Simple papa love!

I love this- thought I would share it!  Dada and Luke!

Update for November

This may be a repeat for some!  Thanks for putting up with that!

Hi sweet friends and family!  Here we are on day 20 with our new baby Luke Robert!  He was born Oct 5th , 8 lbs 1 oz, 21 inches long, healthy and strong.  We are instantly in love- he is very addictive! As Analise says- "oh mama- i have the heebie jeebies"  , "why" I ask and she responds "because Luke is so cute I can't get enough of him."  It's so true- we can't get enough of him! Thank you for your prayers and love sent our way!    

We are getting very excited to head back to Malawi, Africa in about 2 months from now.  As we get back to serving at African Bible College, we will have 2 full classes- the freshman and sophmore classes to get to know.   That is over 180 students.  Each one has an amazing story and what a treat we get to hear and be apart of that.  As of now we are planning for our over 37 hour plane ride.  Oh yippee!  That will be interesting as we are adding Luke to the picture.  :) We would love your prayers in that.  As of now, we plan to leave at the end of December.  

Prayer Requests for the Month of November-

 - We have shots and paperwork to do before we head back to Africa!  One of those hurts and the other is time consuming!  That we      would get it all done.

- We are in the process of buying tickets.  God would provide the funds - as it is over $4000.00 to fly back to Malawi - so not cheap

- We are working on our visa to be missionaries in Malawi and that all will go well with that

- We would find Jesus real every day and that our family would be intentional in all that we do.

We are so thankful for-

-We have been so healthy and that we now have Luke joining us!

-We have had amazing family time and feel very refreshed

-We have seen God be faithful in so many areas of our lives!  We are growing, being challenged, and shaped daily!  

Thank you for being apart of our lives!  We are so grateful for this journey called life!  

Love- all of us - Bob, Amy, Nya, Analisey, and Luke!

P.S. I attached pictures of Luke and the girls- I took the one of Luke yesterday!  Sugar Bear!

If you would like to support us:

Please go to the following website:  https://africanbiblecolleges.net/EFT/?m=Bob_Stauffacher

or send it by mail:

African Bible College

Attn: Stauffacher Family

PO Box 103

Clinton, MS  39060

 

ABC Phone Number: 601-922-1962

A couple of videos of Luke!

He is growing so fast!  So this is for the baby lovers and grandmas!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbiApMLcqV0

Here he is working on something!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH9DmEmnos4


We are so blessed to have him!  We are waiting for his birth certificate so we can get his passport.  The next step to Africa!  We have about 74 days until we head back over there!  Thanks for loving and praying for us!
Love- the stauffy crew!

Baby Luke has arrived into the Stauffy Family...

Introducing Luke Robert Stauffacher , 8lbs 1oz, 21 inches long!  on October 5th!  2 weeks early

What a treat to share life with this little beepers.  He is a little peanut!  Thank you for all those who prayed and loved and were apart of this journey with us!  We couldn't do it without you!  

This is a grandparent video and for those who love those cute baby noises!  Love- us!

Loving the moments that I have right now...

I am so ready to be done cooking this baby boy!  What a treat to know that it is about 3 weeks away.  But today I am so reminded to enjoy these last few days that I have with my girls and by myself.  Soon I will be needed by a little helpless cute baby!  So I am deciding to love the right and now.  So funny how much I remind myself that I head to the future!  Well- we will keep you posted!  As for now I am off to finish the dishes.  That is what I got right here and now!

love- amy louise

Babies

Nya at 6 days old... She was 2 days early!

Analise at 4 days old- she was born at 35 weeks...

Baby Boy Stauffy at 35 weeks!

Amazing that Analise came out at 35 weeks and was healthy. For this baby boy stauffy we got 4 more weeks to go if all goes as planned. We are not promised anything, but we assume that we get it once it is our hands. Trusting that God for this journey. Loving (and not loving too) that I get to daily and moment by moment surrender my plans and look to His face for grace for today! Thank you for all who email me and tell me that you are praying for us. It has carried us in ways that - we won't even know! What a treasure to have amazing people like you going in the trenches for us. Love you for that! Love- all of us

Need information from you if you want to stay updated with these cute people

Hello sweet friends- As we head back to Malawi in about 3 months- I need to update our snail mail addresses. We will be sending out our new magnets and prayer info to you. If you have moved over the last 5 years, you want to confirm that I have the right address or you want to be on the list- please email me back or at amystauffacher@yahoo.com. Thanks- It will help stay in touch as we head over to Africa for another 3 years... :)

Love- Amy for the stauffy family

does this say it all?

