We soon begin our journey home.  So far all the flights are as originally planned and we hope it stays that way.  We’ve had an absolutely amazing time and have been blessed abundantly – we are looking forward to going home to see our families.  Please pray that there are no travelling glitches and that Sharon’s luggage meets up with us before we leave this country.

See you soon.

The children loved playing ball, skipping and learning hand clapping games.  Face washing was just as interesting here as it was in other villages.  Kids are kids everywhere in the world.  Monica, Lori, Laura and Sharon had a wonderful time.  Everyone wants to know, ‘can they come back tomorrow?’

Andrea, Lisa and Doreen are welcomed by the widows with singing and dancing – with enthusiasm and joy.  So wonderful.  The widows are happy to participate in a Bible Study and in a rousing dance – the hokie pokie – can you believe it?  They laugh and giggle and ask for more.  They too want us to come back soon.

Each of these ladies has left their signature too; its just not so visible.  The love that was shared was evident to all.  Through feedback from Somebody Cares we find that everyone (Somebody Cares workers & volunteers, the widows, orphans) are so encourages to have had us visit them and share the love of Christ.

They have taught us a lot too – Trust God for everything.  Find your hope in the Lord.  Don’t concentrate on what youdon’t have but rather on what you do have.  In everything give thanks to the Lord.

2. photo of cat by bed – Ben (Matt’s room mate, he suspected that Matt would have a photo of Holly and he didn’t want to be left out)

3.  enough clothes to share with Sharon whose luggage decided to have a vacation of its own in Amsterdam and London.  Was to make it to Malawi on Friday perhaps, 2 days before we leave the country.  We’ll see.

4.  Arrived at a 7 am team meeting at 2 am since she had looked at her watch upside down – Andrea (and she brough her room mate Laura with her; both of them wondering why it was so dark!)

5. Who earned the nick name “puppy” – Laura.  She has the wonderful ability to take quick naps, waking up refreshed and full of energy just like a puppy does.

6. who held and fed a baby for the very first time – Sharon and you should have seen the smile on her face (all our faces actually).  It was a very special time and the Crisis baby clinic.

7. Who wants the tuna salad spread to the edge of the bread?  Monica.  It was a simple request.  We make sandwiches each night since it the simpliest way for us to have lunch when we are in community.  Naturally, we had to take the simple request and turn it into something much bigger, all for the fun of it.

8. Whose name became ROLI by the Malawians?  Lori – seems they mix up the ‘l’ and ‘r’ regularly

9. Which male claims his best day so far was at the orphanage holding and feeding babies? Ron – this man has been grinning from ear to ear with all of our various work projects and ministry opportunities.  All the guys and gals loved being with the babies.

10. Tea at any time – Bill.  We set up our cafeteria (sandwich making initially that spread to tea and coffee)  It was also the place where we held our morning devotions.

thank you to all who answered our trivia questions – we’ve been wondering if anyone has been reading our updates!  It is difficult to do regular updates for there are planned rotating blackouts (to save on electricity) and they don’t tell us where or when they will be be, plus ordinary black outs (they just happen) plus the internet is sssooooo slow.

Monica is teaching Xcell and giving some pointers on setting up a numbering system for the new libraries.  They are so happy to have this training but they would still prefer that Monica set up the reports and charts for them.

The others are doing some hygene training with the pre-schoolers of Mgona.  Laura is just about swarmed with kids – they love her (we do too).  We are trying to show the kids how to wash their handsand  face with soap and water and also how to brush their teeth.  The children are so cute and totally predictable.  Some of them got their faces washed more than once and others avoided the process as long as they could.  The tooth brushes didn’t stay clean all that long – soon they were being left on the ground or shared with a friend.  In the afternoon, more families are interviewed and photos taken to gather the information needed to make memory books for each one.  Will be very busy since the Memory books all must be delievered to families on our next journey into the community. 

Our time here is almost over.  In some ways it feels like we just got here and in others it feels like we have been here a month since we have had very active and full days.

The construction team is off to Kasakula.  Ben’s ability to paint characatures has been noticed so walls are being painted with cute dancing animals.

Our van is still sick – overheating again.  Little did we know that wen we give up our van (because it is in need of repair) we also give up our driver.  Seems the drivers have specific van’s assigned to them and our driver is not permitted to drive the replacement van.  We are very disappointed.  George, our driver, is a really good guy.  We already miss him.

