Since the rainy season, Malawi has become so beautiful! It is so lush and green!
We finally got away! After school on Friday, Dan and I headed got out of town with our friends Mike and Courtney who work for Children of the Nations.. They have been in Malawi since September and will be here for two years, too. All four of us have been feeling the weight of our jobs a lot lately. There have been some frustrating aspects of it, and we all just felt like we needed time away. So, we drove about 2 1/2 hours north to Nkhotakota and stayed at the Pottery Lodge which is RIGHT on the beach.
The popular place to go when vacationing at the lake is Livingstonia Beach Hotel. It is a very nice place with a pool and nice rooms, etc. It is about 1 1/2 hours from Lilongwe. The prices though are very high (about $100 a night) and the food isn't that great. Plus, it is not a quiet getaway as it is usually packed!!!!!!!
The pottery Lodge at Nkhotakota is soooo quiet. We were the only people there until Saturday afternoon, and even then, we felt like the only people there. There aren't as many rooms so that helps. Plus, the cost was less than half the cost at Livingstonia and the food was so much better!
We each had our own little room with a fridge and a front porch (they call them khondies here). I absolutely loved this place. The food was the best I have had in Malawi. While you are enjoying breakfast, you can easily put in your lunch order and what time you expect it. Then, when you show up for lunch, a table is set for your party, and the food comes no longer than 5 minutes after you arrive! We did this for every meal. As well, you just keep a tab going instead of bringing your wallet to each meal. It was so relaxing! We didn't have to worry about anything. We spent Friday night at dinner and then sat on the beach and looked at the stars. They were so bright and I even saw a shooting star! The weather was perfect, warm with a breeze. Then Saturday, we swam until lunch time and played frisbee in the water. After lunch, we painted pottery (Dan and I painted semi-matching mugs) and then went back to the beach for more sun and swimming. Saturday night after dinner, we played a card game called Hand and Foot while listening to a live choir singing on the beach.
Here we are playing cards. The boys actually beat us, which was surprising!
Dan and I are enjoying Sunday morning breakfast together before the rain came.
Sunday was very relaxing, too. The day began with a dark storm that quickly passed and then the sun came back. I got a lot of reading done on the beach. We left around 1:30 and made it back home by 4pm. I felt so relaxed and thankful to have had that time away to enjoy Dan and our friends Mike and Courtney.
Here we are on the beach right as the rain was heading our way. The sky was amazing!
Sunday night, Dan preached at Chapel again and did a wonderful job. (Sorry, I don't have a picture of him preaching...I forgot the camera). The students love hearing from him. He spoke about the church and how God uses us to build up the church and to serve the church. He encouraged the students who felt called to go into ministry to keep it up and not to give up since it is such a hard road here in Africa. It was a good reminder to me, as well. When we feel called by God to do something, often times we are afraid to answer the call, especially when we know it will be hard. It is good to remember that we will only experience true joy when we are walking with the Lord wherever He has called us. Our joy is found in serving Christ, not in serving ourselves. It was a good message and I was thankful for it. Especially following a difficult week at school (with parents, students, administration and being sick).
Just so you know, I am doing well. Elijah is still kicking pretty hard. I don't get much sleep as he is still up most of the night, wanting to play. We think he might be on an American schedule...maybe when we get back to the States, he will be more active during the day and less active during the night. Let's hope so!!! Here I am at 25ish weeks:) Getting bigger!!!!
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