“First I’m Going to Sew Your Wound”

A little one sat in front of me with a wound on his leg.

“Don’t be afraid.” I told him with a big smile as I poured some water on a gauze to wash his wound. “First I’m going to sew your wound.”

I realized what I had said when I saw the look of terror on his face!

An easy, but terrifying in this case, mistake to make.

You see “to wash” in Chichewa is “kusoka” (Long “o” sound); and “to sew” is “kusuka” (the “u” says “oo” as in “tooth”).

That poor little guy! Thankfully, my mistake was corrected and he sat patiently, though somewhat warily.

I still struggle greatly with the language. I am sometimes disappointed that I have not progressed further. I think this is a burden of most missionary wives as we are busy with our first ministry – home – and don’t have the ability to focus on language studies as much as we would like. But little by little, we progress.

One day I may be able to speak fluently, but even if not, I know that I have focused on what was most important.