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.

Wrong timing

Well, our computer adapter/charger broke suddenly two days ago. It is absolutely the worst timing as grades are due on Monday AND no one is coming to Malawi until the 23rd, just 2 days before we leave. We are getting by with the help of our friends but it is very frustrating. Please pray that we will be able to get all of our work done in time! Also, pray for us to have patience as we will essentially be without a computer for the next 3 weeks.

*as a result, I probably won't be blogging much. sorry for my absence in advance.

Dzenza CCAP

We headed out early Sunday morning to meet Good at his house before church started at 7am. Of course, we were a little bit late, but everyone is late to church in Malawi. When we arrived, there were probably only 35 people in the whole building, but by 7:45am, the church was packed. I sat with Eli on the women's side and Dan sat with Good on the men's side. We sang songs and worshiped in Chichewa even though it was the English service. I didn't mind though because they were songs I know. Visitors were called to the front to be introduced and welcomed by the church. It was our first time to be welcomed and rejoiced over because we are white. Usually, it is the unspoken truth that the congregation is excited and honored to have white people worship with them on any given Sunday. This time, the elder had no shame saying it right out. He said "We are especially honored and thankful because we have two mzungus here with us today. We are always thankful for visitors but today, we thank God for bringing two mzungus to our church." Everyone burst out laughing and cheering. It was hilarious. Later on, Good realized that the elder should have said three mzungus, but we told him that the elder must have known that Elijah is actually a Malawian stuck in a white baby's body.

Eli didn't want to be in church at all. I took him outside for some fresh air about 40 minutes into the service. We met a nice lady who had a one year old boy named Ongani. The babies played, hit each other, threw rocks and ate dirt. They were pretty happy with each other, so you can imagine the disappointment when it came time to go back in. The service continued to drag on as it was youth Sunday. The youth were just really enthusiastic about leading I guess. People were already coming for the Chichewa service, bringing their harvest offerings and preparing for worship. Eli made some more friends who loved holing him and calling him "Eliya"Finally, by 9:15am, they started singing the last hymn.

We hung out by the door for the last 15 minutes (they sing a hymn, then they have announcements).

Eli proved this to us again by chowing down on our delicious chicken, greens and nsima lunch. Lunch wasn't served until after 1pm. Eli hadn't napped and was a little crabby as you can imagine. We have really been stretching him this weekend with all the activities and graduation but Sunday was the longest stretch of all. 8 hours without a nap!!! What a little champ. Oh, and he got attacked by their cat, but he was asking for it by pulling it's tail. I was thankful for Christina's two youngest kids who played with Eli and kept him entertained while we waited for lunch.


After we ate, we quickly gathered our stuff and headed back to ABC. Eli was at the very very end of his little rope and was about to completely lose it, as was I. Good, Christina, and her sister asked us for a ride to a mini bus station. We figured it wasn't far from their house and that we would just put Eli in his car seat after we dropped them off. Well, after driving for 10 minutes like this:
...we asked Good how far the station was. "Oh, you can drop us at ABC" he said. Hmmm...ok. I took a moment to coach myself through the situation in my head. I thought "Felxibility. Trusting in God for safety." and a quick "drive safely, honey" to my husband. God did keep us safe during the last 15 minutes to ABC. As well, it isn't really breaking the law to have your child out of a seat belt. I think they are trying to change it. I often see little toddlers climbing around the car while driving.

Anyway, it was a long long morning, but we had a great time with Christina and her family. Eli and I slept for 2 hours that afternoon and recovered well. Now it's Monday and our last full week of school. Please pray for us as we prepare for finals and try to wrap up the year with our students. We are tired and ready to see some familiar faces, but we know there is still a lot of work to be done.

You know you're a redneck living in Africa when....

Dan is a city boy. I am a mut, born in Detroit but raised in the sticks of Tennessee. Elijah was born at his grandparents house but spent the first year of his life in Africa, so I'm not sure what that makes him. Either way, as much as I like to deny it, I know I've got that country twang in me. Lately, it has really come out in Dan as well. I guess I'm rubbing off on him. He has come up with all sorts of red neck solutions to our problems.

Anyways, here is our top 5 list of You know that you are a redneck living in Africa when:

5. You don't have a vacuum cleaner or a dog and so you purposefully put your baby on the floor to eat the crumbs around the dinner table. (sorry, no photo for demonstration)

4. You only have two warm baby pajamas with footsies but they are too slippery for him to walk in, so either A) make him wear his shoes over his pajamas.....

or B) unbutton his pajamas just around the feet.

3. Your baby's favorite toys during the month of June are old Christmas ornaments in a box of dirt.


2. You have to get your work done but don't want the baby touching the computer, so you just stick him on your shoulders. Easy solution!

1. Just look at the picture below...I have no words.