So I have been thinking to myself...hmm I am back in the states now so when is it that I officially stop blogging?...Should I even stop? Should I continue? When have I fulfilled my blogging quota?...I haven't really come to any solid conclusions yet...so I guess I will just continue to post things as I feel led to post them.
Today I have 2 lists for you...one is funny and one is more serious :-)
Here is the first one...
You know you live in the bush of Africa when:
-You get excited about going to the bathroom in a toilet
-Herds of cows, goats, and wild dogs are regular visitors to your yard
-Despite your best swatting efforts you still have like 10 flies on you all the time
-When you get really excited and stop everything you are doing to run and look at an airplane that is flying overhead
-You become extremely attached to your mosquito net and look forward to tucking yourself in at night
-You adopt a daily routine of applying sunscreen and bug spray
-You become extremely conscious of the best brands of baby wipes
-You have gotten so good at using the chimbutzi/squatty potty/pit latrine you don't even have to look or aim anymore (yes I am proud to announce that I can pee in a hole the size of a 4x6 note card with excellent precision and accuracy...maybe a little more than you wanted to know haha)
-You never go anywhere without a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and your headlamp
-One year olds toddle around with machetes and no one seems alarmed
-You cut your grass with a golf club like knife that you swing about
-People don't know how to open a car door
-The minute you step out of the "shower" you are already dirty again
-You get frequent whiffs of air that smell like the Elephant building at the Pittsburgh zoo
-People come calling at your bedroom window NOT your front door- at anytime of day or night too! Even when you are sleeping!
-People use matches for Q-tips
-You boil the chicken you just killed in the same bucket you use to heat up your shower water
-You wake up to donkeys, goats, chickens, bats, crazy owls, cows, and hyenas making noises outside your window
ok and now the more serious list...
One afternoon I was lying on my bed in the village and my window was open and there was a sweet breeze blowing in playfully fluttering my curtains and there was just enough sunlight coming in to make the room light but not overly hot or sunny and it was quiet! which NEVER happens...it was perfect!...so I was lying there reading through some of the Psalms and I came to Psalm 105 (see below) and had the overwhelming urge to start a list detailing the "wonderful acts" of God during my time in Malawi. I started it that day but continued to add to it throughout the rest of my time there and even a bit now that I am back and have a little different perspective. This list is in no way complete but it is just a glimpse of how God moved there in Malawi and in me...
Psalm 105: 1-6 NIV
1 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always
5 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
Some of the "Wonderful Acts" of God during my time in Malawi:
-Provided all the money I needed to get here!
-Allowed me the opportunity to go to Cape Town, South Africa on holiday when I really really needed a break
-Has kept me healthy for the the most part and has protected me from injury
-Brought the High Desert Church team in September and the World Race Team in December
-Taught me to see myself as God sees me- as a beautiful woman of God who is totally worth spending time with
-Taught me how to accept grace and give grace
-Showed me so much more of my sin and taught me how to accept forgiveness
-Given me encouragement in sweet moments with Gili and Ethero (two of my favorite girls from school)- funny walks home from school, headstands in the back yard, fast walking lessons...
-Given me a consistent time to work out everyday
-Given me peace and comfort in very hard situations
-Protected me from Satan's attacks at night- both travelling and in the village...witchcraft & satanism
-Kept me safe on public transportation
-Has provided exactly the right people in exactly the right moments to guide and protect me
-Given me the ability to communicate with my family while in the village via skype to cellphone connections
-Helped me build some really sweet relationships with people of the village...Magaedina, Misozi, Lena, Gili, Ethero, the choir girls, Judy
-Got our ministry car back to the village just in time to take me to the hospital when I was really really sick
-Placed exactly the right doctors in the Kasungu hospital to treat me and Chico when we were in crisis
-Brought the team from Oregon to the JTW conference
-Allowed me to pick up Chichewa relatively quickly so I could communicate with the people
-Allowed me to visit Lucia (my best friend from Malawi 2008) and actually communicate with her
-Grew my trust in Him exponentially- especially in relation to my family
-Grew my self-confidence and independence
-Provided the extra money so I could buy cereal, apples, and raisins in the city to help keep me relatively healthy in the village
-Gave me a great friend in Michelle (someone to encourage me and have fun with) and a place to retreat to in the city
-Provided amazing fellow JTW staff people to work with
-Provided an AMAZING family to live with who loved, cared, and looked out for me
-Brought Gift and Esnart to Dzuwa from Matapila (ask me about this story)
-Gave me a travel buddy for the trip home
-Kept my computer alive the entire time in Malawi
and sooooo much more I could go on forever!!!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Some Stories...
Throughout my time in Malawi I kept a running list of things I wanted to blog about...as I would write about them they would get crossed off...well here are some of the last things that haven't been written/crossed off yet...
(*Click on pictures to enlarge*)
Corrupt Government Officials:
Remember how when I first arrived in Malawi I had to apply for a work permit/visa? Well when they granted it to me I was only given 6 months of clearance to work in the country...which by the time it was issued meant that it expired at the end of May. So the week before my permit expired we travelled into town to drop Elliot off at the airport and then we stayed an extra day so I could get my permit extended. I was expecting to walk into the immigration office, fill out the necessary extension papers, and then pay an extension fee of about K10,000 (~$70)...but as is typical in Malawi everything didn't go as I expected. When I arrived and met with the immigration official he informed me that I could not just extend my work permit but that I had to totally reapply for a new permit! This meant I had to fill out the large slew of papers again, travel to an internet cafe to write and print a cover letter, find a place to take my passport pictures, and take out K20,000 extra to pay my total fee of K30,000 ($200)!!! I was soooo mad and sooo frustrated when I found all of this out because all I wanted to do was extend my work permit not get an entirely new one. It took all of my self control to not go off on the immigration official yelling at him saying "WHAT?!! This is ridiculous! I shouldn't have to go through all of this again! You are just a corrupt government official doing this because I am a white person and you just want my money!!! Grrr!!!" Thankfully the Lord gave me enough self control and wisdom to realize that this guy has the power to deport me and helped me keep my mouth quiet. Finally I collected all of the components I needed for the application and returned a few hours later to turn everything in and was granted a new work permit...but it took me a long time to calm down after my visit with the immigration officer.
Visiting Lucia:
The last time I was in Malawi in 2008 I made a super special friend named Lucia. I called her my Malawian BFF. She was one of the older kids in the Katundu feeding center (one of the centers where we worked) and was often times the song leader. Its very common in Malawi for singing to be in the call and response format so she was the lead caller. During my time there I loved sitting next to her to try to learn the words to some of the songs she was singing. At one point she realized that I was still struggling with the words to one particular song and pulled me aside to teach me. So we sat together on a rock for about 25 minutes while she just kept repeating the words and then having me sing them until I had learned the entire song. Then later on in our time in her village she came to visit the house where we were staying with some of her friends to teach us all more songs. We had a really special connection and so coming back this time I was very excited to see her. I decided to wait a while before I visited her because I wanted to learn some chichewa so I could actually talk to her in her own language (that was my biggest frustration during the time I spent with her last time was that I couldn't actually communicate with her!). After a very long wait I was finally able to visit her in May and it was soooooo exciting! We drove to find her at the secondary school where she lives and takes classes. It was so amazing to see how she still remembered me after two years! When she came out of her dorm we ran to hug each other and she said to me "Stephie I knew you would come back!"!!! Lord you are so great! Even though we didn't get to visit for very long I really enjoyed getting to talk with her in Chichewa and hear about her school and how classes and the choir are going...she even showed me around her small bunk room that she shares with 29 other girls!!! Eventually we said goodbye to one another and hopefully Lord willing we will see each other again!
