Perspective On Kitchens: A “Matt in Malawi” Story
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Ya’ll know I love to cook, right? Well, when I have time to plan and scheme it out. ;)I’ve been known to make a few decadent desserts and try my hand at new ideas.
When you consider the number of people in our house, 8 or 9 all the time, and the number of mouths we have to feed, our kitchen has always seemed a bit small. The pantry doesn’t hold nearly what it should; we have makeshift storage in the basement. The counter space is a bit short; if more than one person is working, there is a constant reorganization of work space.
The kitchen table is crammed; we’re literally elbow to elbow. The table seats six. So we have our sweet Taylor in her own handicapped seating beside the table and the person feeding her sits at the table. Tarah, our almost 3 year old, sits in a booster seat with a tray. Tessa, the baby, sits in a high chair with a tray. To keep normal meals off the carpet in the formal dining room, this is how we cram in. Add one extra friend for dinner and we are borrowing the piano bench to add to the end of the table. Seems inconvenient for sure.
Until my man brought back one particular video from his recent Malawi mission trip. Here is the home where a child is head of household.
But then my husband wasn’t even sure what this little half-wall “building” was next to the house until he asked. And the children who live in the little shacks surrounding it told the interpretator, who told my Matthew.
“It’s the kitchen.”
You see, in Malawi, many of the children are orphaned, but if they leave the land of their ancestors, it is no longer theirs to claim. They must make do on what they have, living as the head of household,responsible for younger siblings, often at ages 9 -13.
So this is how they live. This…is their kitchen.
And suddenly my kitchen doesn’t seem so inconvenient.
How about yours?
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Sure puts things into perspective! Thanks for sharing though I’m sure life must be very busy. You are an inspiration.
As are you!! Blessings to you, Laura!
Oh my gosh girl! I also came home from my missions trip more well, content, in my own old kitchen that I had been just about dying to renovate previously! It helps so much seeing outside of our homes into the world around us, huge perspective change! Thanks for the reminder that I have all I need. WOW!
Having food and raiment, let us be content. 😉 Thanks Amy!
I have been on three mission trips outside this country, and I always come back feeling so rich. It’s something more of us should see.
My most recent trip however, was to West Liberty, Kentucky. That was about 20 months ago. This past Friday, the tornadoes that hit the Midwest tore West Liberty apart, and I’m just waiting to hear from the few folks I know there–my class is pen pals with a 4th grade class there. It doesn’t much have to do with your post, but please forgive me, it’s been on my heart…
Actually, Ellen, I think it does have to do with the post! We all are not missionaries around the globe, but we are in the communities where we live and serve. Your heart for the people there gleams with love. Praying for their losses and God’s redemptive work!
Wow! Things like this really open our eyes to what we have!
yes they do.