What a journey...

The blog has been silent due to a whirlwind nightmare that began about 2 weeks ago... Feb 19th. Nya began with getting sick with a fever and throwing up. She began to dehydrate quickly. She was put here at ABC Clinic and put on a drip for malaria and antibiotics. It wasn't confirmed that she had malaria. But it was best to treat her if we could. The 2 doctors that were on Campus came and checked on her regularly. She continued to have kidney issues. It seemed to get better and then at 4 am on Thursday we had more throwing up and fever. So we decided in her condition that was not good she really needed to Medically Evacuated to South Africa. We were able to get same day tickets and were sent down south. It is about a 2 1/2 hour plane flight. She continued to throw up on the way down. We arrived in the Johannesburg airport , rented a car and drove to the Hospital and she was admitted that night. She was severely dehydrated and we were put in the pediatric ward for 7 days. She finally got better by the 6th day after been tested negative for everything under the sun and was released. Seriously due to major prayer warriors we have a healthy bouncing 6 almost 7 year old. They never found anything wrong. It is a mystery. So we are just thankful to be this side of it. That was a nightmare, but God was gracious to carry us through and we are so thankful to be back in Malawi living the simple life. The students at the college have come by continually so excited to have us back. We learned that we are apart of a big big family here and in the states. Nya was sad to leave South Africa because all she experienced was the hospital while Analise and I "had fun" ! But she came back here and was so excited to come and see her friends at school. We waited until the end of the day to go say hi. Below is the reception that she had... Truly loved and missed..... Here is a typical African tea party. Jordan Hulley , Analisey and Nya yesterday were loving life as I served tea to them. This is Nya's new buddy. They are are in the same class as you can see in the group shot... She was born in Zimbabwe, but her parents were kicked off their farm at gunpoint when this whole crisis with Mugabe began and they moved to Zambia. Due to lack of work, they have moved here to Malawi. These girls are 2 peas in a pod. It is so sweet to see them play all so great (even with a little Sister who ruins things)

So our the life marches on. We are back to being busy with students and teaching and pouring out our little lives here. We are so thankful for all your love and support as we had this going on. We really felt like God's arms were carrying us through. Please continue to pray for strength as we continue on. thank you again and so sorry it has been so long since I posted. I will definetly do more as we are back in malawi! love - amy louise

just in busyland...

Hi! We are just in life right now full on schedule of teaching and connecting. We have had such a busy last year we decided to just have a quiet month. Well- at least in the evenings. Nya has needed some one and one time with us to hang with just family and also get some quality in practicing reading. So here are some couple snaps of life... Below is some of the junior college students hanging out before class.

Nya holding a hedgehog that she caught. Bad picture of her but she wanted to show it.

Some of my ladies in my bible study that I teach. We are working through some videos and discussing them. So good to be stretched.

Here is Bob's high school Bible class. Students are studying Case for Faith and they say they are loving it. These students are from America, Canada, Taiwan, Egypt, Portugal, Zimbabwe, Germany, south Korea. It was valentines day at the school then! Hence the rose in one of the boy's mouth.

So i want to look at my friends blog if you have chance. She always is thinking the same way I do about life here. She is great at pictures and capturing life here in Malawi.

http://robbinsabroad.blogspot.com

She captured some of the main pictures that I wanted to get for you about the harvest of maize here. And the greenery of the rain.

Well- enjoy the blog and will update again. Amy Louise

Living a little bit of life with a whole lot of perspective...

At least 4 times a day I think of something that I should write about. The way life is here in daily life in Africa, how we are all the same but just a bit different, why does the world not just do everything the same, why Target is only in America and things of those nature. I think oh that would be great to write about and then about 15 minutes later I forget.

But one thing that keeps on coming back that I should write about is living in perspective. Right now I live in the perspective of hopefully coming back to visit San Diego and Spokane and all the in between places in about 4 months. Seriously after almost 2 years - Home has become a huge fantasy. I can just feel home in my brain, I can smell, I can taste it - oh need it and I so miss it. We need come home and see family and friends. Also for Nya and Analise to see grandparents and cousins and aunt and uncles and feel connected to our friends too.

