Well, as you probably all know, we have returned home again after 3 months of life in Malawi!! Although quite happy to be home, we were very sad to leave Africa and all our friends and adventures behind...
but we would love to tell you about those things if you want to hear it!!
In fact, we are planning an evening of just this thing... Lord willing it will take place on August 21, 2008. Details are not all there yet, but we will keep you informed.
So if you so desire, you can mark your calendars and join us to see pictures and hear stories etc on the afore mentioned Thursday!
See you then!!
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts hrough faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exdceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to HIm be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN." -Ephesians 3:17-21
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures
to all generations.
Psalm 100:5
The Lord is good to His children. These past few weeks have been exciting and wonderful. Three Orphan Bible Clubs have been started and are slowly growing to become independent.
We have been joined by the rest of the team, Lenelle, Caroline, Katie, and Ruth Ann. They have become used to Malawian ways and joined in the work with full force!
It has been wonderful to work hand in hand with the villagers to start the Bible Clubs in Kalamba, Livuadzi, and Msumphi and see their excitement and commitment, They are learning alot and are taking responsibility upon themselves very willingly. Kalamba has found land to being growing a garden to produce food to support the orphans during the dry season. They also plan to teach skill such as pot-making, hoe handle carving and knitting to the older children.
Everyday is filled with new surprises (not all of them pleasant!) and adventures. At the organizational meeting of the Livuadzi OBC Monica spent the whole time making faces with the kids to keep from falling asleep during the long Chichewa speeches. Patience is often required when we have to wait, and wait, and wait. Amy has started a collection of "waiting" pictures... waiting at the post office, at the AIDS office, at the Orphan office... I'm sure you get the picture!!
We would like to thank Word and Deed for the good work they are doing here in Malawi and for giving us this opportunity to serve God and others for these three months. Their support is greatly appreciated here for being so dependable. Thank-you and God bless the work you do here and all across the world, for His glory and honor.
Well, that is just a little update amd taste of what's been going on here in the warm heart of Africa. Meanwhile the time is flying by and two of our three months are already over. Its been crazy to see how fast our last few weeks are filling up. Sorry it took so long for a blog post, but our internet access has been very limited.
Thank-you for your prayer and encouragement. Please continue to pray for the work here. Pray that God will use the Bible Clubs for His glory and honor, that many children will hear His Word and make it a part of their daily lives. Pray that the leaders will be diligent and enthusiastic to work with the kids and willingly give of themselves for them and God. Please pray for us in our last month here that we may use every opportunity we have to glorify God's Name. Pray for Word and Deed and the work they do. Please pray for Malawi as a country, as they struggle to fight the HIV/AIDS crisis and care for the growing number of orphans.
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Eph. 4:20,21.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Praise God all the Time
Thank you all for all your prayers. We know God has heard them and answered them and is continuing to answer them... "And whatever you ask in My Name that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14:13
We have already seen our patience, love, and compassion grow and pray that it will continue to do so. Also, as of today, a new project was discussed that will allow our time and efforts to be more concentrated on specific centres and activities. This will allow us to get to know some people in the villages and to hopefully start something that will continue long after we have left the Lord willing.
Two villages have been chosen to be the beginning of a new phase in Nkhoma Orphan Care Project (NOCP). Starting soon the Orphan Bible Clubs of Livuadzi and Kalamba will meet three times every week to do Bible study, activities and homework together. The goal is to help Nkhoma Orphan Care to be similar to that of other Agencies in the surrounding area. Right now Nkhoma is dealing with emergency relief and has not had the opportunity to develop any further. We hope to introduce something that will give spiritual growth and encourage the people to desire to work hard towards independence.
This is a major step that we are attempting to take, and we request earnest supplication to our Father.
Please pray for:
-The whole team at NOCP that we will all have wisdom and diligence.
-Each orphan centre we will be working with that they may be enthusiastic and do their part!
