Malawi: the end

The end of our time in Malawi was just as busy as we expected. We finished off the school year with academic awards and a big field day which was much more competitive than the ones I remember participating in as a child. We were on the Majete team and we won! Well, I can't be too proud because all I did was watch everyone and take pictures and Dan was the announcer.

A three legged race gone bad.

I made my last trip to the market to pick up some skirts from my taylor Gibson. He is on the left. I have no idea who the guy is on the right holding Eli.


We had our award ceremony for the upper school kids and said goodbye to our students. We miss these kids so much!!!!

We spent time with our friends knowing it would be a long time before we get to see each other again.

Eli spent time with his hommies on the back porch.

Saying goodbye to Christina and Christina was very very difficult. Partly because I was very sick and just wanted to get in the car and on that plane. It was also just hard because I knew they were really sad for Elijah to leave. They both have loved on him so much. We took both Christinas and their families out for a nice dinner a few nights before we left. We had pizza and gelato. It was delicious and a very special night.


We had one more little sale to get rid of a few more things. Eli played in his jonny jump up with Bech.


We said goodbye to our friends at the MOH Crisis Nursery. I think that is where Eli got his bacterial infection. Oh well....it was worth it.

We were busy and tired up to the very last second. We miss Malawi so much but are glad to be in America close to family and friends and food. We are in St. Louis right now staying with our friends from Seattle. We were able to buy a great little car (thanks to our brother in law, Nathan!). We packed it up this morning and arrived in St. Louis this evening. It's good to be here, although we still feel like we are just visiting and will be back in Malawi by August. This week will be filled with apartment hunting and getting to know the city. Please pray for us and that God would provide us a home. We are very excited to get settled and are so thankful to be here in our new city.

Wrapping up

As we prepare to leave next week, I have been getting very sad about all the things I will miss about our life here in Malawi. There are sooo many, but I will only mention a few. Oh, and Eli is ready to see America again :)

Friends!
I can't picture them all, but these are some of the people who mean a lot to us. As well, we will miss all of those who have loved on Eli.

I never thought I would say this, but I will miss the food here in Malawi. I won't be able to buy such delicious organic fresh foods in America at such great prices. Just look at that huge avocado!

Mama Mia Cafe has become our little get away spot. We've gone for breakfast, lunch and dessert many times as a way to spend time together outside these ABC walls. It's a cheap way to escape the heat as the ice cream is only 250 Kwacha!

Our friends at the MOH Crisis Nursery

Our students!
Teaching has been such a blessing this year. I have really enjoyed spending time with the older kids. I've also enjoyed sharing with them something that I love, French!

Last but not least, the sun sets. Since moving up the hill this year, we have enjoyed a beautiful sun set each and every evening. I will really miss this beautiful sight.

Our last day of school is tomorrow. We leave next Thursday and have a lot to do before then. Please pray for us. It is tempting to get stressed and freaked out about all the upcoming changes. There are still a few unknowns in our future and we need to trust in the Lord and continue to pray for His peace to surround us during this time. Thank you so much for all of your continual support throughout these two years. We know that we have not done any of this on our own or in our own strength. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer and for helping us carry our burdens as well as rejoice with us in times of joy.

ABC graduation (and more!)

This weekend has been super busy. Last night, we hosted the 7th grade for dinner and capture the flag in the dark. The kids are great, but very rambunctious. Thankfully, they all love and adore Elijah so much that I basically had 14 baby sitters and was able to cook and clean up. We Also had Kim to help us. She is the new science teacher who stepped in to help us out in the upper school when Annie left back in December. Kim's daughter, Jordan, is the greatest. She is in 1st grade and is already incredible with kids. At a random point in the evening, she came up to me and said "Mrs. Robbins, I love babies because they are cute. I hate babies because they always pull my hair!" in her adorable Zimbabwean accent.


We played the paper game while Dan cooked all the meat on the back porch. It was a great idea to have the kids actually doing something rather than crowd around the fire. Even though they are terrible at the paper game (something always gets lost or mixed up), they still loved playing it.

We had fun hanging out with the students, but at 7:30pm, Eli and I skipped out on the game so that we could enjoy the college music program at the chapel.


This morning, we had our big "boot" sale as they call it in South Africa. Really, it was just a big yard sale. It's always interesting trying to sell things in Malawi. We did well though and managed to make back some money on items we had sent here 2 years ago.

Christina graduated today. I was filled with emotion when I saw her walk down that isle to the traditional graduation music and take her seat with her senior class. It was a long tiring ceremony, but I am so glad we were able to witness such a huge thing. It was very different from all the other graduations I had ever been to. As I looked at the senior class, I realized that most of them truly struggled a lot to get to the place they were finally sitting today. There are seniors every year who are unable to walk and receive their diplomas because they cannot pay off their school debts. It is a huge burden on all of the students at ABC. One that their families and friends help them to carry throughout their four years of college. Those attending the graduation were so incredibly proud of their loved one who finally made it to the end of their senior year.

Dan and I took turns with Elijah. He has been pretty crabby today with teething. I was able to pass Eli off right in time for pictures, though. There was a mob of people crowded near the front, taking pictures and handing out presents to the graduates. Amy and I got right in there to make sure we got lots of pictures. We kept joking that we felt like the paparazzi trying to get our best shots of Angelina Jolie on the red carpet. It was madness, but I got a good one of Christina, and that is all that matters.

Me with the mob.

Here she is, our proud college graduate Christina Muyounga.


Here she is leaving the ceremony.

I cannot explain to you how proud I am of this woman. She is a mother of three and often cares for other family members who come to stay under her roof. She has worked hard, not only cleaning for us which has allowed her to pay for her school fees, but she has also worked very hard in her classes. She took on an extra job of selling tomatoes this year, too. Christina is a dear friend of mine and I was honored to see her walk the stage and receive her diploma.


We are going to her church tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to spending a little bit of time with her family before we leave. I will miss Christina very very much.

ABC Academy farewell luncheon

Yesterday afternoon was our farewell lunch to all the teachers who are leaving this year. It was a nice time out in the garden. We had lunch and listened as various teachers spoke on behalf of those who are leaving. It hit me that so many of us are leaving this year. About half of us began our African journey together last August. It will be SO hard to say goodbye to the people we have worked closely with for such a long time. The farewell message that made me cry was from LeAnne to Megan. It was really sweet and heartfelt. We will all miss Megan so much! She was really the first person I met and got to know here at ABC. I know we will keep in touch.


Our head teacher Kellen spoke about Dan and I. It was really cool to hear what he had to say especially about Dan and his involvement with the upper school chapels this year. And yes, that is Owen with a cast. He fractured his leg during the ABC Super Saturday. He's just that dedicated.
I cannot believe we are leaving 3 weeks from tomorrow! It will be such a hard day, leaving this life behind and boarding a plane that will take us to a totally new life. The luncheon was good closure though, something I think I needed.