Chichewa literacy 101

In my August update I shared that we helped with a literacy class. The ladies first started not being able to read any Chichewa. By the end there were 15 ladies that graduated. It was so awesome to see!!

My sweet kiddos for a month

So here is my crew. This was our third time back to Zambia to help with 40/40. Instead of 2 preschoolers I had 6. The three boys were very much boys, and the three girls were very much girls. We had so much fun!!! I couldn’t of had a better group. The only really hard tasks were painting with that many and bathroom time at bush camp. (Bathroom time was sometimes difficult because it was a ways to get there and it was a big hole). But... they did a great job! We did lose a shoe down the chimbutzi, but it was because Micah (the blond right next to me) was trying to kill a bee for all of us. He kicked the bee and his flip flop hit the ceiling and then fell down the hole. Wish I had a picture of the 6 kids and myself leaning over looking down. They really thought we could save that old navy camouflage flip flop but it was a sad day for Micah’s shoe. Luckily mom and dad went to the Boma (town) the next day and picked up Micah some new flip flops. All is well.

Meeting the family

We took a trip to the village and we went to see my Zambian Family. This is the family I stayed with my very first time. This is the kitchen where they do all their cooking. The kids thought it was very cool that you cook in a completely different place. The second picture is my mom Agnus and I. It was such a sweet visit. It was a blessing to see her and her children and to know that everyone was doing quite well. I look forward to seeing her again in October.

Big Birthday Bash

Today was the official day for Jessica and my party. And wow were we amazed and feeling loved! Our day started out with breakfast at Pams. So nice and relaxing. Then we had notes to open each hour. We opened out next envelope and it was a pedicure and manicure. So great. When we finished at the saloon the ladies had got so excited for us, they wanted us to read out next note which was lunch at the restaurant next door. We had an amazing chicken salad and pizza. Then we opened our next envelope, we found ourselves heading back to the saloon for a back massage. Ok, do you think we are feeling pampered? Totally and very special!! Then after the massage we received a text message to go to Jessica’s to relax and wait for our next visitor. So we watched a movie, than our friend Kat arrived and she said she was hair and make up. After we were dolled up we opened a bag with clothes for us to wear. There were two outfits: one really cute dress and the other was a very Malawian outfit that you would wear out in a village. Kat said we could choose… I wonder which one we picked. Then we hopped in the car and headed to our house (Johanna and I). When we arrived we were welcomed by an overwhelming amount of our friends and family (our adopted family). Then they had dinner for us with menus, the restaurants name was “Trattoria 1979”. Can you guess what kind of food we had? On the menu was sweet notes to Jessica and I. Then after dinner we had a video from our friends in England, then a slide show with pictures from our friends and family. It was so so wonderful!! I was overwhelmed with how much love I felt. Our two friends Lisa and Johanna worked so hard for us!! Thank you for making my day so special! And Jess I was so blessed to get to celebrate our days together!

Music and Art extravaganza

Today was our music and art day at our school. It was so great. The parents were asked to arrive at 5pm to come and look at their students work then there would be a music program at 6pm. I was worried at first because parents were dropping their students off and not sticking around… and I frustrated thinking we had become babysitters. But then the parents started piling in and I was so excited. Then we heading to the hall at about 10 till 6 and we walked in the it was completely full. There was about 200 parents that came. It was very smooth and most of the kids came. It was noisy and crazy as well, but the kids had a blast and so did we!!! The pictures are from the art room. These girls in both pictures are just the sweetest ever!!

Sweet Retreat

So about a week ago I found myself getting to have this as my scenery. I know huh!! I forgot I was still in Africa. It was our annual prayer retreat. You never know you need something until it happens. For many weeks the Lord had been laying many things on my heart and asking me to give it up to Him and I was really trying to hold on. I wanted to be able to make decisions on my own. This weekend here I felt the burdened just completely lifted and such amazing peace. And I was blessed with seeing this beauty while asking for extra guidance. Thanks to all of you for always praying for me. Many days I can feel those extra prayers!

Chakakala Village

I spent three days in the village and had a wonderful time. Along with me at the village were our supervisors Mat and Janet, the two new hands on guys, Steve and Bryce, and two translators, Chifundo and Laiter. One of the pictures here is some of the kids playing peek a boo. Later they came and hung out with me. Through out the 3 days we showed the Jesus film and four videos about True love waits and Aids. Both nights we had such a wonderful turn out. The second evening I had an opportunity to share with the village. I was able to tell the people why I am here in Malawi and how I have chose to save myself until I get married. It was a great time to show the women in the village that they can do the same thing.