-That the foundation of these Bible Clubs will be Christ.
-The three girls who will be joining us on Thursday, for safe travels and spiritual strength. And for Ruth Ann who is preparing to join us on June 19.
-Thank God for answered prayers and His unfailing love and mercy!
This past weekend we had the opportunity to go to Lake Malawi for a vacation. We enjoyed the water, sunrise, sunsets, and the fellowship of the Kamnkhwani family. We were thankful to get to know them better!
But now it is back to work...
We have already seen our patience, love, and compassion grow and pray that it will continue to do so. Also, as of today, a new project was discussed that will allow our time and efforts to be more concentrated on specific centres and activities. This will allow us to get to know some people in the villages and to hopefully start something that will continue long after we have left the Lord willing.
Two villages have been chosen to be the beginning of a new phase in Nkhoma Orphan Care Project (NOCP). Starting soon the Orphan Bible Clubs of Livuadzi and Kalamba will meet three times every week to do Bible study, activities and homework together. The goal is to help Nkhoma Orphan Care to be similar to that of other Agencies in the surrounding area. Right now Nkhoma is dealing with emergency relief and has not had the opportunity to develop any further. We hope to introduce something that will give spiritual growth and encourage the people to desire to work hard towards independence.
This is a major step that we are attempting to take, and we request earnest supplication to our Father.
Please pray for:
-The whole team at NOCP that we will all have wisdom and diligence.
-Each orphan centre we will be working with that they may be enthusiastic and do their part!
-That the foundation of these Bible Clubs will be Christ.
-The three girls who will be joining us on Thursday, for safe travels and spiritual strength. And for Ruth Ann who is preparing to join us on June 19.
-Thank God for answered prayers and His unfailing love and mercy!
This past weekend we had the opportunity to go to Lake Malawi for a vacation. We enjoyed the water, sunrise, sunsets, and the fellowship of the Kamnkhwani family. We were thankful to get to know them better!
But now it is back to work...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Pray
The Lord works in mysterious ways. This week we have struggled with the Lord's purpose for us here in Malawi. Many plans have gone wrong and very little seemed to be accomplished. Bitterness and despair took root in our hearts and we let it replace love and compassion. Actually, we realized that there had been very little love and compassion there to begin with.
This morning we had to visit the accountant for the guest house, Mrs. Veitch, to ask for a receipt for our stay in the guest house. But the Lord had other plans. We ended up talking to the Veitch's about our feelings and received a sermon of encouragement and loving admonishment which we really needed to come to this understanding of all that we have seen and done for the last few weeks. This was a very unexpected and appreciated blessing, since this was only the second time we have seen the Veitch's and we came on an unexpected visit, and they actually have nothing to do with the ministry we are involved in.
The people here are incredibly poor, so when we enter a village we are surrounded by people who see us as rich white girls who can solve all their problems. They explain all their difficulties and needs. They say they are starving because of the drought and need blankets and clothes for the fast approaching winter season. We are expected to respond but are always at a loss for words. We cannot promise to help them physically and we can see that their problem goes so much deeper than material poverty. Their problem is also a poverty of knowledge. Knowledge in the basics of how to live and help themselves and more importantly a lack of understanding of the precious sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is more valuable than silver and gold. Because they see their need as only a lack of funds etc, it is hard for us to address what really matters. They do not see their need of spiritual understanding. As we are not personally in the position to solve their material problems, please pray continually that the Lord will fill us with His Spirit and give us the words and courage to meet their spiritual need. It doesn't come naturally to either of us to give "sermons" to large groups and in a way we would be more comfortable doing physical work. We have also seen over the past 3 weeks that when we try to do everything on our own, we fail. We can do NOTHING. If anything is going to change/happen in Malawi, it will be GOD who does it, not us. But we hope and pray that Christ will dwell in us richly so that He can work through us. "Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness."
