Hey all!!!
Loving it here as you all may have guessed. Today was the last day of ministry so it was a bit hard. Met with my Malawian family for the last time and it was a big event… totally full of God! Amy Lydia and I had donated a skirt and shirt to each of the girls in the family… mom and two daughters. Then for the dad I donated a shirt I got from church and the little man precious I gave a beanie baby, shorts and one of my bandanas. It was so cute because since my hair was cut so short before I left I have been wearing a bandana every day to keep my hair out of my face and I let precious wear it one day and my aviator glasses… he was totally BA. So I gave him my dark blue one and he put it on right away! The girls were so excited about their clothes and we got to give the family a Chichewa bible so momma was so thankful. We also wrote a note to the whole family and gave them rice, soap, finger nail clippers some first aid cream and a wash cloth. Then we wrote each family member a note that had their name and a verse of encouragement about somewhere we thought God was growing and changing them. Momma gave us a papaya in return and it was so good. Then we went to carry water back one last time and I got to carry the big metal pot! Woot a real Malawian! Momma laughed the whole way back! Then we did a bible study on the sermon on the mount. Lastly we washed dishes and cooked corn porage. This is one of the things I hate the most. When we have it here I never eat it. Its thick and… I don’t know gross. But momma served us each a large helping. Our Malawian intern ben had a hard time. But I did it much to the distaste of my belly and momma was so happy we all did!
We headed home and I took a nice long nap not looking forward to afternoon events… personal ministries. Being as my ministry was Muzu and we got kicked out and never allowed back I wasn’t going there. Well I also didn’t want to go to some other teams goodbye program and watch them all get to say goodbye
So instead two other muzu folks and I went to a soccer tourni. When that lost appeal we decided to walk home and here is how that went. This guy road up on a skate board and God taught us yet again how first impressions and looks mean nothing. He told us a bit of his story and it was super encouraging. Then we stopped at a gas station and got soda and chips and sat outside and ate them. Then the sun was getting lower and we cant be out past dark so we continued home. Found some police and got asked to be “friends” which means to marry them… one really wanted Lydia it was crazy! Then went futher to find another police blockade and that just led to a how are you and we quickly moved on. Then we had to walk through the middle of a bunch of guys blocking the path near the police…sketch you ask. Maybe. Then we continued on home and got picked up by our director. Kinda crazy. And what coulda been a really bad day where we just thought about not saying goodbye worked out! God is good!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
a weekend in Africa
well its saturday and i decided i would break away from the typical thursday night internet mode and see who was around on saturday. No worries i will still stay up late african time thursday to chitchat and blog again.
today i got up and we have breakfast... egg day! my favorite. then we have a 2hour solitude. Basically two hours with God. reading, journaling, praying... whatever works. I have been so happy because a few weeks ago I found a great place to do my quiet times. there is an unfinished banquet hall and I climb up the unfinished fireplace and sit on this brick ledge. Its pretty spacey and I all in all love it. From this space I can see over the wall that surrounds our compound! its great. After that and an intern meeting we had lunch. then we got dropped off in town. after a coffee shop and a trip to the store two others and myself walked home. now i am about to go play an intern group game... yeah!
hope everyone is well
MOM check your email!
today i got up and we have breakfast... egg day! my favorite. then we have a 2hour solitude. Basically two hours with God. reading, journaling, praying... whatever works. I have been so happy because a few weeks ago I found a great place to do my quiet times. there is an unfinished banquet hall and I climb up the unfinished fireplace and sit on this brick ledge. Its pretty spacey and I all in all love it. From this space I can see over the wall that surrounds our compound! its great. After that and an intern meeting we had lunch. then we got dropped off in town. after a coffee shop and a trip to the store two others and myself walked home. now i am about to go play an intern group game... yeah!
hope everyone is well
MOM check your email!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
NEXT THURSDAY
I will be on Facebook and gmail (bubbles.gmail.com) for chatting purposes on thursday again. 11pm my time 2pm seattle time and 5pm if you are in a place like tennessee...dad and candace. I will be on for at min an hour so if you are a bit late you will catch me... hope to hear from you all!
love ya!
love ya!