But as I live here daily with those Home sensors always on... I can handle the no electricity, the leaking roof due to too much rain, being exposed to so much poverty that I can't help it all... and I can handle the small things that add up when you are not in your home country with the perspective that Home is close. When things are different than you are used to and you have to live everyday life in it you find yourself questioning everything? Why does blah, why does blah... It doesn't help you but you get a little bit more aggravated about it and you think you have the better way of handling it. But with the perspective that I am going home in a few months, I find myself going why ask why?... it is amazing with that perspective that i have patience for things that I didn't have earlier. With my eyes on the goal, (America) I can put up with the things that exhaust a foreigner. But i find myself living in the future than just rooting in and digging in the right here right now! I remind myself - right here - right now!

But funny when I think about this - it is deeper than just me. It is about me - looking forward to home- but really it should be me looking forward to Heaven my real home. It really is the same thing. My eyes are on the prize (Paul wrote about that in the bible) with Heaven being the prize.

It is different when an immigrant comes to a new land to make it home- really there is no looking back, there is just the promise of a new thing, a home that will be in home in that foreign land. But for me I always have the promise of the coming back to my home land as a missionary when I live in a foreign land, it is just the when am I coming back.

With that I need to be living with that same way - whose hope is in Heaven. And as a person who lives in the Shadow of eternity - the little things shouldn't bother me, shouldn't add up and wear on me. They do of course ( I haven't arrived at perfection) , but I still need to live in the here and now but with perspective of heaven right around the corner.

Anyways- just wanted to share deep thoughts with you... Lots of love- amy louise

Just need prayer....

Hi- yesterday we got a call that Bob's grandpa had passed away. Please be praying for his family as they process this loss. It is always hard to be away as these things happen. Bob's parents did get to say good bye so at least that happened. It was Bob's dad's dad.

Thanks- amy louise

Happy New Year! It has been a long time...

Wow it is amazing how a month flies by and then I realize I haven't blogged. We were in CapeTown. We had a great time. It is amazing to see God's amazing beauty all around the world. Captivating. We came back with things up and going. Bob is preparing for his classes next week. He will be teaching... a Bibleology class ( an apologetics class - to understand the Bible and how it is put together), 1 and 2 Corinthians, and Christian Education for Adults. Also still teaching at the high school the bible class. I will continue on teaching the College Senior Bible Study class.

Between Bob teaching classes and me with xray and teaching we are able to make a small dent here in Malawi. Some days I wish I could change the world. I wish I make it a better place for all. I wish I could give it all away and it would be enough. But one person or even 2 people can make a small difference and that is why we are here to help educate and advance people's lives. Without education, things only stay the same and people live in 3rd world poverty. It is always a pleasure to be able to give our skills away.( Thank you to those who make it possible for us to be here and do that!)


Things that are planned to happen this next couple of months besides regular life...
-Bob is taking 7 students up to Tanzania working with a local church in Arusha. Teaching students to look and see that the world is a huge place where lives can be changed.
-Work in a Dzuwa village that we are friends with the people that work there, helping show Jesus film and outreach.
-Help with the local village that we have been doing outreach with students
-Work with babies at a Local orphanage
-Continue to disciple and encourage the students on the this campus!
-Hopefully be able to come to the States in early June for 2 months! That is really exciting for us since we will have been gone for almost 2 YEARS! We miss our family and friends!

Thanks for praying and encouraging us as we are here in Malawi! I will post pictures soon! Amy Louise

A Christmas Party...

We just came back from the Amassador's House for the American Embassy Holiday party! I know it sounds official but it is really just simple fun. Food, caroling and seeing Santa! Here is a couple of pictures!

Lots of love- amy louise

The journey of motherhood...

I am such a proud mama of my girls but here is a day I am so proud of my cute daughter Nya. They had a swimming competition for the entire school and she had to swim in a relay... So here Nya is getting ready to dive in and swim! They won and were so proud of themselves. My friend captured this on her amazing camera!

You know as the days that Nya and Analise get older the journey of motherhood grows deeper. I love these deep moments. Nya was so nervous to swim but has now caught the passion to be a swimmer. We will see how Nya does in the years to come. I never knew that swimming is a big part of the community here.

Speaking of water and swimming. We were out of water for about 2 1/2 days. Thank you for praying! It is amazing how much you need water for everyday life. We are thankful for the simple things! Lots of love- amy louise

We need water...

We love water don't we. The world needs it and so do we. Well -we really would appreciate some prayer over here. The people that run the water for the city decided to go on strike and turned off all the water for the entire city including us. We have reserve tanks but that will not last for long. This has never happened before here so hopefully they will sort it out soon. But in the mean time alot of people suffer due to this. They say it could last for at least 5 days or probably more! I would appreciate some prayers for that. We really live in Africa! Thank you in advance! love- amy louise on behalf of the city Lilongwe

So below are some videos of the Christmas Program...