My Little Janitors:
Surprisingly out in the bush of Africa there are no janitors to take care of the classrooms at school...a big shock I know! haha:-)...so as a part of our morning routine my kids have to sweep out our classroom (which gets very dirty everyday) before we start class...I get a HUGE kick out of this because as my kids are on average around 5-6 years old they have not mastered the most efficient ways to do things yet. Its also very funny to me because it takes sooo much energy on my part to get them to do it! You would think that after an entire year of sweeping out the classroom every morning that the kids would actually remember to do it...NOPE. Every morning I still have to round everyone up and tell them to get brooms and start cleaning. After I send the kids out to get brooms (aka some branches from the bushes outside our classroom) I then stand there shouting "Tiene Tiene Jangu Jangu" (Let's Go Let's Go Hurry Hurry) because if I were to leave them to their own time schedule they would stand there and pick branches literally ALL DAY! After I have rounded up enough to get things started I stand there in the big dust cloud that arises, watching them laughing because every kid tries to sweep the dirt in a different direction. Even after multiple lessons on how to sweep the kids still don't understand that everyone should try and sweep in the same direction! :-) It is soooooo hilarious!!! Eventually after sweeping the dirt piles all over in a thousand different directions it eventually makes it outside and we can start class :-)
The Last Day of School:
Remember how I was planning a last day of school party for my class? Well as it ended up the team I had hoped would be there to help me with the party didn't make it in time so I wasn't able to do everything I had hoped to do...I had to cut out all the games and just stick to food BUT the kids still really enjoyed it! Thankfully Macdonald was there to help me otherwise there is no way I would have survived. Once my class arrived we all went inside our classroom where we had scones (similar to dinner rolls), sobo (a special flavored drink), and twizzlers, as well as played with balloons (which they call baloome). Everyone was sooo excited that they were very hard to control. Imagine 50 super excited kindergartners (sadly not all of my class showed up) inside running around and then the ENTIRE rest of the school looking in through our windows! It was insane! I am soooo glad the kids got to enjoy a party like that but holy moly I will need a long break before I try and tackle something like that again. Here are some pictures :-)
Falling Off the Kabaza:
This story is probably one of my all time favorite memories/stories during my time in Malawi. In the village, besides walking, the main way to travel is by bicycle. To travel from Dzuwa (my village) to Santhe (where I catch a minibus to other locations) I would frequently ride a kabaza (bicycle taxi). This ride takes about an hour...and after an hour of sitting on non-padded metal bars riding down very bumpy dirt roads you are very very excited to arrive in Santhe. Anyway one day I was setting out to Santhe to catch a minibus to Kasungu where I was going to stay with Ron and Ulemu for the weekend. I had my computer bag, my backpack, and a plastic bag of cooking things (Ulemu and I had some big baking plans) all loaded on me on the back of the bike. There were also 2 huge 40 liter plastic containers tied to the back of the bike b/c we had just found out that there was some gas available in Santhe that we needed to buy right away (we were in a gas shortage) before it ran out. So our night guard, Mr. Kondwani, was going to bike me to Santhe, drop me off, buy the gas, and bike back to Dzuwa. After I and all of the stuff was carefully settled on the back of the bike we set out. We were riding down the road when all of a sudden we hit this huge bump and the bike completely tipped over backwards and I got thrown off with all of my suff into a thorn bush! It was hilarious! I wasn't hurt thankfully...my backpack provided a little cushioning for me to land on...but ended up covered in thorns on my back and behind. Mr. Kondwani helped me up but as I will still holding all of the katundu (stuff) I was unable to de-thorn myself so Mr. Kondwani had to pull them all off of me....which is hilarious b/c that is something you would not typically see a malawian man doing as men and women don't ever touch each other in public. It was soooo funny!!! So after I was de-thorned we just climbed back on the bike and set back out for Santhe. :-)
Ok thats it for stories for now...will post more if I think of any other good ones :-)
(*Click on pictures to enlarge*)
Corrupt Government Officials:
Remember how when I first arrived in Malawi I had to apply for a work permit/visa? Well when they granted it to me I was only given 6 months of clearance to work in the country...which by the time it was issued meant that it expired at the end of May. So the week before my permit expired we travelled into town to drop Elliot off at the airport and then we stayed an extra day so I could get my permit extended. I was expecting to walk into the immigration office, fill out the necessary extension papers, and then pay an extension fee of about K10,000 (~$70)...but as is typical in Malawi everything didn't go as I expected. When I arrived and met with the immigration official he informed me that I could not just extend my work permit but that I had to totally reapply for a new permit! This meant I had to fill out the large slew of papers again, travel to an internet cafe to write and print a cover letter, find a place to take my passport pictures, and take out K20,000 extra to pay my total fee of K30,000 ($200)!!! I was soooo mad and sooo frustrated when I found all of this out because all I wanted to do was extend my work permit not get an entirely new one. It took all of my self control to not go off on the immigration official yelling at him saying "WHAT?!! This is ridiculous! I shouldn't have to go through all of this again! You are just a corrupt government official doing this because I am a white person and you just want my money!!! Grrr!!!" Thankfully the Lord gave me enough self control and wisdom to realize that this guy has the power to deport me and helped me keep my mouth quiet. Finally I collected all of the components I needed for the application and returned a few hours later to turn everything in and was granted a new work permit...but it took me a long time to calm down after my visit with the immigration officer.
Visiting Lucia:
The last time I was in Malawi in 2008 I made a super special friend named Lucia. I called her my Malawian BFF. She was one of the older kids in the Katundu feeding center (one of the centers where we worked) and was often times the song leader. Its very common in Malawi for singing to be in the call and response format so she was the lead caller. During my time there I loved sitting next to her to try to learn the words to some of the songs she was singing. At one point she realized that I was still struggling with the words to one particular song and pulled me aside to teach me. So we sat together on a rock for about 25 minutes while she just kept repeating the words and then having me sing them until I had learned the entire song. Then later on in our time in her village she came to visit the house where we were staying with some of her friends to teach us all more songs. We had a really special connection and so coming back this time I was very excited to see her. I decided to wait a while before I visited her because I wanted to learn some chichewa so I could actually talk to her in her own language (that was my biggest frustration during the time I spent with her last time was that I couldn't actually communicate with her!). After a very long wait I was finally able to visit her in May and it was soooooo exciting! We drove to find her at the secondary school where she lives and takes classes. It was so amazing to see how she still remembered me after two years! When she came out of her dorm we ran to hug each other and she said to me "Stephie I knew you would come back!"!!! Lord you are so great! Even though we didn't get to visit for very long I really enjoyed getting to talk with her in Chichewa and hear about her school and how classes and the choir are going...she even showed me around her small bunk room that she shares with 29 other girls!!! Eventually we said goodbye to one another and hopefully Lord willing we will see each other again!
