Motherhood on a Mission

I got this email today about how different things were in the USA 100 years ago. As I was reading I thought about how similar life in the US 100 years ago is to life in Malawi today. I thought it would be neat to look up some statistics and actually compare them.

USA 1907 Malawi 2007

Average Life Span -

47 years 39 years

Average wage -

22 cents per hour women - 84 cents/day

Higher Education -

6% graduated H.S. 17% pass primary school

Five leading causes of death:

USA 1907 Malawi 2007
1. Pneumonia and influenza HIV/AIDS
2. Tuberculosis Diarrhea
3. Diarrhea Cholera
4. Heart disease Malaria
5. Stroke Lack of Food

Only 14% of homes had a bathtub 22.7% are without toilet facilities

95% of births took place at home over 50% of births at home

Malawi is more technically advanced that the US 100 years ago, but there are still so many things that are the same. Going into a rural village in Malawi is a lot like stepping back in time. There was another interesting statistic that the US only had 230 reported cases of murder in the whole country. I couldn't find a report on murder for Malawi online, but I can't imagine it being too much higher. I did find an article from 2000 on a serial killer targeting women in Malawi. It was their first serial killer ever! (or at least reported) Now how many of those have been in the US since 1907?!

Malawians are all so much happier and content even though they have little material possessions. Especially those in Christ Jesus. They really understand Paul's words in Phillipians 4:12-13- "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."