My Thoughts are Here....

This morning as I woke up, preparing for another busy week, my last week
in Malawi, my thoughts turned to next week. The laid back pace of
building relationships through play, to finding joy in the small things,
to my boys in Nigeria. I can't wait! This time next week I'll be in
Emi-Woro hearing all about 'maths' and spelling and cows.

Today Ryan and Jen are taking the Abbots on Safari. Weekend with the
kiddos! Kid food, sleepovers, playing outside, Birthday Parties,
Movies-Saturday!

It Is What It Is

It has been a while since I've posted anything and while I feel like I
should have some great stories to share with you sometimes it's just
life. I've been in Malawi for 16 days. There is a Bible School module
happening-26 students studying English, Pentateuch, Wesleyan Theology
and Church History. There are three families living on the campus,
totaling 8 missionary children. They built a fort yesterday, having
exhausted hide and seek and tag. I took the tribe to school this
morning-5 out of 8 of the children attend ABC here in Lilongwe, a 20
minute drive across town. I learned to drive here in Malawi two weeks
ago, shifting with the opposite hand is not difficult at all compared to
dodging cars, bikes, pedestrians, goats, and dogs and remembering what
side of the street to drive on. Life moves at a furious pace here in
Lilongwe, especially during a Bible School Module. The three families
divided themselves up yesterday, attending three different churches
throughout the city. Today the kiddos begin swim lessons after school,
it was the hot topic of conversation on the ride to school this
morning-who is in what level, at what time, who can swim the fastest,
etc. Although we move in 100 different directions throughout the week I
am glad there are moments when we get to be together; like Saturday when
we all piled into two cars to enjoy a day at the lake or like tonight
when we will all go to Chapel with the students-singing worship songs in
Chichewa and taking a moment to pause and be in the presence of the
Lord. Somehow it was like I never left, it seems like I've been here for
more than two weeks. It was nice not to have to relearn everything
again, I've done a lot of hopping around this year, each country coming
with their own set of rules. But here in Malawi I felt like the learning
curve is over, I can just be. In two weeks time I'll travel back to
Nigeria to again work in Emi-Woro but for now I'm enjoying being in a
place that is familiar, sure the pace might be a lot faster than I
remember but as we have come to say in the last few weeks "It is what it
is."

Surprises

There is a lot to be said for this stage in life, a lot of chances for
adventure and new experiences and flexibility and surprises! Surprise,
I'm going to Malawi for a few weeks. Yesterday I arrived in Lilongwe,
Malawi to work with the Willson, Bartlett and Babcock families as they
enter into their next season of ministry. You may have heard Katie
Bartlett was in a car accident two weeks ago and is recovering from
surgery-she comes home today! The FM Bible School module begins tomorrow
and new missionaries arrived last week. It's a whirlwind of activity
here on the campus. It feels really great to be back, to a place that
feels like 'home'. You can be praying for us as we prepare for the Bible
School, for Katie as she continues to heal and as all families enter
into their next season of ministry.

Could it be?

Could it be that after all this time, after months of comparing the
stench of the burn pile to our sin to the Lord that we are finally
getting a compost pile? I hope so. I documented this monumental event so
you could share in my joy. Goodbye smoke, hello mulch!