 |
| Lucia and I in the bunk room...all of her roommates were going crazy shouting "azungu azungu" (white person) and trying to gather around me to touch me! It was insane! And as this picture was being taken some girl had her hand on my butt! :-0 |
 |
| Lucia & I |
Surprisingly out in the bush of Africa there are no janitors to take care of the classrooms at school...a big shock I know! haha:-)...so as a part of our morning routine my kids have to sweep out our classroom (which gets very dirty everyday) before we start class...I get a HUGE kick out of this because as my kids are on average around 5-6 years old they have not mastered the most efficient ways to do things yet. Its also very funny to me because it takes sooo much energy on my part to get them to do it! You would think that after an entire year of sweeping out the classroom every morning that the kids would actually remember to do it...NOPE. Every morning I still have to round everyone up and tell them to get brooms and start cleaning. After I send the kids out to get brooms (aka some branches from the bushes outside our classroom) I then stand there shouting "Tiene Tiene Jangu Jangu" (Let's Go Let's Go Hurry Hurry) because if I were to leave them to their own time schedule they would stand there and pick branches literally ALL DAY! After I have rounded up enough to get things started I stand there in the big dust cloud that arises, watching them laughing because every kid tries to sweep the dirt in a different direction. Even after multiple lessons on how to sweep the kids still don't understand that everyone should try and sweep in the same direction! :-) It is soooooo hilarious!!! Eventually after sweeping the dirt piles all over in a thousand different directions it eventually makes it outside and we can start class :-)
The Last Day of School:
Remember how I was planning a last day of school party for my class? Well as it ended up the team I had hoped would be there to help me with the party didn't make it in time so I wasn't able to do everything I had hoped to do...I had to cut out all the games and just stick to food BUT the kids still really enjoyed it! Thankfully Macdonald was there to help me otherwise there is no way I would have survived. Once my class arrived we all went inside our classroom where we had scones (similar to dinner rolls), sobo (a special flavored drink), and twizzlers, as well as played with balloons (which they call baloome). Everyone was sooo excited that they were very hard to control. Imagine 50 super excited kindergartners (sadly not all of my class showed up) inside running around and then the ENTIRE rest of the school looking in through our windows! It was insane! I am soooo glad the kids got to enjoy a party like that but holy moly I will need a long break before I try and tackle something like that again. Here are some pictures :-)
 |
| Making funny faces waiting to go in to the party :-) |
 |
| Everyone seated so nicely! |
 |
| Twizzlers! |
 |
| Maiwawo with her scone, twizzlers, and sobo |
 |
| Some kids loved their twizzlers and others didn't and tried to pass them through the windows to the kids outside who had their hands through the windows trying to grab at things! |
 |
| Baloome! (aka Balloons!) |
This story is probably one of my all time favorite memories/stories during my time in Malawi. In the village, besides walking, the main way to travel is by bicycle. To travel from Dzuwa (my village) to Santhe (where I catch a minibus to other locations) I would frequently ride a kabaza (bicycle taxi). This ride takes about an hour...and after an hour of sitting on non-padded metal bars riding down very bumpy dirt roads you are very very excited to arrive in Santhe. Anyway one day I was setting out to Santhe to catch a minibus to Kasungu where I was going to stay with Ron and Ulemu for the weekend. I had my computer bag, my backpack, and a plastic bag of cooking things (Ulemu and I had some big baking plans) all loaded on me on the back of the bike. There were also 2 huge 40 liter plastic containers tied to the back of the bike b/c we had just found out that there was some gas available in Santhe that we needed to buy right away (we were in a gas shortage) before it ran out. So our night guard, Mr. Kondwani, was going to bike me to Santhe, drop me off, buy the gas, and bike back to Dzuwa. After I and all of the stuff was carefully settled on the back of the bike we set out. We were riding down the road when all of a sudden we hit this huge bump and the bike completely tipped over backwards and I got thrown off with all of my suff into a thorn bush! It was hilarious! I wasn't hurt thankfully...my backpack provided a little cushioning for me to land on...but ended up covered in thorns on my back and behind. Mr. Kondwani helped me up but as I will still holding all of the katundu (stuff) I was unable to de-thorn myself so Mr. Kondwani had to pull them all off of me....which is hilarious b/c that is something you would not typically see a malawian man doing as men and women don't ever touch each other in public. It was soooo funny!!! So after I was de-thorned we just climbed back on the bike and set back out for Santhe. :-)
 |
| I wish I had a picture from the story above but I didn't have a camera at the time...this is me on the return trip home....this was the most I ever carried on a bicycle...when you have this much stuff most people just get a second bicycle but I didn't want to pay for another one...so if you can see my backpack and another bag are tied to the back behind me and then I carried my computer bag on my lap and three other grocery bags...one with apples, one with four 500ml water bottles (which the bag decided to break open half way through my journey and I still managed to not lose any), and one with a box of cereal and a 2kg bag of flour!!! I barely made it back with my arms still attached! |
Friday, July 22, 2011
HOME!
Well I made it home to Pittsburgh! Arrived home at my house around 1:30am Tuesday Night/Super Early Wednesday morning. Just wanted to let everyone know I am safe.
I am currently packing to head up to the New Wilmington Mission Conference and should have left about an hour ago...whoops...so I am definitely going to be late to our first staff meeting. I guess I picked up a little Malawian late genes while I was there. :-)
Ok so I am safe and adjusting...please keep praying as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
More posts to come...
I am currently packing to head up to the New Wilmington Mission Conference and should have left about an hour ago...whoops...so I am definitely going to be late to our first staff meeting. I guess I picked up a little Malawian late genes while I was there. :-)
Ok so I am safe and adjusting...please keep praying as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.
More posts to come...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A Short One (for real this time)
I am currently in Kasungu right now at Ron & Ulemu's house...we had to rush Chico (my 3 year old Malawian little sister) to the hospital last night as she is really sick. She got checked out last night and this morning, and has been prescribed antibiotics for what we think is a chest infection. She is doing a bit better but still has a long way to go before she is completely recovered. Please be praying for her!!!!
I finally have a great internet connection tonight and I know there is a lot I need to update you all on...like the end of school, our JTW missions conference, and other random stories I have listed on my post-it note labeled "Blog" BUT I am way way way too tired to write right now (emergency trip from the village to the hospital + 4 girls + a sick child + a new born baby + 1 really small room = no sleep) . Sorry.
I fly out to head back home to the states this upcoming Monday! Crazy! Please praying for me as the fact that I am leaving has finally hit me and I am a bit anxious/emotional.
Thanks!
I finally have a great internet connection tonight and I know there is a lot I need to update you all on...like the end of school, our JTW missions conference, and other random stories I have listed on my post-it note labeled "Blog" BUT I am way way way too tired to write right now (emergency trip from the village to the hospital + 4 girls + a sick child + a new born baby + 1 really small room = no sleep) . Sorry.
I fly out to head back home to the states this upcoming Monday! Crazy! Please praying for me as the fact that I am leaving has finally hit me and I am a bit anxious/emotional.
Thanks!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
23 Days? What?!
Well I started to write a post about a week and a half ago but never got a chance to post it...sorry! So here is what has been going on lately and what is coming up during my last 23 days here!! Oh my!!
First of all...Elliot is back safe and sound from the United States! He had a great trip and I am thoroughly enjoying hearing all about what he thought of America! Haha Its so funny to listen to a visitors perspective about your country. Elliot was particularly impressed with our extensive road systems!