This is not my favorite picture but I am at the feeling that "I am done" stage! This baby boy is about 5 weeks away from coming! We can't wait! I know that every pregnant mama feels the same thing at this point! I don't think I have any more space... Oh but he is going to get bigger. So we wait! :)

an Update on our little journey!

It is amazing how we live in the future- we meaning I. I got 8 weeks ish until this baby comes and 10 more weeks then off to Africa! I am planning and then organizing and doing! But really I got today! Right here - right now! What I am doing with that? Do I live in God's Grace for the right here and now? I find I am impatient with today and end up living out of my emotions wishing for the future instead of Today. Not fun when those are pregnant emotions! As we are continually humbled in this journey back to Malawi - I need to enjoy His Grace for today! These moments are what I have been given! As you can see we are still learning alot! Growth! Change and living in Grace! That is what is happening in our family!

We have settled into routine! After traveling for over 70 days over the summer it is nice to be bored! The girls have started school- Nya is in 4th and Analise is in 1st! We have settled into some apts that are for missionaries here in El Cajon, CA. They are lovely! We have started saving for plane tickets, car and future things that will be needed as we head back to African Bible College for the next 3 years. What a treat it is to know what we are going back to. When we headed the first time it was really overwhelming not knowing what was in store. But the unknown is gone and we all looking forward to returning to what is called home! Weird to say- but we have 2 places that we call home.

Please continue to pray for the health of the baby boy cooking in me (i am 32 weeks, for the girls as they get back to school, and for as we prepare to leave for Malawi, Africa- all the details will come together.

We are so thankful for those who have prayed, loved, shared a meal, lived life with us and supported us as we have been here on "home assignment". We love you for that! Love- the stauffachers- Bob, Amy, Nya, and baby boy!

The girls on their first day of school -4th and 1st grade! My sugar bears!

a cute picture of Nya and Analise when they were 4 years and 8 months old. Amazing how time flies!

quietly adjusting...

When our trip came to an end- we have been tremendously blessed to have a place to stay and friends to connect with. When we left San Diego for our trip- we had moved out of our house because we had it rented out before we knew that we were pregnant and were headed to Africa. (well- I not we are pregnant :) ) So we have settled into some missionary housing that is located really close to our lives here. It has been amazing. Easy to settle into. Our stuff now is in storage and the place we live now is furnished. It is really perfect for us. Thank you for praying for us as we traveled and settled into a bit of routine. The girls start school next Monday and am thankful for familiarity. They will go to the same school they went to last year and then in January will start school in Africa. :) They are sooo excited to go back to Africa, but I know it will be different than they left and there will be some adjustment time when they return.

10 more weeks until this baby boy is born ( still working on a name). It seems so fast and yet that is a bit a ways away. He is healthy and perfect size as I went to the doctor yesterday. I am still scheduled to have a C-section in mid Oct due to some complications. But I am so glad we are staying here to deliver with a doctor that delivered Analise. I can't believe that I am 30 weeks. The below picture was taken at 29 weeks with a friend at a wedding. ( so you can see that I am really pregnant. :) ) Thank you again for all your love and prayers! It has carried us in so many ways, we have seen God provide above and beyond through everyday life!

lots of love- the stauffy family!

almost 10,000 miles...

Hello from off the road - We did almost 10,000 miles ( i think it was 9863 ish) for about 69 days- We slept in 35 different beds- i tried to count... :) We got to see many sweet people and sadly missed some sweet people. I will post some pictures as soon as I can see straight! We have one week before the girls start school. We then start preparing for the that cute baby boy in Oct and moving to Malawi- 4 months flies by. We are excited to enjoy this scrumptious land called San Diego and the time we have here until we leave!