So the first video is of the dance recital. There was a girl that helped bring analise back to back at the end. She was sick so Analise at the end was left out in front. It was priceless! Also in the other video is Analise winging it. She didn't know the song and didn't know the hand motions. So cute!

the christmas dance recital

Nya and Analise ringing those Bells...

I am in Africa...

So the other day, I am driving down the road trying to tune something in the radio. As I scanned the stations I was looking for something familar. Many times I come across a old doo wop song from the 50's they are playing, or Phil Collins or any American song comes on and you are just asking your self "where do I live that they are playing that song all the way over here?" I guess I never imagined I would be here listening to anything familar. One day i was driving and on came "Lion King music you know the Circle of Life song" So I just felt, wow! how many times have I heard that music and imagined Africa. Now I am in Africa, listenting to it.
Anyways- as I was searching for something familar. I came to a fun Malawian station that made me remember that I am in Africa. I sometimes crave for familarity that I want Africa to be like home (America) But if Africa was America then it would not be Africa. Oh but my story continued as I had to go to 3 stores to find an ingredient for a dinner I was making. This is me thinking "Why do I have to go to 3 stores to accomplish something simple. If I was in America (oh America) I would only have go to one store" But then I reminded myself I would not be in Africa! Oh man I go through such journeys of life here - don't I?

I think one thing that we (at least me) can't do is get away from is our culture, Our culture is American over here in Africa. Maybe even white American. But American through and through. The way we live life is American and what our culture exposed to us since we are born is American. We will never be African. We will try and live like Africans, eat like Africans, talk like Africans and live over here forever we will still never be Africans, But as the years go on it is easier to live like Africans, easier to eat like Africans, and easier even talk like Africans. So one day we can become American -Africans but I understand we will never be anything but American. But the journey is so much deeper than American or African - The culture that transends all this is my relationship with Christ. So I think I need to be calling my self to be politically correct, "Christian Euro-American African" as it get easier to live, eat and talk African. (Malawian really)

Deep! I know but as I teach my class of senior women, I am learning about so many things that disturb me about cultural traditions here, the way children are abused, how women are treated because of culture, how men treat families and how the women do things to themselves because culturally that is what is expected of them. Some christian women do things that don't line up with Christ. Like sleeping with Pastors because they will forgiven of sins if they do.
Don't get me wrong, I believe American culture has many major problems too. It is just overwhelming when you are exposed to a whole new reality check of a new culture and there is not much you can do because you don't belong to that culture. Remember I will never be African. But as I prayed for days for insight on this story that I carried - I felt so burdened - how do I change culture that is not Christ like. But I so appreciated the Lord saying to me. Duh! you can't only I can! Oh thanks for that reminder! Dumb me thinking I could do it again by myself. There I go again, trying to change the world by myself. The verse I felt that He gave me to share with these women was this -

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

and 2 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.


Ahh! I am free to be any culture I want be on this earth but as a daughter of Christ - I am and will always be first a christian then my earthly culture will come....

"Christian- English-Swedish and all different types of european cultures-American-girl who is living in Africa"
"sold out and serving Jesus daily- Euro- American- African"
"a really yucky person who sees how much Christ has transformed and continues to transform me from the inside out Euro- American living in Africa who sometimes misses living in America"

Ok so that is enough of my blahhing to you all! Serving Him on this planet called earth- amy louise

The dancing girls....

So last night was the Christmas program here at ABC. The girls sang songs and did a dance to "what Child is this." So cute.

Show me your ballerina arms. That is what they did...

Here is about 200 hundred of the 300 kids in the program. Amazing job they did.

Analise had to sit with the big kids because she was in the dance. So she hung with her favorites. Megan has been here the same time we have. We all love her. Here is when I was trying to get the girls attention. Girls look at me and smile. Girls, Girls! This was the response. major distraction... I was too.

Some one said let me take of picture of you two! So here we are!

The parent section! Loved being apart of that crowd and not on the other side. Nya said she was so nervous and Analise it didn't even faze her.

Here they are waiting patiently. As you can see Megan in the background. Analise was in her lap most of the 2 hours.

