I want you to know... This is gross...

Everyday I think of something to blog about and by the time I get home from where ever I was -I forget to write it down. Daily I see things that are amazing, confusing, weird and WOW they have that here too.

To begin with - the fires that some how never become wildfires. We are from California and if I saw a fire I would drive the other way and you know it is going to burn down a whole lot of things. But here they have fires just burning. No fire department, nobody putting it out. Usually people adding to the burning fire.

I have been craving raisinets (just a candy) I found some! Well they are somewhat similar. Similar is close enough for me these days. I thought today! wow they have that here!

But in light of that! it is a dumb craving compared to... Daily as I drive my car I am faced with beggars, not just your downtown homeless people ( even though they would be considered beggars). But the real poverty of the world here. It is a huge undertaking just traveling and knowing that I am going to have to say no about 20 times before I get back home from the store. Sometimes I give money and then other times I just can't give enough away. Mothers carrying children, 6 year kids asking for money, a vendor telling me I need a mop, tomatoes, strawberrys, DVDs, fake watches and anything I might need for my little life, and children who are crippled and the man on his knees because he had polio when he was young. The balance is in between heartache and then justifying why I can't give to every one. Learning to bless and learning to teach not just to depend on a handout from me.

Watching the women carry a huge bundle on their head for firewood along with a baby on their back and something in their hands. Seeing them wave at me as I pass them in my car. Ohhh Words don't even come close how I feel.

As I drive I dodge goats, people, bad bad bad drivers and watching Africa with African music in my car. Daily, I have conversations with people from every walk of life. Whether it is the students here at the college, teachers at the Academy, going into the clinic, talking with Nya's classmates mom, or seeing someone at the store or just talking with anyone I meet! I am talking to the World here.

Like today, I had my college girls Bible study, Many grew up in local villages here in Malawi, others have grown up in the city and have seen more movies then i have ever seen. I went to the store and ran into some local workers at the store - I greet them and see how their family is. How is life for them. Any stories they may have, I then see a couple of people I know, they are from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Denmark, Korea and England. Then I go to the school and chat with some ladies that are from Lebanon and India and China. I see a friend and she is from New Zealand and talk about our friend about a from Canada Wow! That is just half way through my day. Anyways just some thoughts that i think about.

But one of the oddest things I have seen is this.... The first day that we got here off the airplane - they were selling them on the corner of our road. What and people buy and eat these things. Yes they do and love them! Rats on Stick. Here is a picture of our neighbor who bought them. Sam (who is Nya's class) is showing how it is done..

Yes those are toenails and teeth people eat. YUCK!

Anyways- just random thoughts from Malawi... Lots of love- amy louise

WOW God had fun when he made Malawi...

God is amazing in what he can do with land... Malawi - It is beautiful from the lake to the mountains. This last weekend We headed away for a break to Zomba! That is a great name. it is about 4 hours south of us. We stayed at a cottage on the mountain. The hikes, the views the monkeys and fun we had and saw! What a beautiful place....

On our way to the mountains.

Here we are at a fish hatchery. A man from Japan put it up in the mountains...

The girls before the hike with trees planted in the 1930's by the Japanese

Daddy and his girlies...

HMMM Yummy water!

Mommy and her girlies!

Getting a little bit tired!

A lake up in the mountain! The man was selling crytals! Who knew they had them in this mountain!

Ok we are really tired by now! But what a beautiful end to the day!

The side of the mountains

It was such a restful and refreshing break for all of us! We went with our friend Pam from Ireland. She works with ABC students as a Navigator. She is such a fun person to vacation with!Love you all and chat with you again! love amy louise

Life in africa....

Here is Nya and Kene and Analise making crazy faces. This girlie right here is one our favorite friends! The girls can't get enough of her!

It is amazing how time flies by and then somedays it pokes on by. We are busy in just life here. We have been having about 15 students over every other wednesday along with the single teachers on campus. So that usually adds up to about 20ish or more people on those nights. It is so fun to hear the chatting that is going on. One night we had only girls and bob and josh (another friend) It was so fun to have about 20 women chatting at the same time. Here are some pictures of that night. We usually do tacos because it is so easy to have a lot of and fun to share our favorite food. The comments of last nights dinner was "Fanatastic" "best food ever have had" "wonderful" "who knew that these little things could fill me up".

Bob has been taking his outreach team out to the village every thursday afternoon. He says it has been so impacting. I meant to give him the camera today so you could see them in work but I forgot. But they have about 8 students that go and disciple 3 to 4 familes and get them founded on God's truth. Bob and another student have been meeting the ladies at the water well pump and chatting and answering questions for about 20 or more of them. They just sit and listen and soak it all up. It has been amazing Bob has said. This picture below is the team in the car. I tried to get them to pose outside but they were in a rush. So this is an out on the hood picture.

So just keeping you in the Africa loop. Thank you all for love, support, packages, emails, and prayers. We couldn't be here without you. Love- Amy louise