The other day I came across a problem - the very large basketball court we have been given the task of painting while we’re here appeared to have been overtaken by a giant storm of dirt and dead leaves just prior to our arrival. It needed a cleaning – and we were the ones to do the job. I asked a church worker if he had a broom – a broom of extremely primitive means is what I received. One string bound together a handful of straw. It was maybe 2 feet tall without a pole attached. Compared to the 90’x 50’ court – this broom was microscopic. It would take me a very very long time to sweep & prep the court with this broom even with a slue of help. I’m betting that it would’ve taken 15 minutes or less to sweep the court with a commercial broom without a bit of assistance. The convenient way is not always the best way I have learned here in Malawi. Sometimes you risk losing community when you choose convenience. Let’s just say a friend of mine and I had a great time bending over, faces nearly touching the ground, for more than 30 minutes laboriously attempting to sweep off the court all the while trying to understand one another’s language and pursue what could be a long-lasting reciprocal relationship.