So I am going to put on videos of the dance and songs. Now Analise in the dance was so cute when the song ended she forgot what to do and so she just stood there. Also she knew none of the songs and she did a great job of winging it. I love it! Well I just wanted to let you in on last night. Today was the last day of school for 4 weeks. We love the long vacations! We will be refreshing not having to be up and dressed by 7am.
We love you all! love amy louise

Girls Night Out...

So 3 teachers and I took out 11 high schoolers out to dinner. It was just simple fun. Get dressed up and hang out.
Here are the girls...


teenagers are still the same every where... Cute girls...

Here the teachers... we are Me, Annie Williams, Bethany Robbins and Marley Evans.

It was just fun to go out and have fun together. Tonight is the Christmas Program. Analise and Nya are doing their ballet performance. Cute pictures promised soon. Amy Louise

The deer...

She is all grown up. She is about a year old now. She only lets the girls touch her....

Analise looks beautiful there.

Love you all- amy louise

Some things that have been happening around here...

Christmas Decorating happened on December 1st. Here is Nya and Analise ( as you can see we are freezing our tails off over here) :) and Tina in the pink and and Mafunase in the blue came for the fun. After we decorated we were so hot we took them swimming. It was such a fun memory to decorate and swim within 2 hours.

Love this picture of Analise!

Here is my Senior College Bible Study. It is Finals week and boy let me tell you about my final. Bake a Cake and watch a Christmas movie as the cakes baked...

Here they are watching Elf! Such a true christmas classic It was fun to see their reactions to the americanese of it. The ladies loved it and they all passed. I am one tough teacher I know!

Here is the World Religions class getting ready to go to the Hindu temple. As they sat in my living room waiting for the bus to arrive discussing the excitement of what was in store for them. So fun to be apart of.

My friend that lost her husband went back to the states today. So thank you for all your prayers for them. Well- lots of love and chat with you soon. Amy Louise

The deepest ache...

This last week a missionary friend of mine lost her husband in a tragic car accident. They are our age with 3 little girls. He was dropping off food for some pastors on a road we have traveled many times. As he was coming to a trading center (a small town) and a car lost control while speeding and killed him instantly. Ugh! So please pray for her. Here is a picture of their family blog... http://www.teamwithafrica.org/ I couldn't sleep the first night that I heard it. It was too raw. Too close to home and so overwhelming to understand why. They came the same time we came last year and have gone through the same journey we here. They were teaching at a bible college and just loving on Malawians (doing what we are doing). it has been very intense this week. Then my other friend here just lost her baby at 8 months pregnent. A baby boy. Ugh! Death so real and so raw. So please pray for her and her husband. Their names are Nick and Rudo.
So please pray for us as we have been loving, praying and being a support to our friends as they search to find God real during this time. Love- amy louise

Nya in class with Mrs. Tricks

Nya's Class!

Yesterday was International Day at Nya's school. This is when the students dress up in ethic clothes ( is that politcally correct? oh well! You know what I mean! ) and bring food from their home country. There are about 30 different countries represented here at the academy. Lilongwe is a very international community. Who knew that. I sure didn't before I came! So here below is some cute pictures of that day and I also put a video on with Nya with Mrs. Tricks! Her husband is doing great and now we get to have her back! Enjoy!

Pauline, from Malawi, Nya from america, Nikki from Phillipines, and Myra from Zimbabwe

Here is the class listening to a story! Wow! they are cute!

We sure have a lot to be thankful this holiday season. We love you all! Love the Stauffacher family

Happy Thanksgiving...

So hello from Malawi. We are celebrating Thanksgiving here with our friends here. I found a ham and am making scalloped potatoes with greenbeans. Sound great to me. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your friends and family.

Here is some pictures of Bob's class that went to the Islamic temple here in Malawi. This has never been done so it was amazing experience for both sides. The Muslims here said that never has any Christian organization come to them in peace anThe Muslims talked about their faith and the students in the class were able to ask questions.

So here they are at the Temple.

The outside of the temple

This is where they wash their hands and feet. Cleaniness is apart of the Koran

The inside of the temple. It is very plain and they say it is that way so they are only focused on Allah!

Here is the Class in session. I like seeing Bob in the middle of all that. The world religions class will visit a Hindu temple this Monday. It is one thing to hear and read but to be apart and really talk with other people's religion takes it to a deeper level! Keep praying that we will impact the students and help transform their lives!
We love you all- Thank you for praying for us! We are doing great here because your love, emails, packages, prayers and support of us! Love- all of us!