10 Reasons I Love Being a Malawian Missionary

This week was just another week, and I haven't thought much of what to report on. We had President's Interviews and a Specialized Training. For my last Interview, President Erickson lectured me about a three month plan. That is the second time he's given that to me, and none of the other departing Missionaries have received it here. Apparently I appear as if there is no plan or structure to my 'future' life. If only he knew the consistent scheming in my head. Sister Griffus and I were blessed enough to have President and Sister Erickson come and teach Gloria more about the Atonement with us. In the same day we had Elder and Sister Merrill teach another investigator with us. It was such a great opportunity to sit back and learn from the pro's! I wish I would have been able to do that back in my beginning days!

Happy Pioneer Day! This week Grandma Clifford (shout out! hallah!) sent me some great history of my ancestors to keep me going. So I thought I'd share because it cracked me up: "You have all kinds of Pioneer Ancestors from Shadrach Roundy - Tall, rough body guard to Joseph Smith & Brigham Young, & part of the Mormon Mafia, to Alfred Corden - First LDS High Priest in England, In charge of the European Emigration Fund, to your Dutch Felt & Van Winegarten Ancestors, all rooting for your success & happiness in life.  Think of all the hard work & sacrifices & daring they went through to lay the groundwork for us!  FYI, Shadrach Roundy is mentioned in D&C 124:141."  Sweet. Don't mess with me Satan- I have the Mormon Mafia on my side! I really am grateful for the Pioneers though, both in the early days of the church, and all the Pioneers now. I am so grateful that I have been able to be a part of the Pioneer Period of the church in three different countries, and cultures in Africa- it is helped me to grow more than I ever could in an 'established' area. 

I LOVE THE PIONEERS OF AFRICA!!!!!!!

Here are ten reasons that drive me each day to love being a Missionary in Malawi:

1. Fanta Passion. Malawi is the only place it exists. BE JEALOUS.
2. Everyone is so willing to pray. It's almost ridiculous. In other countries I've served in, it could take weeks for someone to feel comfortable enough to pray in front of you. Here they ask to pray in the first lesson.
3. Coke is cheaper than water. A coke a day keeps the parasites away. 
4. We play 'Tourist or Resident' at every Azungu we see. Proven fact: Missionaries are the only white people in Blantyre who bathe regularly. I've never been so irritated by tourists in my entire life. They think they own this place. Whaddup- I LIVE HERE!
5. Here in Blantyre we have our own form of pigeon Chichewa. It's the common 20 words we all know mixed with whatever scraps of formal English we have left with scriptural terminology. 
6. We have ghetto phones where the screens lack color.
7. You know its going to be a good week when you find White sugar. 
8. People love God. 'Too much'. It's all over their mini-buses, their buildings, their shirts, their underwear hanging on the line... everything.
9. No one has internet to look up anti-Mormon literature. #dodgedthatbullet
10. They have the cutest old men. Ever. They get so dressed up to go into town- it's like I'm living in the 1940's. I always say 'Madzuka' too them because I love seeing their toothless smiles. 

Man. Heaven bless Malawi.

Sister Clifford