Our growing boy

Our good friend Christina. She was so happy to finally meet Elijah. When her husband Good, heard that he was born, he said to her "Christina, we have a grandson!". We missed them a lot, and it has been good to hear how they are doing.

Christina isn't able to register for classes this semester because she has outstanding school fees, about 52,000 KWACHA which is about $350. Dan and I really hope to help her out, but probably won't be able to pay the whole fee right up front. When she spoke to us about it today, she had tears in her eyes. It is so hard to want to help, but know that sometimes, we just can't. Anyways, I am sharing this story because I hope that some of you will pray about the opportunity to help an ABC student get through school. If you want to help Christina specifically, let me know. We will get the money to her account asap! There are also plenty of students who could not register this semester, many of them being seniors! Please go to the ABC website and donate to help pay for school fees. Sometimes, all they need is $100 in order to graduate. Many finish their courses, but cannot recieve their degree until they have paid their fees. Please prayerfully consider helping.




Thank you to those who were able to give me advice about Elijah's eating habits at night...It's so crazy, because the night I posted about Eli eating every 2 hours (even through the night) he slept for 6 straight!!! I thought that maybe it was a fluke and would surely never happen again, but the very next night, he slept from 8pm-2am, fed then slept again for another 4 hours! I seriously could not believe it. All week, he has been sleeping so well. It's as if he realized that he is 3 months old now, and needs to grow up...over night! hehe.

Well, anyways, thank you for all the wonderful advice and prayers. It has all been helpful. I feel like a new woman now...not so cranky.

School has been so much fun. I was definitely scared the first day, and anxious the next, but it has gone so well. I really love my students. I enjoyed teaching the little ones last year, but older kids are really great, too. I love watching their faces light up when they pronounce something correctly. You can just watch their confidence levels rise. Plus, I love French, so it's been fun to speak it for an hour a day. I find myself wanting to speak it to all the construction workers (they are building a new section of the school) and have to remember that they speak Chichewa, not French. It is really nice to have work to do. It challenges me and keeps me studying. I am thankful to be teaching this year.

On the other hand, motherhood is wonderful. I love taking Elijah shopping with me. I have found that people talk with me more because they are drawn to Eli. It is the perfect ice breaker. When you pass a Malawian, you must greet them. Once you have greeted each other, they always ask "And how is da bebe? Is it a boie or a guryl?" We immediately have something to talk about. I love being able to talk with people more. The students on campus all love Elijah. Everyone calls him Goodnight! It's so cute. Lately, he has loved being in his sling. He used to not like it. I think it was because he was too small, but now that he is chunkier, he fits in it well.


Already reading, just like his daddy. AND studying his languages...the book is in English, Spanish and French!


He is really into fans now. I usually just put him on the floor or on our bed, and he will be content to watch the fan go around for hours! He smiles and talks to it. Lately, I've been hooking up his link toys to our mosquito net. He lays beneath it and hits the toys AND has the fan to look at. It is the ultimate set up!I had a funny video of Eli actually taking to the fan, but it wouldn't load. Our internet isn't strong enough...so you'll just have to imagine it:)

All in all, we are doing well. Please keep praying for the team coming out from Seattle. They leave tomorrow and have a lot of traveling to do. Also, please pray for Dan and I as we are coming down with what we like to call 'Welcome to Malawi-itis' or 'Malawi stomach'. I think it is affecting Eli, too. We expected to have it the first few weeks, but just pray that Eli won't be too bothered. Thank you for continually caring for us as well as the people of Malawi. God bless y'all.