Yesterday was my birthday...da na na na na na na na.....

I had woken up yesterday morning, feeling the same as I did when I woke up the day before. Dan asked me the inevitable question : “How does it feel to be 24???”. Even though I myself ask people this question on their birthday, my answer is always “I feel the same”. I really do not feel as though I am getting older. It's still me, Bethany. Well, the better question, which Dan asked, would be “How was your 24^th year of life, in review?”. That question got me thinking, and suddenly, memories from the past year flooded my head. Then I would remember things that happened during my 22^nd year of life, but couldn't remember when it happened...It was great to think about all of the many things that have gone on over the course of just one year. I concluded that this year has been my busiest. Not because I had set a list of goals to accomplish, actually the opposite has happened. When I turned 23, I thought that the next year of my life would be spent in Seattle, with my new husband in our cute little apartment (which I miss so much!). I was applying to the University of Washington's Linguistics Department and had a wonderful job, at which I could have easily and happily stayed for years. Dan and I were attending Covenant Presbyterian Church in Issaquah, and were falling more and more in love with the youth there. The Lord was growing us there, and we were being blessed. I was comfortable in Seattle, and quite frankly, didn't want to leave.

But when I look back at all the events that have led me here, to Malawi, I can do nothing but praise the Lord for guiding me through my 24^th year. The chaos began in March/April when my heart felt more and more heavy with the desire to be serving in Africa. Once we got the email from ABC, things quickly took place. And now, I am here, teaching and serving in Africa, only pregnant (another surprise blessing)!!! I feel so blessed to be held by the hand of God, knowing that many of these things were not in my plans, but that God has been actively leading Dan and I to where He wants us to be. And the only place I want to be is in God's will. I am so thankful for the past year of my life, and eagerly look forward to the many challenges and blessing that lay ahead for me, in my 25^th year of life.

Here I am yesterday morning, with my morning presents from Dan.

No need to worry mom. Dan was faithful to the Meeks tradition and got me cereal. Real Rice Krispies!!!!

So, speaking of plans, and God changing them, yesterday was one of those days when anything and everything could and did happen. My plans were to visit the market, have lunch, go to the crisis nursery for just a quick visit, visit my friends Sharon and Ari, maybe go for a swim, take a nap, read, and then have dinner with Dan (he was apparently cooking a nice dinner for the two of us). Well, the market worked out. After having french toast and bacon for breakfast (yum!!!!), we headed out to the market.

Here we are, driving to the market....very crowded streets on a Saturday.

Dan was looking for bicycling gear, and I wanted to get fabric for table clothes and napkins. When we hit the “I'm tired, hot and sick of the smell” wall, we got into the car and began exiting the market, apparently the wrong way. Well, we got stopped by a traffic police officer, who, by the way, LOVED to remind us that he was a traffic police officer. After telling us what we had done (going the wrong way down a one way street....which had no signs except for when you are entering the street coming the right way...does that make sense?), he proceeded to tell us that he would come with us as we drove down to the station for a statement. The funniest thing was when he came to open my door, as if he was going to have me sit in the back....I told him “It's my car, and I get shotgun in my car....get in the back”. Yeah, probably not a very nice thing to say, but we were going to the station because we went the wrong way...but there was NO SIGN!!!! Anyways, we get to the station, and meet about 3 or 4 other officers, none of which would be helping us in our “case”. Finally, we talked with someone, and he explained to us our offense (they acted as if we ran over a goat or something!). He gets all of Dan's information, and has him write down a statement to be read in court on Monday. Once all of that is said and done, the officer tells us that he has the power to impound our vehicle, and that they usually do this to ensure that we show up for court. Oh boy, did we get angry. Why would they be so serious about an honest mistake that was made, which is actually their fault for not posting the signs that they want drivers to follow...when there are no rules about keeping goats or carts and oxen off the road, no restrictions to how many people you can pack into the back of a pickup truck or a mini bus without seat belts and no regulations concerning bikers and pedestrians on the roads!!! Last week, I drove by an accident involving a car and a biker, one involving two goats and a car, and there was a hit and run, with a man left in critical condition. Anyways, we got fired up, and assured the man that this would not happen, we would indeed drive our car home, and that was that. I went through a series of emotions while sitting in that hot little concrete office. At points, it was so hilarious, because I just couldn't believe how much time had been spent trying to figure out this case. Then, I would get nauseous because I hadn't eaten in a few hours (Dan and I were on our way to lunch) and then I would get crabby and frustrated. In the end, Dan agreed to show up on Monday morning at 7am, to go before the judge and plead his case. He will probably miss the entire day of school, seeing as how things take forever around here! We finally left the station around 1:30pm and went out for lunch, talking non stop about how funny and annoying that experience was. I concluded that the first officer who confronted us, simply needed a ride back to the station, and saw us as the perfect candidates to do him that favor.