Second...I am also SOOOOO EXCITED to report that I have a new Malawian baby sister!!!! Gloria gave birth to a baby girl in the early morning hours of June 12th. She weighed 2.6kgs (5.7 lbs) and I am not sure how long she measured (I don't know if that is typical procedure after a baby is born here...I really doubt it). Her name is Favour and I can't wait to meet her! Baby Favour, Gloria, and Chico are still in Blantyre (a city in the south of Malawi where Gloria's parents live) right now but are expected to return to Dzuwa on Monday!!! I am so excited to have Gloria and Chico back at home earlier than expected. I will post pics of the new little one as soon as I can take some :-)
As for me...I am doing fine. I am all healthy again and have been holding my own in the village. I finished up my last day of teaching this past Tuesday. It was really the best last day of teaching I could imagine. The kids actually sat and listened really well and then they sang a bunch of songs for me which I recorded on my video camera! :-) I just couldn't stop smiling. For as much trouble and anxiety they cause me sometimes I really love them and am going to miss them a lot. I enjoyed a visit to Lilongwe earlier this month to say goodbye to a friend leaving to return to the US and to do a little souvenir shopping. Yes I am at that point! Souvenir shopping. Oh my! I am currently in Kasungu visiting Ron & Ulemu and anticipating the arrival of Michelle and two members of her church back in the states who came to visit (one of which was on the HDC team that came to Dzuwa in September!).
Now as for what I am expecting in my last 3 weeks here...
This next week will be my last week at school so I will finish testing all of my kids by Friday and make my recommendations as to who I think should move on to Standard 2. The first Monday in July I am going to have an end of the year party with my kids. I think there will be another team in Dzuwa to help me out with this so hopefully it won't be a complete disaster. haha! I am hoping to treat the kids to some things that they don't normally get to eat and do that will be very special for them...so there will be scones (similar to dinner rolls), sobo (a favorite malawian drink), and twizzlers (thanks to the Casturo Family for their special package!)...as for activities I am hoping to have some games for the kids to play and some arts and crafts (Thanks to the Davis Family for the construction paper, crayons, and frisbees!) Please be praying that this won't totally backfire as the kids can be very aggressive when special things happen and there is food!
July 6-10th is our Joy to the World Mission Conference...so we will be traveling to a conference center 20 minutes from Lilongwe and meeting up with a bunch of youth to hear from some great speakers. This years theme is "Thy Will Be Done". If you want to read more about the planned program and speakers click here. Please be praying for last minute preparations and that God would move in big ways through the hearts of the youth who attend. After the conference there will be a mission team made up of Malawians and Americans travelling to Mozambique for 5 days on a mission trip. So also be praying for this team, their anticipated travels, and there work in Mozambique.
As for me...after the missions conference I will be heading back to Dzuwa to spend my last week in the village preparing for my departure and soaking up my last week with Gloria, Chico, and the new baby. I know these last 3 weeks are going to fly by...as of right now I am a mix of sooo super excited to go home and see my family and hesitant because I know I am really going to miss everyone here...please start praying for my return and for a smooth transition full of God's presence...
Oh and as for what is next for me when I return home to the states...
Arrive home: July 20th
High School Counselor for New Wilmington Mission Conference: July 22-30
Family time + 2 weddings: August
Moving to Greenville, SC to live and work while applying to grad school: September-??
I want to get a masters in Public Health Nutrition :-)
Prayer Requests:
-for perseverance and strength in my last week of testing at school
-that I would really be present here to finish the work God has set before me and to soak up every last minute of my time in Dzuwa
-for our JTW Missions Conference
-for my job search...that God would be preparing the perfect job for me upon my return to Greenville...
Thanks for all of your prayers and support!!!!
First of all...Elliot is back safe and sound from the United States! He had a great trip and I am thoroughly enjoying hearing all about what he thought of America! Haha Its so funny to listen to a visitors perspective about your country. Elliot was particularly impressed with our extensive road systems!
Second...I am also SOOOOO EXCITED to report that I have a new Malawian baby sister!!!! Gloria gave birth to a baby girl in the early morning hours of June 12th. She weighed 2.6kgs (5.7 lbs) and I am not sure how long she measured (I don't know if that is typical procedure after a baby is born here...I really doubt it). Her name is Favour and I can't wait to meet her! Baby Favour, Gloria, and Chico are still in Blantyre (a city in the south of Malawi where Gloria's parents live) right now but are expected to return to Dzuwa on Monday!!! I am so excited to have Gloria and Chico back at home earlier than expected. I will post pics of the new little one as soon as I can take some :-)
As for me...I am doing fine. I am all healthy again and have been holding my own in the village. I finished up my last day of teaching this past Tuesday. It was really the best last day of teaching I could imagine. The kids actually sat and listened really well and then they sang a bunch of songs for me which I recorded on my video camera! :-) I just couldn't stop smiling. For as much trouble and anxiety they cause me sometimes I really love them and am going to miss them a lot. I enjoyed a visit to Lilongwe earlier this month to say goodbye to a friend leaving to return to the US and to do a little souvenir shopping. Yes I am at that point! Souvenir shopping. Oh my! I am currently in Kasungu visiting Ron & Ulemu and anticipating the arrival of Michelle and two members of her church back in the states who came to visit (one of which was on the HDC team that came to Dzuwa in September!).
Now as for what I am expecting in my last 3 weeks here...
This next week will be my last week at school so I will finish testing all of my kids by Friday and make my recommendations as to who I think should move on to Standard 2. The first Monday in July I am going to have an end of the year party with my kids. I think there will be another team in Dzuwa to help me out with this so hopefully it won't be a complete disaster. haha! I am hoping to treat the kids to some things that they don't normally get to eat and do that will be very special for them...so there will be scones (similar to dinner rolls), sobo (a favorite malawian drink), and twizzlers (thanks to the Casturo Family for their special package!)...as for activities I am hoping to have some games for the kids to play and some arts and crafts (Thanks to the Davis Family for the construction paper, crayons, and frisbees!) Please be praying that this won't totally backfire as the kids can be very aggressive when special things happen and there is food!
July 6-10th is our Joy to the World Mission Conference...so we will be traveling to a conference center 20 minutes from Lilongwe and meeting up with a bunch of youth to hear from some great speakers. This years theme is "Thy Will Be Done". If you want to read more about the planned program and speakers click here. Please be praying for last minute preparations and that God would move in big ways through the hearts of the youth who attend. After the conference there will be a mission team made up of Malawians and Americans travelling to Mozambique for 5 days on a mission trip. So also be praying for this team, their anticipated travels, and there work in Mozambique.
As for me...after the missions conference I will be heading back to Dzuwa to spend my last week in the village preparing for my departure and soaking up my last week with Gloria, Chico, and the new baby. I know these last 3 weeks are going to fly by...as of right now I am a mix of sooo super excited to go home and see my family and hesitant because I know I am really going to miss everyone here...please start praying for my return and for a smooth transition full of God's presence...
Oh and as for what is next for me when I return home to the states...
Arrive home: July 20th
High School Counselor for New Wilmington Mission Conference: July 22-30
Family time + 2 weddings: August
Moving to Greenville, SC to live and work while applying to grad school: September-??
I want to get a masters in Public Health Nutrition :-)
Prayer Requests:
-for perseverance and strength in my last week of testing at school
-that I would really be present here to finish the work God has set before me and to soak up every last minute of my time in Dzuwa
-for our JTW Missions Conference
-for my job search...that God would be preparing the perfect job for me upon my return to Greenville...
Thanks for all of your prayers and support!!!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
A Night in a Malawian Government Hospital
Well I am going to keep this post super short (hopefully) b/c I am not feeling really up to writing today...but I just wanted to let you know what has been going on here with me these past couple days...
Tues. May 24th
Sitting down to dinner and mid way through my first bite of my huge cabbage salad (cabbage, green peppers, carrots, tomatoes...yum!!!) which I had already put dressing on I realized that...OH NO...I forgot to wash the cabbage! (a huge no no!) Well too late! I sat there and really enjoyed the rest of my salad and hoped and prayed that my mistake wouldn't make me sick...