Lots of love- Amy Louise

on the road still!

It has been a wow all around! As soon as we stop we are either in bed or visiting with people! What a treat right! Going to sleep or visiting! Both great options! Just a small update that we are doing great and enjoying this time we have together! We have been stretched as we are all together all the time. We get to see our true colors! Sometimes they are so pretty and sometimes they are not so much! Only by His Grace that we get past our stuff and move on! :) Will connect again!

love- the stauffy family!

life on the road...

One place to another! Seeing friends and enjoying every minute it. Eating different foods and smelling different smells! Internet working at some places- others not. Getting crabby and working it through! Life to the fullest on the road... Will update when I have a moment longer than blink of eye!

the stauffachers!

Traveling...

We are getting some serious family time as we travel! Bonding and fun family memories are being created! We are so blessed to been given this time together.

We are in the middle of Texas today! On our way to Dallas- Yesterday we drove 4 hours with every gas station abandoned! Hmmm times have changed... Crazy how big and vast and sometimes desolate is our country is. When you live in the city - we forget about the big land called country! We have seen things that have blown us away! This land is so diverse with it's landscape and people! As we continue towards the south ( we have never been past texas) We will continue to see how big this country is! Will keep you updated with pictures and updates as we go! Thank you for prayers and love! Lots of love- Bob, Amy, Nya and Analise and little boy cooking in my tummy!

The latest happenings...

For those who did not get the email - if you want email updates respond my email address on the side!

---

Hello sweet friends and family! Well- We are moving out of our house this week! We are full of mixed emotions, especially with me being a pregnant mama (all hormones) and having 2 little girls who like to verbally process everything! We have loved living in our old house for this past year! It has made it easy for us to transition from life in Africa to life in America. The girls have loved it too. They remembered this house as being our home before moving to Malawi - Africa!

What is next for the Stauffy family...A road trip for about 2 months (visiting supporters). We will then move into "missionary housing" starting August 1. What a treat though to travel throughout the US and to see a lot of our friends and family. When we move into the missionary housing in Aug., we will then live there for 4 months until this little baby boy (he is due Oct 20thish) is born. Then, in December, we head back to Africa for three more years! Analise is counting down the days until we move back HOME to Africa!

It has been a humbling year as we have been able to see God provide so much. Our family has been able to grow closer together and also reconnect with many of our friends and family members. We have been able to share what life is like in Malawi with many people, even those who think Africa is so scary (especially after sharing our spider stories with them)!

Please continue to pray as we travel to see our supporters and friends and family! What fun it will be to hang out with old friends all across America!

We will still have email access and facebook connection- So please connect with us! Thank you for loving, praying and supporting us as we are in the next phase of our journey...

Love- Bob, Amy, Nya, Analise and this cute baby boy that is cooking inside me..

trust

Learning to trust- It is huge. Knowing that even if it doesn't make sense- We can trust that His story is a way better story than our story that we have figured out. This is what I am learning and really choosing daily to live my life by. Daily trust is teaching me about my daily thing about giving up my control of what I think is best. In my little world- it is all about me! And really in the scheme of things - It is all about Him. Oh that little thing called control and pride and so forth are my daily journey of surrender.

This last months have been a deep learning to trust story. We were planned to leave in July for Malawi - Africa - to continue serving at African Bible College as we have been for the last 4 years. I found out I was pregnant one day after we had rented out our house. hmmm. This is what we have praying for and deeply craving for years- But when I got pregnant- It wasn't planned (according to my schedule) and I literally had given up on trusting that another little stauffy was apart of our journey! I had told the Lord- whatever- I trust You know what is best- But I am so over "trying to get pregnant" And then there it was a positive baby test- WOW! Trusting that this baby is what is in the story. Many of you know that I am not the best baby carrier! I have had 4 miscarriages and lost our son at 9 months, barely carried Analise to the end and really why are we doing this again? I get super sick and my toilet has been my best friend for the last 2 months! (sorry to my friends that are people) Trust- Knowing His Story is way better than my story. So we are trusting that, as we are ready to be back in Malawi serving but that this cute little beepers is the story that God has for us and we are really excited for that. So we wait until this cute little chicken is cooked and ready to come. And trust that when it is time to move back to Africa- It is His time!

