18 June 2009

theorize and apply

when i first read that malawi is 80% christian (55% protestant, 25% catholic), i was impressed and thanked God that the people here not only know who He is, but also believe in Him. i thought this demographic would be a plus in my work.

we had a cultural orientation session with a young pastor's wife and she told us
"christianity in africa is like a very very wide lake...that's only 1 inch deep"

she continued in telling us that numbers are merely numbers and i heard firsthand her accounts that handouts and aid are not enough. victory told us how missionaries came to malawi with arms filled of things to give away and how when asked to receive Christ into their lives, people routinely raised their hands without commitment or knowing what they were doing. numbers are just numbers, used to fund projects and show concrete figures that work is being done and money is well-spent. i am slowly beginning to match faces and names to theories of development and aid. no longer is dead aid a book, but the story of a friend and of many around me.

the first dinner i was here, a newly ordained malawian pastor said grace and prayed
"Lord, bless those that do not have any food to eat today"

this prayer was sincere and so real, so much more meaningful than how i pray for the hungry.

reality and malawi is making real of the all the theories and stories i've been reading.

i live on a mountain

molly and the mountains. this dog is bigger than me :O

zomba market

zomba market; they re-use tin and make it shiny and usable
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Posted by Kristina Lugo at 10:39 AM
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6 comments:

  1. Wild HamsterJune 19, 2009 at 8:28 AM

    Mere 2 days and you already have me jealous - and I don't do jealousy!:p

    What I would give to be able to put books like Moyo's, Sachs', & Easterly's to the test of reality!

    But it's alll good...as long as you update your blog often! haha.

    Oh and far better job with posting the pics properly this time!:p Granted though that you were sleep-super-deprived last time!

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  2. Kristina LugoJune 19, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    hamoon! yaa its quite surreal at times. i just went on a walk up the mountain(next post) and i met a woman with her 5 foster children and just talking to her was so humbling. she made one of her boys climb this HUGE papaya tree for me! oh man. it was amazing.

    reading and agreeing with theories of aid is one thing. but being able to put a name and face to the theory and to all the statistics is humbling. im learning how to be a listener and to be patient =)

    haha. i shall re-post london pics ;p and still havent gotten a good night's sleep (but its only been 2).

    thanks for the comments!

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  3. UnknownJune 20, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    i just took a look at your photos, and then it hit me, for real this time: my bestfriend is in africa. and i wish i could be there too.

    i am SO proud of you (and jealous of course) :) but its only day 2 and i feel like my eyes are opening because of your posts, i can only imagine the impact on you.

    im so glad you have internet <3

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  4. leeJune 20, 2009 at 1:51 PM

    WOW.. I can't believe you're there!!! =D your pics are STUNNING!! especially the one of the kids and baseballs.. powerful..

    I'll be looking forward your new posts! take care!!

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  5. Kristina LugoJune 22, 2009 at 4:25 AM

    jmn: ahh im in africa?! it still amazes me every single day. i hope that some day we can come here together! it would be amazing. thanks so much for the kind words! i miss you =( im very proud of you too miss masters :D you work/study so hard, must be as hardcore as you. sometimes when i post, i write like im talking to you because i know you actually read... ;p thanks friend (:

    lee: lei? cali boy? thanks! im just figuring out how to use my camera. must learn more..more post to come (:

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  6. Ruby KuJune 22, 2009 at 5:39 AM

    this is why i want to support the ycare trust so much. local organizations wanting to support local leaders, empowering them to make decisions in how they want to spend the money best, not how the donors think they should spend it. i'm so proud that you're blogging so much already. i need to pick up my slack. your hard+heart work motivate me kris.

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