Wed. May 25th
Woke up not feeling super great. (stupid stephanie not washing your cabbage!) If you know me I am not one to really give in to being sick too easily. I got ready for school and was about to walk out the door when I thought you know what...I am really not feeling well...Stephanie you really shouldn't push it...especially since you are in the bush of Malawi and there isn't any doctor around...stay home and rest where you will be near a toilet! I fought bad stomach cramps, body aches, and a headache all day...and good thing I stayed near a toilet because I was in and out it all day with really bad diarrhea. God totally knew what He was doing prompting me to stay home. So I basically laid on the couch all day reading and listening to BBC on the radio. That night as I was making myself eggs for dinner and getting ready for bible study (which I was leading) I was thinking ok well that's enough of being sick I think I will be fine tomorrow. As I was heading to bible study though I started really not feeling well again (you know how it always comes in waves) and feeling like I could be getting a fever. I cut bible study a little short so I could head to bed. As I was climbing into bed I took my temperature... 99.1 F...so I took two advil to prevent the fever from getting worse in the middle of the night. Two hours later I woke up and had to go to the bathroom. As I was walking back inside I thought to myself...you know I am feeling VERY hot...what is the deal? So I took my temperature again...102.5 F!!! Yikes! Why so high when I have medicine in me that is supposed to be taking it away? Called my parents in the States to ask for advice on what to do...should I talk more medicine or wait it out?? Well I ended up just trying to wait it out for the rest of the night. Between my frequent trips to the bathroom outside (soooo inconvenient when you are sick!) and laying in bed either too hot or too cold to fall asleep....I didn't sleep much. Around 5am I took more advil and at 6am I woke up and decided I needed to ask Gift to take me to the hospital (remember that Gloria and Elliot are not in Dzuwa right now so I am alone in the house).
Thurs. May 26th
So I woke up...slowly shuffled outside and over to Gift's house to ask him to take me to the hospital. Being sick in the bush of Africa is just sooooo not fun! or easy! Its not like at home where you can just crawl out of bed in your pajamas and your mom will help you to the car...then you ride maybe 10-15 minutes to the doctors office...and you wait to be let into the examination room where everything happens. Gosh I wish it was that simple!!! No I had to bucket shower to get all the gross sweatyness off of me from my awful night...then had to get dressed in actual clothes...pack a bag for a couple days b/c who know what might happen...then climb in the car and ride 2.5hrs on bumpy dirt roads to the hospital. When your head is killing you and all you want to do is lie down and sleep bump dirt roads are your worst nightmare! I wanted to cry the whole ride just wishing I was back in the comfort of my mom's car in America making the easy, familiar drive to my normal doctors office. Thankfully Ronald and Ulemu (JTW staff people in Kasungu at the Lighthouse internet cafe) know some doctors at the Government Hospital in Kasungu so once Gift and I arrived in Kasungu they were able to help get me into see the doctor very quickly. Gift and I met up with Mpatzo (Women's Block doctor) at the hospital and she immediately walked me in to see her boss (the head doctor I think of the whole hospital). He talked with me asking me my symptoms (bad headache, body aches, super high fever, awful diarrhea)...and then after I had described them what I had eaten (darn that unwashed cabbage!). They decided to test me for malaria just to make sure. Unlike in America where everything happens in the one doctors office room in malawi if you need different things to happen you have to walk all over the place to get them done. So I had to walk to the lab to get tested for Malaria then back to the office to meet with the doctor again. Almost didn't make it back to the office I was feeling so awful...thought I was going to pass out and throw up everywhere. Test came back negative for malaria so he decided it was food poisoning. He then took my temperature around 100 this time and then my blood pressure. He really didn't seem too concerned up until he took my blood pressure and they actually took it multiple times to make sure the machine was actually working right because get this....my blood pressure was an AMAZINGLY LOW 77/49!!! (just for reference a normal blood pressure is 120/80 and mine is typically around 110/70) OH MY!!! So they immediately admitted me so they could start IV fluids! I really had no idea how sick I was until I got to the hospital. It was there I started really feeling my worst. Who knew dehydration could happen that fast! So I then had to walk (ahhh!) again to another office where a guy put an IV in my left arm with a HUGE needle (I cried...tried not to but couldn't help it I was feeling so sick) and then had to walk to the ward I was being admitted to...about 2 seconds out of the door of the IV room I really couldn't even stand anymore and they had to get a wheel chair to wheel me to the women's ward. In the women's ward they tried to put another IV into my right arm so they could try to rehydrate me faster...I cried again (whoops) and the nurse chickened out because she felt so bad for hurting me. She then took me to a private room where I would stay for the night. They gave me two bags of IV fluids (one bag of saline solution and another solution I don't know what its called) and after both bags I started feeling much better. They also started me on a course of Cipro. Gift went home to Dzuwa and Ronald shut down the lighthouse for the rest of the day so he could come take care of me. In Malawian hospitals you have to have a "guardian" with you because they are so understaffed. Your guardian is responsible for tracking down the doctor or nurse when you need something. So Ronald was my "guardian" for the rest of the day...we watched some movies (thankfully I had packed my computer) and he was even able to track down Mashed Potatoes for my lunch! Later that night Ulemu returned from her meetings in Dzuwa and came to relieve Ron and spend the night with me. The night was not very restful to say the least. We had to leave the lights on b/c we had no mosquito nets and there were a TON of mosquitos. I tied my zip-up around my head to try to block out the light...it worked but it wasn't exactly comfortable. I slept pretty restlessly the entire night listening to this one kid crying and one woman throwing up SOOO loudly all night! Kind of scary! Apparently though my zip-up (which also covered my ears) blocked out a lot more awful noises...Ulemu told me the next morning she heard not only the kid crying and the woman puking but also multiple women screaming from giving birth and two serious traumas coming in!!!! Praise the Lord I didn't hear any of it!!! (she also told me a day later that her pastor's wife died in the same room I stayed in a few months earlier...good thing I didn't know that when I was actually staying there!)
Fri. May 27th
Friday I was feeling much better (although not 100%). Was still super tired, still had diarrhea, and body aches but I was able to sit up and communicate with people. The doctors came in late morning and examined me again. This time my blood pressure was 102/64 and they ok-ed me for release. As I was walking out the door looking for where I paid for my stay and my cipro I was informed that all government hospitals in Malawi are FREE! Geez!!! Amazing! I was expecting to have to pay a couple thousand kwacha for my visit (I had debated with myself when choosing hospitals where to go because I didn't really like the last hospital I visited b/c I didn't really trust the doctors there but it was super cheap...I decided though that it would be better for me to pay more to get better care so I came to the city...and it ended up being FREE!) God is great!
Now I am staying with Ron and Ulemu a couple more days while I continue to recover. I am soooo thankful for them and how gracious they have been taking me in and caring for me. They have even been so great in trying to find food like the food I normally eat when I am sick at home :-) They made me "sick eggs" (aka soft-boiled eggs) a smith family tradition when you are sick...hence the name "sick eggs"...and helped me find all the ingredients to make soup (soup in a can doesn't exist in Malawi...or at least in Kasungu). Delicious!
As of today I am really feeling much much better! Still a bit tired but all other symptoms are gone :-) Praise the Lord! Thanks to all who somehow heard about my sickness and have been praying! Please continue to pray for my recovery!
(bahhh soooo tired of typing...apparently I am totally incapable of writing short posts!)
