It was a sentiment commonly expressed by participants on short term mission trips. “The people here seem so happy, even though they have so little.”
Contentment seemed the idea of the day as the young people embarked on their nightly Bible study. This evening the passage was from 1 Timothy 6:6-10:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The day had been spent with about a dozen youth from three presbyteries who came to meet the Canadians, and the day had been dominated by games.
“I think the ability to be content with what you have and where you are with God can be a very humbling thing,” said Lindsay Hoover, one of the Canadians. “Lots of people are always wanting more–even more with God, to have more faith–and want more worldly possessions. But I think being content is humbling.”
“It’s a lesson for us to learn,” Eden Gaskin added. “If they can live with little, we can live with less.”
Surely the people they had been meeting each day seemed content and happy despite their poverty, most of the youth agreed. But as the discussion progressed, a very different outlook emerged.
Magan Haycock admitted that when her parents invite guests, she resents having to give up her room.
“When someone comes over it’s totally not a reality of how we live,” Marree Mackenzie admitted, describing her mother’s hectic cleaning sprees prior to any guest’s appearance. “It’s always a big show when people come over which I totally don’t like.”
“We show visitors that we are happy in Malawi,” said Carol Gamuti. “That’s why they say ‘hello.’ They think, these people have come to see us.” But in Malawi as in Canada, the answer to ‘How are you?” is almost always “fine,” regardless of whether or not someone is truly hurting, she suggested.
“I’ve found it’s easier for people who have money to say money is not attached to happiness,” said Mike Birks. “Money means something else, apart from what it means in Canada. It means health and status.”