my muzu rant
Muzu
This is a sad story if I ever have to tell one. Well the Saturday after I had that sad experience with the little boy with the hurt foot things really got out of hand. The Muzu boys have a soccer team and they play in the COTN league. Well they are kinda pushy and violent and the ref (a COTN staff) eventually kicked them out of the league due to violence. They tried to beat the ref up, though he got away fine. The boys threatened saying don’t bring the azungus back here again. COTN feels the threat is worth waiting to talk to the chief. Well in true Malawian style no one has talked to the chief and there are only 2 muzu visiting days left. Ughhhhhh. This is my favorite place in Malawi and I have been kicked out and I didn’t even get to say goodbye… I am beyond mad upset or frustrated. I hope to get to go say goodbye to them because I don’t want to be that white person who said they would come back and just didn’t care enough to. Anyone can ask my directors I am fighting them tooth and nail on this one. So for the last Tuesday and Thursday I had to pick a new field. I went with my friend amy to her field that is walking distance and we do about the same things. Only its not with my kids and it made me more sad. Today we went there was this big bus there blasting music. It was a Christian group who said they organized a soccer tourni. Only they took the teams COTN created and had them play so they didn’t do anything at all. Then at half time they had a talk organized. Well we thought ok give it a chance and here is there talk: you are loved. Jesus loves you. None of you were a mistake. In John 3.16 it says for God so loved the world… Now raise your hand if you want to accept Christ into your heart. (picture little Malawian children just a few of them though raising their hand… their friends look around and raise their hand afraid they may not get the free stuff that might be coming) then they do a 10min prayer to save the children. Following that they direct the kids with hands up to the front of the bus and hand out flyers to the YC conference to a bunch of 4-10 year olds. Not sure how those kids will be able to get down town but yes please give them a paper in English they cant read. Then they plugged them in to Zero churches or organizations near by and gave them no bible in which to learn about who Jesus is and what he expects from us and what is right and wrong. But they did nicely treat them all as if they are an unreached population. Well if anything this area is over churched and under “gospeld.” Please don’t talk to them like they don’t know who Jesus is. Please ask who already does believe in God. Maybe even ask who goes to church. You could also find out who believes in witch craft… it’s a stretch but maybe find out which kids are gulus or whos parents are to find out what they struggle with. And maybe they shouldnt drive their dumb bus in blast their music so the kids cant sing their songs and hear their own beautiful voices and share a culture of beauty with you…and then hand out Canadian flags as if that has anything to do with Jesus and then drive off and never see these kids again. But Yes count hands and go to bed at night thinking 50 some odd children now believe in Jesus. I would rather have gone to Muzu and allowed some 18year old boy punch me. RANT OVER.
This is a sad story if I ever have to tell one. Well the Saturday after I had that sad experience with the little boy with the hurt foot things really got out of hand. The Muzu boys have a soccer team and they play in the COTN league. Well they are kinda pushy and violent and the ref (a COTN staff) eventually kicked them out of the league due to violence. They tried to beat the ref up, though he got away fine. The boys threatened saying don’t bring the azungus back here again. COTN feels the threat is worth waiting to talk to the chief. Well in true Malawian style no one has talked to the chief and there are only 2 muzu visiting days left. Ughhhhhh. This is my favorite place in Malawi and I have been kicked out and I didn’t even get to say goodbye… I am beyond mad upset or frustrated. I hope to get to go say goodbye to them because I don’t want to be that white person who said they would come back and just didn’t care enough to. Anyone can ask my directors I am fighting them tooth and nail on this one. So for the last Tuesday and Thursday I had to pick a new field. I went with my friend amy to her field that is walking distance and we do about the same things. Only its not with my kids and it made me more sad. Today we went there was this big bus there blasting music. It was a Christian group who said they organized a soccer tourni. Only they took the teams COTN created and had them play so they didn’t do anything at all. Then at half time they had a talk organized. Well we thought ok give it a chance and here is there talk: you are loved. Jesus loves you. None of you were a mistake. In John 3.16 it says for God so loved the world… Now raise your hand if you want to accept Christ into your heart. (picture little Malawian children just a few of them though raising their hand… their friends look around and raise their hand afraid they may not get the free stuff that might be coming) then they do a 10min prayer to save the children. Following that they direct the kids with hands up to the front of the bus and hand out flyers to the YC conference to a bunch of 4-10 year olds. Not sure how those kids will be able to get down town but yes please give them a paper in English they cant read. Then they plugged them in to Zero churches or organizations near by and gave them no bible in which to learn about who Jesus is and what he expects from us and what is right and wrong. But they did nicely treat them all as if they are an unreached population. Well if anything this area is over churched and under “gospeld.” Please don’t talk to them like they don’t know who Jesus is. Please ask who already does believe in God. Maybe even ask who goes to church. You could also find out who believes in witch craft… it’s a stretch but maybe find out which kids are gulus or whos parents are to find out what they struggle with. And maybe they shouldnt drive their dumb bus in blast their music so the kids cant sing their songs and hear their own beautiful voices and share a culture of beauty with you…and then hand out Canadian flags as if that has anything to do with Jesus and then drive off and never see these kids again. But Yes count hands and go to bed at night thinking 50 some odd children now believe in Jesus. I would rather have gone to Muzu and allowed some 18year old boy punch me. RANT OVER.