Tues. May 24th
Sitting down to dinner and mid way through my first bite of my huge cabbage salad (cabbage, green peppers, carrots, tomatoes...yum!!!) which I had already put dressing on I realized that...OH NO...I forgot to wash the cabbage! (a huge no no!) Well too late! I sat there and really enjoyed the rest of my salad and hoped and prayed that my mistake wouldn't make me sick...
Wed. May 25th
Woke up not feeling super great. (stupid stephanie not washing your cabbage!) If you know me I am not one to really give in to being sick too easily. I got ready for school and was about to walk out the door when I thought you know what...I am really not feeling well...Stephanie you really shouldn't push it...especially since you are in the bush of Malawi and there isn't any doctor around...stay home and rest where you will be near a toilet! I fought bad stomach cramps, body aches, and a headache all day...and good thing I stayed near a toilet because I was in and out it all day with really bad diarrhea. God totally knew what He was doing prompting me to stay home. So I basically laid on the couch all day reading and listening to BBC on the radio. That night as I was making myself eggs for dinner and getting ready for bible study (which I was leading) I was thinking ok well that's enough of being sick I think I will be fine tomorrow. As I was heading to bible study though I started really not feeling well again (you know how it always comes in waves) and feeling like I could be getting a fever. I cut bible study a little short so I could head to bed. As I was climbing into bed I took my temperature... 99.1 F...so I took two advil to prevent the fever from getting worse in the middle of the night. Two hours later I woke up and had to go to the bathroom. As I was walking back inside I thought to myself...you know I am feeling VERY hot...what is the deal? So I took my temperature again...102.5 F!!! Yikes! Why so high when I have medicine in me that is supposed to be taking it away? Called my parents in the States to ask for advice on what to do...should I talk more medicine or wait it out?? Well I ended up just trying to wait it out for the rest of the night. Between my frequent trips to the bathroom outside (soooo inconvenient when you are sick!) and laying in bed either too hot or too cold to fall asleep....I didn't sleep much. Around 5am I took more advil and at 6am I woke up and decided I needed to ask Gift to take me to the hospital (remember that Gloria and Elliot are not in Dzuwa right now so I am alone in the house).
Thurs. May 26th
So I woke up...slowly shuffled outside and over to Gift's house to ask him to take me to the hospital. Being sick in the bush of Africa is just sooooo not fun! or easy! Its not like at home where you can just crawl out of bed in your pajamas and your mom will help you to the car...then you ride maybe 10-15 minutes to the doctors office...and you wait to be let into the examination room where everything happens. Gosh I wish it was that simple!!! No I had to bucket shower to get all the gross sweatyness off of me from my awful night...then had to get dressed in actual clothes...pack a bag for a couple days b/c who know what might happen...then climb in the car and ride 2.5hrs on bumpy dirt roads to the hospital. When your head is killing you and all you want to do is lie down and sleep bump dirt roads are your worst nightmare! I wanted to cry the whole ride just wishing I was back in the comfort of my mom's car in America making the easy, familiar drive to my normal doctors office. Thankfully Ronald and Ulemu (JTW staff people in Kasungu at the Lighthouse internet cafe) know some doctors at the Government Hospital in Kasungu so once Gift and I arrived in Kasungu they were able to help get me into see the doctor very quickly. Gift and I met up with Mpatzo (Women's Block doctor) at the hospital and she immediately walked me in to see her boss (the head doctor I think of the whole hospital). He talked with me asking me my symptoms (bad headache, body aches, super high fever, awful diarrhea)...and then after I had described them what I had eaten (darn that unwashed cabbage!). They decided to test me for malaria just to make sure. Unlike in America where everything happens in the one doctors office room in malawi if you need different things to happen you have to walk all over the place to get them done. So I had to walk to the lab to get tested for Malaria then back to the office to meet with the doctor again. Almost didn't make it back to the office I was feeling so awful...thought I was going to pass out and throw up everywhere. Test came back negative for malaria so he decided it was food poisoning. He then took my temperature around 100 this time and then my blood pressure. He really didn't seem too concerned up until he took my blood pressure and they actually took it multiple times to make sure the machine was actually working right because get this....my blood pressure was an AMAZINGLY LOW 77/49!!! (just for reference a normal blood pressure is 120/80 and mine is typically around 110/70) OH MY!!! So they immediately admitted me so they could start IV fluids! I really had no idea how sick I was until I got to the hospital. It was there I started really feeling my worst. Who knew dehydration could happen that fast! So I then had to walk (ahhh!) again to another office where a guy put an IV in my left arm with a HUGE needle (I cried...tried not to but couldn't help it I was feeling so sick) and then had to walk to the ward I was being admitted to...about 2 seconds out of the door of the IV room I really couldn't even stand anymore and they had to get a wheel chair to wheel me to the women's ward. In the women's ward they tried to put another IV into my right arm so they could try to rehydrate me faster...I cried again (whoops) and the nurse chickened out because she felt so bad for hurting me. She then took me to a private room where I would stay for the night. They gave me two bags of IV fluids (one bag of saline solution and another solution I don't know what its called) and after both bags I started feeling much better. They also started me on a course of Cipro. Gift went home to Dzuwa and Ronald shut down the lighthouse for the rest of the day so he could come take care of me. In Malawian hospitals you have to have a "guardian" with you because they are so understaffed. Your guardian is responsible for tracking down the doctor or nurse when you need something. So Ronald was my "guardian" for the rest of the day...we watched some movies (thankfully I had packed my computer) and he was even able to track down Mashed Potatoes for my lunch! Later that night Ulemu returned from her meetings in Dzuwa and came to relieve Ron and spend the night with me. The night was not very restful to say the least. We had to leave the lights on b/c we had no mosquito nets and there were a TON of mosquitos. I tied my zip-up around my head to try to block out the light...it worked but it wasn't exactly comfortable. I slept pretty restlessly the entire night listening to this one kid crying and one woman throwing up SOOO loudly all night! Kind of scary! Apparently though my zip-up (which also covered my ears) blocked out a lot more awful noises...Ulemu told me the next morning she heard not only the kid crying and the woman puking but also multiple women screaming from giving birth and two serious traumas coming in!!!! Praise the Lord I didn't hear any of it!!! (she also told me a day later that her pastor's wife died in the same room I stayed in a few months earlier...good thing I didn't know that when I was actually staying there!)
Fri. May 27th
Friday I was feeling much better (although not 100%). Was still super tired, still had diarrhea, and body aches but I was able to sit up and communicate with people. The doctors came in late morning and examined me again. This time my blood pressure was 102/64 and they ok-ed me for release. As I was walking out the door looking for where I paid for my stay and my cipro I was informed that all government hospitals in Malawi are FREE! Geez!!! Amazing! I was expecting to have to pay a couple thousand kwacha for my visit (I had debated with myself when choosing hospitals where to go because I didn't really like the last hospital I visited b/c I didn't really trust the doctors there but it was super cheap...I decided though that it would be better for me to pay more to get better care so I came to the city...and it ended up being FREE!) God is great!
Now I am staying with Ron and Ulemu a couple more days while I continue to recover. I am soooo thankful for them and how gracious they have been taking me in and caring for me. They have even been so great in trying to find food like the food I normally eat when I am sick at home :-) They made me "sick eggs" (aka soft-boiled eggs) a smith family tradition when you are sick...hence the name "sick eggs"...and helped me find all the ingredients to make soup (soup in a can doesn't exist in Malawi...or at least in Kasungu). Delicious!
