My roommates and I were invited to attend a church service in Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Amy, who had been there before, suggested that I play my dulcimer for the service. I just laughed and said I would not. Playing the dulcimer has always been something I did in solitary. It was a calming introverted activity like reading a book, and I never considered myself good or confident enough to play as a performer. But a few days later, I was thinking about it again, and I felt that God was telling me that I had no right to keep something like my dulcimer to myself. I was blessed to own such an instrument, there aren’t many instruments at all in Dzaleka, and I am sure no one at that church had ever seen a dulcimer. So I decided that even if I felt totally uncomfortable and made a bunch of mistakes, I needed to play for this congregation. I did, and I did make mistakes. I actually laughed quietly to myself while trying to sing and play the two little songs I picked out, but the church loved it. I enjoyed it as well. Several weeks later three young girls came to the center asking for me. I had no idea how they knew who I was till they said they were from that church. They did not know much English, and I know hardly any Swahili, so I just sat with them for awhile while one of them gripped my hand. It made me realize that with even a little effort, we can really bring joy into people’s lives.
I recently bought a badminton set. I wanted to try it out, but had no one to play with at the time, so I just began popping the birdie to myself. I heard a soft, “one-two-three-four” behind me while I was doing this. It was one of the Malawian kids living in our complex. I let him try, and soon his brother and sister came over.
Now whenever I walk out my door, or return from work, I am met by Shaf, Chiso, and Faith smiling and calling “Elleney!” while mimicking hitting a birdie with a badminton racket. This game has certainly brightened up their day and now I always have someone to play with.
I may have come to Malawi to work in Agriculture, but I have realized that I have even more to offer if I open up to people with my other interests.