scandals in africa
ok so now you have your hopes up that i will leave some scandal here... well in africa its a bit different.... i folded my chitingi up so it hit just below my knees and pulled my shirts down over the top. every malawian women was pulling at it and having a fit..
Other news
Missing everyone a lot. Thought I could move here… though I can I would need to move with atleast one close friend and change my phone to have international texting. Not communicating and yes Candace texting is driving me crazy. Love it here though but missing home and at this time of the year Alaska Camp, creation YMP and all my crazy summer events
BABIES!
I get to see you soon and I still really miss you. I have your pictures up all around my bunk bed and look at them all the time. Sometimes I play the dolphin song just because you like it so much! I hear you have been taking care of salma and I thank you so so much. Please come to the airport I wont be able to wait one minute longer to see you! Love you so so so so much! Send me an email ok!
Hmmm I think that’s about all I have to add… other then if KAISA reads this… I miss you and hope you and fam are doing well this week. I know I talked to you but really I love you and am thinking and praying for you!
ok so a chitingi is something like a sarong and you wrap it over your skirt so that you dont get your skirt dirty while working. i guess you are supposed to wrap it high on your waist and tuck your shirt in. anyways it was the scandal of the neighborhood. i know i know i am a rebel.
lets see what else. I have been invited to dinner by another family so hopefully i can find a translator and go.
House visits
momma jenna had us mud an entire wall today. I did so while be pestered by one of my favorite kids, mava, mother. she was drunk and telling me good job over and over while shoving mud in my face and telling me in chichewa how to fix it... all the while she said good job. i dont know crazy is all i can say! this sunday i am going to catholic mass with momma jenna and family and i cant wait.
mgwyei
yes i spell that different everytime! monday i got to hold the newborn baby... his name is kidd or christopher and it was so great! the mom dropped the baby at my house visit with me tuesday and told me i could bring it back on the way home... funny!
Other news
Missing everyone a lot. Thought I could move here… though I can I would need to move with atleast one close friend and change my phone to have international texting. Not communicating and yes Candace texting is driving me crazy. Love it here though but missing home and at this time of the year Alaska Camp, creation YMP and all my crazy summer events
BABIES!
I get to see you soon and I still really miss you. I have your pictures up all around my bunk bed and look at them all the time. Sometimes I play the dolphin song just because you like it so much! I hear you have been taking care of salma and I thank you so so much. Please come to the airport I wont be able to wait one minute longer to see you! Love you so so so so much! Send me an email ok!
Hmmm I think that’s about all I have to add… other then if KAISA reads this… I miss you and hope you and fam are doing well this week. I know I talked to you but really I love you and am thinking and praying for you!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
a late night update
well i got to hold a three week old baby. they strapped it to my back with a chitingi... i am sure i spelt that wrong. in anysense its like a sarong only thicker. it was so little and i was so terrified it would fall. Eventually i took it out and held him. he is the younger brother or krissy, they call him kid. there are four in that fam krissy weezi promise and kid. they are all beautiful and great. The mom is kitty and i make her laugh everytime i come because i yell into the field MOMMA KITTY and then give a big wave followed by muli bwanji which mean how are you. havent met the dad yet. the next day i held the baby again and for a long time.. but in my arms not on my back. this time it peed on my and had to go home and change it! lol.
