Notice anything different?

No we didn't redecorate and I didn't get a new hair cut. I am referring to the differences between Malawi and America. You're probably thinking "duh Bethany", but I would like to seriously draw your attention to the some of the differences between these two countries. These are by no means in any certain order of importance...they are just some of the many that caught my attention.

Major difference #1:
Life expectancy in America at birth-78 years
Life expectancy in Malawi at birth-43 years

Major difference #2:
Americans living with HIV/AIDS-1.2 million
HIV/AIDS deaths-22,000
Malawians living with HIV/AIDS-930,000
HIV/AIDS deaths-68,000

Major difference #3:
American literacy rate of total population-99%
Malawian literacy rate of total population-62.7%

Major difference #4:
American electricity consumption rate-3.89 trillion kWh
Malawian electricity consumption rate-1.5 billion kWh

Major difference #5:
American television broadcast systems- 2,218
Malawi television broadcast systems- 1

As you can see, there are other differences between these two countries besides the food, weather and spoken languages. I only focused on five out of hundreds that can be found on the CIA World Factbook website. You could spend all day learning more about the differences between America and Malawi.

What surprises me is how much both of these places can feel like home. They both have wonderful things about them, as well as major downsides. It is easy to build up America in my head, especially when it's a bad day without water or electricity or diesel at the fill station. It is also easy to build up Malawi in my head when I am back in the states, being bombarded with advertisements and consumerism and the overall fast pace of life and pressure for achievement. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to experience different ways of life. I am also thankful for the many blessings and privileges I have just because I was born in America. Most of all, I am thankful that neither of these places is really my home. I look forward to being in my eternal home, the one where I get to be in my savior's presence and enjoy Him forever. I can hardly imagine what that perfect home will be like!