Have a look a the TEAM on another page and see if you can answer the questions below.  Those of you who know these great team mates may be really quick at figuring them out.

Which  team member:

* has a photo of his/her spouse on the night stand

* not to be outdone, this team person has a photo of his/her cat on the night stand

* has enough clothes to share with Sharon – whose suitcase has still not arrived

*who arrived for our morning meeting at 2 am because the wrist watch was on upside down

* who has earned the nickname “puppy”

* who held and fed a baby for the very first time

*who wants the tuna spread right to the edge of the bread (we take turns making sandwiches to take with us into community each day)

* the Malawians have come up with the name “roli” for this team person

*which male claims his best day so far was at the orphanage – holding and feeding babies

*come to help make sandwiches, have a chat or a laugh.  Oh yes, can even serve you a hot cup of tea in this team person’s room

The afternoon is spent in a Crisis Baby Clinic – they are all under the age of 18 months, 6 workers and 30 babies.  That’s a lot of ‘nappies’ to change before feeing them their ‘palla’ (watery porridge).   Plus there isn’t much time for hugs and play time – - which the 11 of us happen to be quite good at.  Each one of us grabbed a baby to cuddle,  change a diaper, play on the blanket and give some porridge.  It was very hard to leave them at the end of the day.  Every one of us enjoyed the chance to show some tender loving care to such precious and cute little ones. Wait til you see the photos.  We wonder if any of these precious babies would qualify to be our carry-on luggage when we come home????

Lori, Sharon, Andrea, Lisa and Doreen enjoy the opportunity to be with about 80 widows – singing and dancing together and hearing the stories of where they have come from and what God has been doing in their life.  Many tell of a life of dispair particularly once they become a widow, since there is no assistance and no status for women, particularly widows.  Once Somebody Cares started helping them and teaching them the truth from God’s word, their whole lives changed!  A women with 10 children to care for (some are her own and some are from her deceased sister) tells that previously she had no hope, never expected the children to go to school (her greatest desire) nor did she ever think she would ever be accepted in society.  Now she is part of a widows small group (its not that small really) that provides encouragement, prayer, accountability, biblical exploration and laughter – she (& many others) don’t want to even think about living without getting together.  It is very exciting to learn that these widows all have bibles (obtained through Somebody Cares) – they demonstrate how they are learning to memorize certain passages.  Quite wonderful.  They are SO grateful.  Just for fun we teach them a song and dance, well kind of a dance that they can play with their children – the hokey pokey – you put your right hand in, you put your right hand out……… you know the one.  They love it and shout ‘again’.

A few days ago we reported about a Youth Conference that was happening in this very same area. Some of the widows have youth who attended – seems the content made for interesting discussions at home.  The youth share that they learned they are the leaders of tomorrow, they are the ones who will be leading their families and perhaps even in their country.  The mom’s (or care givers) are impressed that their sons and daughter have been taught that they have been called to live lives differently that those in the world;  to be people with integrity and honesty, to be faithful in marriage and to wait until marriage before they engage in sexual activity.  They are encouraged to be supportive of one another so that they indeed can follow what they have been taught. There were over 500 youth in attendance; local pastors joined the meeting on the last day bringing the total in attendance to well over 800 people – quite remarkable.  The widows say they have never heard their young people speak this way before!

Monica finds there are others who want to take advantage of her computer training – more students today.  Alas there is a power failure which slows down their progress but not for long.  You can see the confidence on their faces as they know they are better able to handle their jobs at Somebody Cares.

In the afternoon, half the team goes back to Mgona where beautifully decorated Memory Books are given out to the families we visited the other day.  SMILES and GIGGLES  – some have never seen their likeness before (there are no mirrors or glass windows in their homes).  Everyone is very pleased to have such a beautiful keepsake for their very own.

In the evening, we are blessed to have dinner at the home of Steve and Kathy Bowler, their 2 daughters Amy and Alissa as well as Steve’s parents who are visiting from Ontario…..  a Thanksgiving dinner that was so delicious.  No pumpkin pie but we did have home made banana cake made with banana’s right out of their own back yard.  What a wonderful treat.  Great fun to talk of their interesting adventures.