Please pray that we will understand the importance of sharing the Word even though we may not see the results of what God will do through it. All we can do is attempt to plant the seeds and trust that God will cause them to take root and grow. Isaiah 55:11
But despite the fact that the spiritual need is of much more importance, the material needs are also great. From what we can see, most people will have a hard struggle to surive the winter and dry season. In order for them to be able to grow in faith and knowledge they need to live. We are feeling like we are the man in James 2:16 who says, "Depart in peace, be warm and well fed," but does not give the things which are needed for the body.
We have seen babies dressed in nothing but rags, children who are malnourished, young people who walk 10 km to school every day and grandmothers caring for many young orphans. They all have so many struggles and work so hard, but they still lack what is necessary for daily life.
Please pray:
-that the words of Colossians 3:12-17 and Romans 12:9-16 may be true of us
-for patience as we struggle with all the waiting and what seems like wasting time that we have to do and that we may find a profitable way to use it
-that our hearts would overflow with the love of Christ
-for wisdom to be able to put into simple words the knowledge of salvation to share with these needy people
-that we don't judge them and look down on them but that we see them as brothers and sisters in Christ
-that we will grow in faith and knowledge even if it hurts
Please pray hard...we need it!
Thank-you so much (zikomo kwambiri) and God bless you all!
This morning we had to visit the accountant for the guest house, Mrs. Veitch, to ask for a receipt for our stay in the guest house. But the Lord had other plans. We ended up talking to the Veitch's about our feelings and received a sermon of encouragement and loving admonishment which we really needed to come to this understanding of all that we have seen and done for the last few weeks. This was a very unexpected and appreciated blessing, since this was only the second time we have seen the Veitch's and we came on an unexpected visit, and they actually have nothing to do with the ministry we are involved in.
The people here are incredibly poor, so when we enter a village we are surrounded by people who see us as rich white girls who can solve all their problems. They explain all their difficulties and needs. They say they are starving because of the drought and need blankets and clothes for the fast approaching winter season. We are expected to respond but are always at a loss for words. We cannot promise to help them physically and we can see that their problem goes so much deeper than material poverty. Their problem is also a poverty of knowledge. Knowledge in the basics of how to live and help themselves and more importantly a lack of understanding of the precious sacrifice of Jesus Christ which is more valuable than silver and gold. Because they see their need as only a lack of funds etc, it is hard for us to address what really matters. They do not see their need of spiritual understanding. As we are not personally in the position to solve their material problems, please pray continually that the Lord will fill us with His Spirit and give us the words and courage to meet their spiritual need. It doesn't come naturally to either of us to give "sermons" to large groups and in a way we would be more comfortable doing physical work. We have also seen over the past 3 weeks that when we try to do everything on our own, we fail. We can do NOTHING. If anything is going to change/happen in Malawi, it will be GOD who does it, not us. But we hope and pray that Christ will dwell in us richly so that He can work through us. "Christ's strength is made perfect in our weakness."
Please pray that we will understand the importance of sharing the Word even though we may not see the results of what God will do through it. All we can do is attempt to plant the seeds and trust that God will cause them to take root and grow. Isaiah 55:11
But despite the fact that the spiritual need is of much more importance, the material needs are also great. From what we can see, most people will have a hard struggle to surive the winter and dry season. In order for them to be able to grow in faith and knowledge they need to live. We are feeling like we are the man in James 2:16 who says, "Depart in peace, be warm and well fed," but does not give the things which are needed for the body.
We have seen babies dressed in nothing but rags, children who are malnourished, young people who walk 10 km to school every day and grandmothers caring for many young orphans. They all have so many struggles and work so hard, but they still lack what is necessary for daily life.
Please pray:
-that the words of Colossians 3:12-17 and Romans 12:9-16 may be true of us
-for patience as we struggle with all the waiting and what seems like wasting time that we have to do and that we may find a profitable way to use it
-that our hearts would overflow with the love of Christ
-for wisdom to be able to put into simple words the knowledge of salvation to share with these needy people
-that we don't judge them and look down on them but that we see them as brothers and sisters in Christ
-that we will grow in faith and knowledge even if it hurts
Please pray hard...we need it!