As of today I am really feeling much much better! Still a bit tired but all other symptoms are gone :-) Praise the Lord! Thanks to all who somehow heard about my sickness and have been praying! Please continue to pray for my recovery!
(bahhh soooo tired of typing...apparently I am totally incapable of writing short posts!)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Holding Down the Fort...
(**Let me preface this post with an apology for the long silence...internet in the village is down b/c our router broke so I am back to having to travel 3hrs to the nearest internet cafe...bummer)
Well there are some big events coming up here in the Khembo family (the family I am living with)...this upcoming Wednesday May 18th we are all (Elliot, Gloria, Chico, and I) travelling to Lilongwe to drop Elliot off at the airport where he will be flying to...drum roll please...AMERICA!! :-) He will be attending the big Joy to the World board meeting in Richmond, VA and then heading off to visit friends and churches in CA, OR, and Vancouver Canada!!! He is SOOOO excited! He will be in the US for about a month coming back mid-June. At the same time Elliot is flying out Gloria will be travelling with Chico down to Blantyre to stay with her mom until Baby #2 (aka. Baby Khembo) arrives! So pretty soon there will be a new member of the family :-) Her, Chico, and the new baby will be returning at the end of June. While they are gone I will be holding down the fort in Dzuwa continuing to teach and run the feeding program. Although I will be in the house by myself Gift & Esnart (another JTW staff family...who I actually lived with my first time in Malawi in Matapila when they worked for Ministry of Hope) live right next door so I will not be alone (Don't worry mom I will be safe :-) hehe) Please continue to pray for all of us during this time...pray for Elliot's safe travels to the US...Gloria and Chico's safe travel to Blantyre as well as a great delivery and a healthy baby...and for me back in Dzuwa that this time would be a good time of reflection about what is happening and what has happened throughout this year before I return home so soon!
Readjusting to the village:
As you can imagine arriving back in the village after my holiday in South Africa was a bit challenging. I am back in the swing of things though and can't believe I am embarking on my last 2 months! Apparently the kids missed me while I was gone b/c my first day back as we were heading to church in the big truck when the kids first spotted me they all came running and climbing in the truck practically trampling me trying to be the first person to sit next to me!!! A sweet thing to realize that they actually missed me but awful being trampled! So far term 3 at school is going well. Teaching is still super challenging...but what else would you expect from having to teach 120 kindergartners?? We have officially finished the entire alphabet which is sooooo amazing! I am very proud to say my kids know there letters better than the standard 2 and even some of the standard 3 kids! And they can even sing the alphabet song :-) Now we are continuing on with numbers 15-20 and I have just introduced colors. Yes it so weird but they don't know there colors yet! Two days ago we had an art day again with crayons so the kids could practice identifying colors as they were drawing. Every time I have an art day I am always dumbfounded at how uncreative the kids are!!! The big thing that really struck me about this particular day though was their inability to share. I had given them the assignment of coloring a picture that included all of the colors we have learned so far...red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. I gave each of them a crayon and explained that they were share with one another...when they were done coloring with their crayon trade with their friends for another color. First of all most of them couldn't figure out how to color a picture with more than one color...but the few that did would bring their crayon up to me when they were done and ask for a new color...I would say go look for another color and trade with your friend...they would just give me a blank stare...so I would walk them up to another student and take that students crayon and exchange it with the one the kid had given me...as I was doing this they were looking at me like I was doing something so totally crazy! Although it was at first very funny to me they couldn't figure this out...it got very old very fast repeating myself trying to explain how to exchange a crayon for a new color and share!!!
Satanism & Witchcraft at Night:
More stories about how God has totally protected me during my time here...As I was driving back to the village with Elliot one night we got talking about witchcraft and satanism again...as we were driving two men had stopped us and asked us for a ride...unfortunately we were not going the same way so we had to say no and apologize. As Elliot had been talking to the men one of them made a gesture like someone was cutting off his head. When we pulled away I asked him why. He explained that they were scared that someone was going to kill them as they were traveling! I was confused. Elliot said that in the past and still today it is dangerous to travel at night because that is when people who practice witchcraft and satanism come out. In particular satanist like to kill travelling people and chop up their body and sell their various body parts...especially the private parts!!! Yikes! Also they like to organize minibus accidents. They will try to chase down buses to capture the people...and if they cause an accident during the pursuit then even better b/c then everyone is dead making their job easier! There was just a broadcast on the radio recently about a really bad minibus accident in a village south of where I live where 10 people were killed when the minibus collided head on with an 18-wheeler. Part of me wondered while I was hearing this whether it was an organized accident! They whole conversation totally freaked me out...BUT it made me realize how God truly has been looking out for me in every little area of my life...even when I really wasn't even noticing! That night lying in bed I lay praying thanking God for how he has protected me from so much evil here. A few days later that conversation was still in my mind and honestly it made me scared to be travelling on public transport...I mean how often had I smushed into a minibus with 23 other people (when the bus only fits 15) and have sat in the trunk of a car with my feet dangling out on my way to Kasungu or to town??!...but then as I was reading through some Psalms I read Psalm 121 and I felt God reassurance that He really will "keep me from all harm"!
Psalm 121 NIV
Marathon Running:
I can't remember if I have mentioned before about my running habits...Everyday I have to travel to 1 of the 14 villages to remind the women that they cook tomorrow. Instead of driving or biking I like to run to each of the villages :-) These runs last between 30-60 min round trip depending on how far away the village is. Everyone thinks I am crazy and I quite frequently get stopped and asked "but isn't your heart beating so fast?? Aren't you tired?" and then I explain to them "yes but I love to run and it helps make your heart strong...Its not bad for you!" (as they think all exercise is!) Anyway when I am running I often times feel like a marathon runner or someone famous because when I pass through villages all of the kids come out and line the street and chant "Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie!!" (at first it was Azungu Azungu Azungu so its exciting that it has now changed to my actual name!) and sometimes a group of them will even run with me for a bit...they don't typically last longer than a minute though as they really have no physical endurance and tire very easily! The whole thing is very funny to me to see all the kids running out chanting my name...but on days when I am struggling and am not sure I am going to make it back home I am sooooo thankful for their encouragement!
Departure Date Change!
I NOW HAVE ONLY 2 MONTHS LEFT HERE
Originally I was supposed to be flying out of Malawi on the 1st of August...arriving home on the 2nd and just barely missing the New Wilmington Mission Conference occurring the 23-30th of July (the conference that originally sent me to Malawi in 2008 and began this whole process of me coming to Malawi in my life!) As it worked out though I was able to get my flight changed with NO COST (which is a miracle because I really think it was supposed to cost quite a lot of money) to make it home in time to represent Joy to the World Ministries at the conference and to be a High School Girls Counselor. I am now leaving Malawi on July 18th arriving home late on the 20th giving me a two day buffer before I have to be at the conference as a staff person. Praise the Lord!! I am sooooo excited to have the chance to attend conference and to be able to discuss JTW and my experiences here there with my girls and the rest of conference. I am a little nervous though about how I am going to transition back into life in the states so please begin praying against "culture shock" and for a smooth transition. Also please be praying for me and for the group of girls I will be leading that God would really have his hand all over our time together and that He would work in some BIG ways! :-)
Ok wrapping it up! :-) Please note that I am officially taking my address off my blog site. Mail takes FOREVER to get here so anything that is sent now will probably not make it to me before I leave. I actually JUST received some letters and a package that were sent at the beginning of FEBRUARY!!! A HUGE HUGE thanks to all of you who have written or sent things to me! They have been such a huge encouragement (even if they never actually arrived..sorry about that...grr unreliable Malawian mail!)! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
LOVE TO ALL!