So, lunch was great. I really wanted to stop by the nursery to see how things were going there. The usual volunteers were on a retreat type thing for the weekend, and so there was a huge need for extra volunteers. When we arrived, there were plenty of people there, but they were just holding babies. Usually, that is okay, because the nurse mothers can change, bathe and feed the babies. But this weekend, anyone who was there would need to chip in a little more than usual. We ended up staying for until 5pm, holding, feeding, changing and loving those little babies. Two of them were really sick, one having a hard time breathing, and the other with a fever of 105 degrees. She felt like a dish you had just pulled out of the oven. It was hard to leave, but I was feeling dizzy and nauseous again, and needed to get Dan home to cook us dinner.

Dan at the Crisis Nursery. He did so well with the kids, and fed a baby for the first time!!!!

He actually dropped me off at Sharon's house, where I was greeted by her four kids and Ari. They had made me a chocolate bar cake....mmmm. I ate a lot of it at their house. Then, I got to open a present. I must say, I was shocked! I screamed and then started to cry when I opened it. It was none other than a box of Easy Mac&Cheese....6 SERVINGS!!!!!! I couldn't believe it! Apparently, Sharon had gotten it from the Embassy when she was there with a friend a couple of days ago. Oh, I was overjoyed!

My delicious chocolate chip bar birthday cake with 3 of Sharon's 4 kids (Caleb, Breanna, and Anika-on the right)Here I am, opening my mac&cheese...I could see the label and began screaming!
Still, sooooo thankful for the gift...it brought me to tears.

Sharon and her husband Corey had plans to go out for dinner, and were going to bring Ari and I home on their way out. Dan wanted me home by 6:30pm for dinner, but then Sharon had to get ready for her date, and then didn't know which earrings to wear, and the icing on the cake: couldn't find the car keys! So, finally, around 7pm, we all get into the car, with the alarm going off because they were using the spare key which didn't have the little button thingy. We get to my house, and they want to come in for a second to see Dan (which didn't seem unusual to me). As we approached my house, I noticed the lights were low, and I felt bad that I had made him wait, and felt even worse that Sharon, Corey and Ari were all coming in on the romantic dinner that Dan had prepared. I opened the door, and of course “SURPRISE!!!!”. Everyone was in on it, and I began to tear up, because I have never had a surprise party thrown for me before! It was so great! That was surprise number one.

Surprise number two was our dinner....he had made MACARONI AND CHEESE!!! Ahh, it was amazing! I realize now, that if anyone in Malawi remembers anything about Bethany Robbins, it would be that I LOVE macaroni and cheese! So, we all had dinner, followed by amazing carrot cake, compliments of Laura Stoms, and played charades. Everyone did a great job trying to understand and participate in the dancing to the Beatles Birthday song. Clara loved it the most, I think.

The lovely dinner which Dan prepared....from scratch!

Here we are, just eating and hanging out in our little duplex.

Here we are dancing with Clara Stoms. She had a blast, and couldn't stop singing Happy Birthday. It was so cute.

My beautiful birthday carrot cake made by Laura. It was so gooooooood!

I felt so blessed, to have such fun people, who have become so dear to Dan and I just over the past 3 months, to be there to celebrate my birthday. Annie, Megan and Ari (who live next door and teach at the academy), The Denherts (work at the college and live here on campus with us), Andy (from Alabama, and works at the Academy with us), Sharon and Corey (work with Partners in Hope medical ministry), and of course the Stoms. Being without community and fellowship was one of my biggest fears when coming to Malawi, and last night, it was obvious to me that the Lord had taken care of that fear. He has answered my prayers, and I am so thankful for that!!!

Over all, my 24^th birthday was a blast....many surprises, and very busy, but very fun and of course, filled with blessings from the Lord. It would have been hard not to see His hand working throughout the entire day. Here is a picture of all of my wonderful presents.

Cards from the Stom's (and flowers), the Denhert's (oh, and a gift certificate for a pedicure...my first pedicure will be in Africa...haha), from the Stauffachers (who couldn't make it because their girls are sick) and a card from Dan (the tree card which he made, of course). Then I have my box of Easy Mac from Sharon. Dan got me a cute little book made from Boabab bark and a little bar of aloe vera and palm soap, three little wooden home decor leaf bowls, cashews and cream cheese(not pictured, but are kind of rare and expensive-actually, the cream cheese was Philadelphia cream cheese...which this one store only gets once every few months...and it's $10...so I was really shocked that Dan got that for me), and my beautiful drawing of Dan and I that Dan did, of course.