Getting Acclimated

     Since my first real day in Malawi was a Saturday, we had a lot of time and freedom to look around.  The first order of business was to exchange some money.  The official exchange rate is something like 162 Kwatcha= $1.00.  The street rate is around 250K= $1.00.
     A surprise visit from my sister-in-law's mother, brother, and aunt was a nice addition to the afternoon.  I hadn't seen them since they were in Milwaukee for Pete and Andyrose's wedding in 2007.  They didn't stay long (probably saw I was struggling to stay awake, which was not a reflection on the conversation).
    Sunday brought a great worship service at Crown of Life Lutheran Church.  It is located on the grounds of the Lutheran Bible Institute.  Three of the four missionaries live in houses at the LBI, and the seminary students have a community of houses there as well.  The LBI choir sings every Sunday.  They start singing from the back of the church and sing/dance their way to the front where they sing a couple more songs, then sing/dance back to their seats.  It was incredible!  The stereotype that Africans are good singers with a wonderful sense of harmony is so true.
   A Bible study on Church and Ministry followed the service.  This was a topic that I thought was pretty much cut and dried, but the cultural differences added a new perspective.