Hopefully I will be able to post again soon! (Pray for our router to be fixed!!)
Well there are some big events coming up here in the Khembo family (the family I am living with)...this upcoming Wednesday May 18th we are all (Elliot, Gloria, Chico, and I) travelling to Lilongwe to drop Elliot off at the airport where he will be flying to...drum roll please...AMERICA!! :-) He will be attending the big Joy to the World board meeting in Richmond, VA and then heading off to visit friends and churches in CA, OR, and Vancouver Canada!!! He is SOOOO excited! He will be in the US for about a month coming back mid-June. At the same time Elliot is flying out Gloria will be travelling with Chico down to Blantyre to stay with her mom until Baby #2 (aka. Baby Khembo) arrives! So pretty soon there will be a new member of the family :-) Her, Chico, and the new baby will be returning at the end of June. While they are gone I will be holding down the fort in Dzuwa continuing to teach and run the feeding program. Although I will be in the house by myself Gift & Esnart (another JTW staff family...who I actually lived with my first time in Malawi in Matapila when they worked for Ministry of Hope) live right next door so I will not be alone (Don't worry mom I will be safe :-) hehe) Please continue to pray for all of us during this time...pray for Elliot's safe travels to the US...Gloria and Chico's safe travel to Blantyre as well as a great delivery and a healthy baby...and for me back in Dzuwa that this time would be a good time of reflection about what is happening and what has happened throughout this year before I return home so soon!
Readjusting to the village:
As you can imagine arriving back in the village after my holiday in South Africa was a bit challenging. I am back in the swing of things though and can't believe I am embarking on my last 2 months! Apparently the kids missed me while I was gone b/c my first day back as we were heading to church in the big truck when the kids first spotted me they all came running and climbing in the truck practically trampling me trying to be the first person to sit next to me!!! A sweet thing to realize that they actually missed me but awful being trampled! So far term 3 at school is going well. Teaching is still super challenging...but what else would you expect from having to teach 120 kindergartners?? We have officially finished the entire alphabet which is sooooo amazing! I am very proud to say my kids know there letters better than the standard 2 and even some of the standard 3 kids! And they can even sing the alphabet song :-) Now we are continuing on with numbers 15-20 and I have just introduced colors. Yes it so weird but they don't know there colors yet! Two days ago we had an art day again with crayons so the kids could practice identifying colors as they were drawing. Every time I have an art day I am always dumbfounded at how uncreative the kids are!!! The big thing that really struck me about this particular day though was their inability to share. I had given them the assignment of coloring a picture that included all of the colors we have learned so far...red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. I gave each of them a crayon and explained that they were share with one another...when they were done coloring with their crayon trade with their friends for another color. First of all most of them couldn't figure out how to color a picture with more than one color...but the few that did would bring their crayon up to me when they were done and ask for a new color...I would say go look for another color and trade with your friend...they would just give me a blank stare...so I would walk them up to another student and take that students crayon and exchange it with the one the kid had given me...as I was doing this they were looking at me like I was doing something so totally crazy! Although it was at first very funny to me they couldn't figure this out...it got very old very fast repeating myself trying to explain how to exchange a crayon for a new color and share!!!
Satanism & Witchcraft at Night:
More stories about how God has totally protected me during my time here...As I was driving back to the village with Elliot one night we got talking about witchcraft and satanism again...as we were driving two men had stopped us and asked us for a ride...unfortunately we were not going the same way so we had to say no and apologize. As Elliot had been talking to the men one of them made a gesture like someone was cutting off his head. When we pulled away I asked him why. He explained that they were scared that someone was going to kill them as they were traveling! I was confused. Elliot said that in the past and still today it is dangerous to travel at night because that is when people who practice witchcraft and satanism come out. In particular satanist like to kill travelling people and chop up their body and sell their various body parts...especially the private parts!!! Yikes! Also they like to organize minibus accidents. They will try to chase down buses to capture the people...and if they cause an accident during the pursuit then even better b/c then everyone is dead making their job easier! There was just a broadcast on the radio recently about a really bad minibus accident in a village south of where I live where 10 people were killed when the minibus collided head on with an 18-wheeler. Part of me wondered while I was hearing this whether it was an organized accident! They whole conversation totally freaked me out...BUT it made me realize how God truly has been looking out for me in every little area of my life...even when I really wasn't even noticing! That night lying in bed I lay praying thanking God for how he has protected me from so much evil here. A few days later that conversation was still in my mind and honestly it made me scared to be travelling on public transport...I mean how often had I smushed into a minibus with 23 other people (when the bus only fits 15) and have sat in the trunk of a car with my feet dangling out on my way to Kasungu or to town??!...but then as I was reading through some Psalms I read Psalm 121 and I felt God reassurance that He really will "keep me from all harm"!
Psalm 121 NIV
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Marathon Running:
I can't remember if I have mentioned before about my running habits...Everyday I have to travel to 1 of the 14 villages to remind the women that they cook tomorrow. Instead of driving or biking I like to run to each of the villages :-) These runs last between 30-60 min round trip depending on how far away the village is. Everyone thinks I am crazy and I quite frequently get stopped and asked "but isn't your heart beating so fast?? Aren't you tired?" and then I explain to them "yes but I love to run and it helps make your heart strong...Its not bad for you!" (as they think all exercise is!) Anyway when I am running I often times feel like a marathon runner or someone famous because when I pass through villages all of the kids come out and line the street and chant "Stephanie Stephanie Stephanie!!" (at first it was Azungu Azungu Azungu so its exciting that it has now changed to my actual name!) and sometimes a group of them will even run with me for a bit...they don't typically last longer than a minute though as they really have no physical endurance and tire very easily! The whole thing is very funny to me to see all the kids running out chanting my name...but on days when I am struggling and am not sure I am going to make it back home I am sooooo thankful for their encouragement!
Departure Date Change!
I NOW HAVE ONLY 2 MONTHS LEFT HERE
Originally I was supposed to be flying out of Malawi on the 1st of August...arriving home on the 2nd and just barely missing the New Wilmington Mission Conference occurring the 23-30th of July (the conference that originally sent me to Malawi in 2008 and began this whole process of me coming to Malawi in my life!) As it worked out though I was able to get my flight changed with NO COST (which is a miracle because I really think it was supposed to cost quite a lot of money) to make it home in time to represent Joy to the World Ministries at the conference and to be a High School Girls Counselor. I am now leaving Malawi on July 18th arriving home late on the 20th giving me a two day buffer before I have to be at the conference as a staff person. Praise the Lord!! I am sooooo excited to have the chance to attend conference and to be able to discuss JTW and my experiences here there with my girls and the rest of conference. I am a little nervous though about how I am going to transition back into life in the states so please begin praying against "culture shock" and for a smooth transition. Also please be praying for me and for the group of girls I will be leading that God would really have his hand all over our time together and that He would work in some BIG ways! :-)
Ok wrapping it up! :-) Please note that I am officially taking my address off my blog site. Mail takes FOREVER to get here so anything that is sent now will probably not make it to me before I leave. I actually JUST received some letters and a package that were sent at the beginning of FEBRUARY!!! A HUGE HUGE thanks to all of you who have written or sent things to me! They have been such a huge encouragement (even if they never actually arrived..sorry about that...grr unreliable Malawian mail!)! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
LOVE TO ALL!
Hopefully I will be able to post again soon! (Pray for our router to be fixed!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
