the brief small talk and banter at home in America. While passing a friend on the street, greeting a neighbor while simultaneously collecting mail, or even to a member of the church. Here in Malawi, this short dialogue is the extent of communication we can exchange with the villagers. Their language, Chichewa, blocks us from delving deeper into their lives. Here, we love through actions. By pumping not only our own water but some of their buckets as well, by picking up the children and playing silly games, by smiles and laughter. Building relationships doesn’t mean meeting for coffee every Thursday or studying together, but by simply being present and open. Our challenge here has been to learn to love without words.
But at home, where we have spoken the same language since “mama” and “dada”, what’s stopping us? Are we really always “fine”? Are our lives so utterly blissful that the word that best represents us is “fine”? One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on the field is that there is Life and Death in the power of the tongue. Our words have more meaning and power than we realize. In the book of James we are reminded how something as small as a rudder can steer a massive ship, and how even a small spark can ignite a forest fire.
So to the readers, and even to myself, I’m issuing a challenge of sorts. The next time someone asks you how you are, tell them what’s really on your heart. Super happy about your midterm grades? Tell them. Distressed about a recent trip to the doctor? Ask for prayer and a word of encouragement. Why should we settle for a routine when we’ve been blessed with the power of words? People and relationships flourish when we pour life into one another, when we take the time to really invest and listen. No other creature on this planet has been given this extraordinary gift, let’s USE it.