TRUST- He knows the plan and really has got it figured out. Even we can't see the whole story. We are such controlling people and really really think we know what is best. We live selfishly and consume our time and energy on us. I am guilty of it and as I surrender to trusting in Him that it takes the focus and puts it back on Him.

I want to say thank you for your love, encouragement and support of us! I know it has been forever since I have posted a blog- But really when you are nausea - it is no fun to type. I didn't have many deep thoughts lately anyways- so I was quiet. except for throwing up! And those were deep! TMI :)

An update on our girl Tina ( who we adopted from Malawi ) who is living in Spokane working on her MBA! She is doing amazing. My parents and her came for visit this last month. Well- they visited me in my bed... But she is doing great in her studies and has been learning and culturally adjusting quite well. She is an amazing student and really has done well with all her classes! if anyone wants to read her update just email me.

Well- I will connect again- Thanks for being apart of our story! Love- amy louise

I miss this too...

This is video of the daily chapel that happens at the college. Love that singing. It does something to your soul for some reason...

I miss this...

That is the most amazing sound...

This video was taken from my front porch as I can even smell it.

the comparing journey

It is a funny journey this thing called life. I find myself in countdown mode these days and all that- that entails. Preparing to rent the house, getting the extra things that are needed or wanted and so forth. But it is funny how I have still time to compare myself to the next person, get hung up on on it and get stuck.

This word "missionary" was a big word for me to swallow for a long time, but once I finally accepted it - then what I found myself doing- was comparing myself to the "real missionaries" -you know the ones who go out into the jungles and pave the way to share the gospel to tribes that haven't even heard of it. That comparing has lead me to call myself a "fake missionary" - I subconsciously had accepted that I wasn't doing a enough. For me- having a washer and dryer and car was faking it. Not being in the jungles was faking it. But as I was sharing with a friend that I hadn't spoken to for a while sharing what we do, I said the "fake missionary" words and quickly continued on in my story. She stopped me and said - "you are not faking it. You are going to Africa - that is pretty real" Hmmm. That made me realize that I was putting myself in the place of not doing enough. Saying what God has me doing was not enough and I needed more to feel like I was doing something. What I really was doing was short changing what God had called me to and held myself back from experiencing the real joy of what He had given me to be doing. I stink in myself but for some reason I think I should be doing more. But He knows that I can handle what He has given me, not what I think. It is a "duh" But I see that I still have a lot to learn.

This lesson has not only been applied to that area in my life but also in many other areas of my life. I see how I do this comparision thing in my mamahood, my wifehood, my following Jesus hood, and my friendshiphood. It really is not fun to see my yuckyness come out when a spotlight is on my flesh. So here I stand- all my yuckyness laid out. But here is where I get grow and change. I have a choice. A choice to stay and compare or move forward and enjoy what He has given me to do. And really, isn't that what He wants from me anyways. Ok - so I want to grow and change and stop comparing. Baby steps to change. That is my prayer today.
So here is to growing and changing...Nya took this picture of me as we were at a park the other day...

Doctors needed at the Clinic....

This is a letter from our ABC director at ABC...

Greetings from Malawi. We need help at our hospital this summer. We’re looking for Doctors to fill in for the months of June, July & August.

Our clinic sees roughly 3, 000 patients a month - - most are seen by our three Malawian P.A.’s, but we also have two missionary physicians who see patients. Both are mothers who have kids enrolled at our academy and would like time off during the summer. If you know anyone who might be willing to come out for 3-6 weeks any time this summer it would help meet a huge need.

We have housing available here on the ABC campus. We also make a vehicle available to visiting Doctors.

It would be a great trip for a whole family. Our ABC students and graduates are involved in ministries all around Lilongwe & surrounding villages.

Below is our brochure on our clinic at ABC. If you know any doctors or medical staff that is willing come and have a life changing experience in Malawi, Africa. The clinic could sure use the help.

For more information email me- amystauffacher@yahoo.com

ABC CLINIC