“Hello, what’s your name?”  “Chinsinsi, it’s a very easy name.”  Sure it is… He doesn’t know I have bad short term memory and am also not the best at listening for Chichewa syllables.  Also, I’ve been taking notes in my trip book and I’m pretty sure I can’t find his name in with the list of interns (it’s not there).  There is Chisomo, Chikondi, Chifundo.  Now I’m even more uncertain and have more syllables mixed up in my head with his name. 

I first saw Chinsinsi the second day during The Grove Malawi dedication.  He was helping keep all the kids orderly on the tarp and handing out bread and soda.   I didn’t talk to him for a couple days until we were on the bus together to hand out trees.  It was just small talk.   When we arrived at the village we were waiting for everyone to get organized.  Then he flat out asked “What do you preach?”  “What do you mean? I’m not a pastor.  I don’t preach.”  “Everyone who accepts Jesus as their Savior preaches.  What story do you preach?”  I’m not sure all the cultural backgrounds and all his expectations as a foreigner from the US in Malawi.  I didn’t know what to say.  “If you want my story it will take more than a few minutes and I don’t think we have that much time.”   Also, there were three pastors on this trip so I expect them to do the preaching. 

He saw he was getting nowhere with me so he told me his story.  He just found Jesus a few years ago through his battle with alcohol.  He wanted to get help and a friend of his recommended a religious group.  He found someone who prayed with him and taught him about Jesus.  It helped him overcome his struggles with alcohol.  It made him want to preach the good news about Jesus to others.  “See, it’s not that hard.  What do you want to preach?”  Honestly I still don’t know where to start with my life story and it’s time to work on trees. 

He is the opposite of shy.  He is very outgoing.  However, I don’t see that much of him.  Usually I see him at breakfast and say hi.  He eats with different people each day; sometimes by himself.  I’m not sure what projects he’s working on or what he does in his spare time because I don’t see him.   Actually he is working on the women’s team supporting the widows and wives.   That’s why I don’t see him during the day.   Then comes The Afters.  At first they performed in the chapel at the college.  I went with Nathan and sat in the pews with people we didn’t really know.  I felt like I should get out of my comfort zone and stand up by the stage.  Lots of people are in groups, but I see Chinsinsi up there dancing and singing paying no attention to who is next to him.  I felt the push to just go to him and say hi.  I told Nathan I was going over there and walked away.  Chinsinsi saw me and smiled.  “I want you to push me.  I’m not comfortable here.”  “Yes, of course! Let’s dance.”  I was very nervous, self conscious, scared.  He just smiled and laughed.  He could accept me. 

The next night was the concert in the village.  I was still uncomfortable, but less so because of the night before.  Nathan, Aaron, and I all stood near the stage with kids from the village.  Chinsinsi was still singing and dancing.  The night after that was the concert in the city.  Chinsinsi was still cheering me on. 

That’s the easy end of the story, but his original question is still unanswered.  “What do I preach?”  “What is my testimony?”  I’ve purposely waited to write this post to see if there is an answer.  I was raised Lutheran my whole life, but haven’t had a relationship with Jesus like Chinsinsi has.  He is much younger than me, but I’m the younger Christian.  I’m still learning how to become a disciple of Jesus.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul.   That’s a big ask… and very ambiguous.   Love your neighbor as yourself.   That’s much more clear, but difficult to do.  Love yourself as Jesus loves you.  I’m going to start there.  That’s my testimony.  I could write a lot more about my life story, but there are a lot of wrong beliefs about myself that I need to work on.