at muzu i experienced real sadness. one kid had a wound on his foot. so i got his sister and had her walk me the boy and a malawian to their house to it could be cleaned and cared for because it was bad. they were reluctant to go but with a smile i prompted them on. as we got close the boy limp ran ahead and stopped at a house. it wasnt his though. the malawian intern i was with asked for the boys mom as the boy stopped and cried refusing to go home. a women came picked him up and we followed them home. this was not his mom and the boy wiggled free and ran about ten feet away. the mom walked up with a baby on back, who was cute and smiling. i turned to see the boy was still crying and had picked up two large rocks prepared to throw them if his mom came close. i had noticed as we walked into the village from the sports field all the kids that followed seemed to draw closer to me, smiles came off their face. the moms stood by and laughed at the boy as he cried and yelled in chichewa. i didnt know what he said and there was nothing i could do... i have never felt so helpless ever.
well in anysense it is late and far past my bed time BUT here is good news, next thursday at 11pm my time, 2pm seattle time and 5pm Tennessee time i will be on facebook, and on gmail... bubbles.rgc@gmail.com sign on and chat with me... i will update this before then too but just wanted to let you know... hint hint mom you can try again and aunt mary you may be at work and busy but thought i would let you know! HOWEVER internet, computers and electricity is not something you can count on here... SO i may get kicked offline or it may not work... oh the things of a third world country!
anyways i love it here all the same and still miss you all like crazy!
blessings from africa.. you are all in my prayers
at muzu i experienced real sadness. one kid had a wound on his foot. so i got his sister and had her walk me the boy and a malawian to their house to it could be cleaned and cared for because it was bad. they were reluctant to go but with a smile i prompted them on. as we got close the boy limp ran ahead and stopped at a house. it wasnt his though. the malawian intern i was with asked for the boys mom as the boy stopped and cried refusing to go home. a women came picked him up and we followed them home. this was not his mom and the boy wiggled free and ran about ten feet away. the mom walked up with a baby on back, who was cute and smiling. i turned to see the boy was still crying and had picked up two large rocks prepared to throw them if his mom came close. i had noticed as we walked into the village from the sports field all the kids that followed seemed to draw closer to me, smiles came off their face. the moms stood by and laughed at the boy as he cried and yelled in chichewa. i didnt know what he said and there was nothing i could do... i have never felt so helpless ever.
well in anysense it is late and far past my bed time BUT here is good news, next thursday at 11pm my time, 2pm seattle time and 5pm Tennessee time i will be on facebook, and on gmail... bubbles.rgc@gmail.com sign on and chat with me... i will update this before then too but just wanted to let you know... hint hint mom you can try again and aunt mary you may be at work and busy but thought i would let you know! HOWEVER internet, computers and electricity is not something you can count on here... SO i may get kicked offline or it may not work... oh the things of a third world country!
anyways i love it here all the same and still miss you all like crazy!
blessings from africa.. you are all in my prayers
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
weeks come and go
well we are cruzing through weeks here and i love it more each day. Today was good rather short. Went to visit momma jenna and couldnt stay to long as it was parent day at school and she had to go to class. Did wash some clothes though. Prayer in need for the youngest child, a boy named precious, he is pretty dang sick... possibly malaria. I am told they get it about once a year here but its no good for young kids. He is maybe six and in standard one (grade one). The whole family could use prayer as food is low and they are trying to build a new house because the one they are in... well i am not sure i think they out grew it because they took in a child. in any sense keep them in your prayers.
At muzu today my little girl jennifer looked pretty sick most of the time. She looked pretty weak so keep her in your prayers. At the end she gave me a smile and ran around which was good to see. But looking from her to her sister i could tell she wasnt totally healthy. The kids at muzu have stomachs bloated from starvation and its super sad. The other villages have similar problems but its worse here.
COMMENTS
yep gram i am able to see the comments you have left! it makes my day so keep leaving them!
BABIES!
i miss you so so much... are you coming to the airport to get me when i get home with kendall... you should come and have kendall go by taco del mar!! Hint hint But i do love you lots and cant wait to see your little faces and to kick your butt for wearing make up!!! :) also have kendall send me a message so i know how everyone is doing... including salma!!! i am sure your having a good time dragging her around like a toy liah!
hmmm... what else to say. the sky is beautiful... saw a red moon the other night! I loved walking over to mgwei and having my name chanted once again. I think they think of me as the crazy azungu (that means white person) as i pretty much run about really willing to make a fool out of myself for them!
Got invited to dinner again... and another marriage proposal. I am just racking up those!
ok i think thats it i need to get to bed... blarg!
miss you all and love it here! cant wait to show pics to you all! thanks again to all my supporters!
love you
sami
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