Thank-you so much (zikomo kwambiri) and God bless you all!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Highschool Teachers!
Today we taught highschool (secondary) for the first time! Amy taught two English classes and Monica obsered a Math class in preparation for next week teaching. Together we gave three presentations on HIV/AIDS to two grade ten classes and one grade 9 class. As we approached the highschool grounds and the realization of what we were going to do got stronger, Monica quoted our theme verse for the trip... "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and be of good courage, do not be afraid nor be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (see top of blog!) Then, before giving our first AIDS presentationthe deputy head of the school asked us if we had ever taught HIghschool before. Our response, of course, was "no." She proceeded to encourage us by saying, "you must be courageous. Be very strong." Wow! we knew that encouragement had come straight from God!
In the HIV/AIDS presentation we were very free to explain and encourage with a BIblical perspective. We used 1Thess. 4:3-5, Eph 5:1-4, 1 Peter 2:11,12, and 1 Peter 1:13-16 to explain the real reason for abstinence and to encourage the students to live holy and pure lives. They hung onto every word and seemed inspired by the fact that we (young white girls) were the ones to bring them this important message. Our final encouragement was from 1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no one despise you because of your youth, but be an example to all believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in spirit and in PURITY!"
In celebration of having made it through our first day of teaching secondary school, we went to Tikondane (the local coffee shop) to relax!
Thank you for your prayers.
In the HIV/AIDS presentation we were very free to explain and encourage with a BIblical perspective. We used 1Thess. 4:3-5, Eph 5:1-4, 1 Peter 2:11,12, and 1 Peter 1:13-16 to explain the real reason for abstinence and to encourage the students to live holy and pure lives. They hung onto every word and seemed inspired by the fact that we (young white girls) were the ones to bring them this important message. Our final encouragement was from 1 Timothy 4:12, "Let no one despise you because of your youth, but be an example to all believers in word, in conduct, in love, in faith, in spirit and in PURITY!"
In celebration of having made it through our first day of teaching secondary school, we went to Tikondane (the local coffee shop) to relax!
Thank you for your prayers.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Greetings from the Warm Heart of Africa.
Hello Everyone!
We have arrived safely and are getting into the routine of things.
It generally goes kind of like this.
Wake up at 6:00 and eat breakfast.
Then get everything we will need to teach nursery school. We have a poster with a Bible verse written in Chichewa for the children to memorize and several other things we need to get ready.
We walk to the Orphan Care Project office at 8:00.
We then crochet a few granny squares while we wait for the other people to show up. 8:00 in Malawi time usually means about 8:30. So I almost have a blanket made already!
Once the driver and the two coordinators arrive we are off to nursery school. We teach at a different one every day. We have to show the teachers how be more creative. So we teach alphabet with flashcards, Bible stories, memory verses, games and counting. This morning we played 'Duck Duck Goose" and they loved it!
At 10:30 we go back to the office, do some filing or write some reports.
We have a lunch break from 12-2 and then we go to visit different villages and see the orphans and their guardians and homes. We do different things with them. Soon we will be building playgrounds at the schools. . .from scratch! should be fun!
We go home at 5:00, cook supper, do devotions, have a shower etc and then go to bed already to start the new day tomorrow. Every day is new and different and exciting, but that is what we usually do. Thank-you for all your prayers and encouragement. The people here are also very thankful for all your support and love. I can't wait to see you all again.
Please pray for us as we face the different challenges each new day brings. Please pray that we will display Christ our Lord in everything we do and that we will be a blessing to the people here. Thankyou!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
on our way...
We have arrived safely in London and are getting very excited to finally see Malawi!
Zephaniah 3:17
Zephaniah 3:17
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