Universals

Since arriving in Malawi, I've been taking some very introductory lessons in Chichewa, the primary language spoken here. Unfortunately language learning comes slowly, so my understanding is still, of course, very limited. As I've been immersed in a variety of primarily-Chichewa-speaking settings, including church services each Sunday and visiting various SIM ministries, I've learned words like "zikomo," which means "thank you" and "Mulungu," which means "God," and "asungu," which means "white person."

So with the language barrier that exists, I'm learning to appreciate those things that are universal no matter what language we're speaking.

The first one I've found is a smile. Even when there's nothing to say because of the language barrier, a smile can say a whole lot.

Big smiles from the kids at the Rays of Hope summer camp

Another universal is the language of sports and games. You don't have to speak someone's language to kick a soccer ball with them or jump into a game of duck, duck, goose.

Kids at Rays of Hope play a group game

Several kids playing soccer as part of Sports Friends

 
The universal language of sports is what SIM's ministry Sports Friends uses as a platform for sharing the Gospel. Serving in more than 10 countries in North & South America, Asia, and Africa, the program is just starting to take off in Malawi through the work of a young couple here in Blantyre. Long-term, the vision for Sports Friends in Malawi is to train Malawian youth from churches across the country on how to start their own Sports Friends ministries in their communities.

After soccer, they hear a Bible lesson & practice memory verses

The final universal that I've encountered is during worship on Sundays. Although the services at Chilomoni AEC are entirely in Chichewa, after every component of the service, the leader says, "Alleluia!" and the congregation responds, "Amen!" Those are pretty much the only words I understand during the entire service. Alleluia and Amen: universal words to praise our God!

I was reminded of the song, “Come Christians Join to Sing:”

Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high,
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our Guide and Friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end.
Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again,
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore,
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore,
“Alleluia! Amen!”

Although I don’t understand much in the service past those two words, I am reminded each week of the global-ness of God. God is bigger than language. He hears the praises of His children in Chichewa just as clearly as those in English. Although I don’t understand the words, He does and those praises are sweet music to His ears. One day, people of every nation and tribe and language will be in Heaven together praising God! There won't be a language barrier anymore. On Heaven’s blissful shore, we’ll be singing forevermore the universal praise of our God: Alleluia! Amen!

We'll praise together with these sweet children. Alleluia! Amen!