Loving on people....

We live in Malawi where it is known as the poorest country in Africa. Some days, it is so overwhelming to see the poverty and I just wish I could fix it all ...  I remember when I come back to reality that I can't change the whole world but I can help people one by one.  With that perspective - both Bob and I love to help people that come across our paths. Helping people can be in many different forms- in discipleship, financially or just being friends and praying for each other. Daily, there is usually a need that needs to be met. Here is one example of God bringing someone in need across our paths.

David and Luke

David Banda has 4 children by his childhood sweetheart.  They met in their home village and quickly married when they were 18.  He was unable to finish school past 5th grade due to his parents being poor and he had to find work as a young boy.  He has worked as a gardener his whole life.  He was able to find work off and on through out the years. This last year he was out of work and his wife died of a heart attack.   His oldest is 16 and youngest is 2 years.  He had to send his middle children away as he had to find work and could not pay to feed them or care for them. This last week he came and told us that his 9-year old was sick and had been for the last 2 weeks and since she didn't live with him, he didn't know.  He got a call that she was sick and asked if he could take her to our hospital here and if we could help.  We said of course.  She ended up having malaria and if had waited a couple more days would have been dead. She is all better now after finishing her medication.  What a treat to be apart of their story, he has found work with us and we are able to help provide and care for his family.  He has been able to have his 2 middle children move back home so he can provide and care for them.  He is so happy.  He brought his kids to meet us and I didn't want to get a picture of them the first time I met them, but I will as we go to his house this next week. 

This is one of the many stories we get to be involved with.  We feel it is an honor to love and care on people, as God has brought many people across our paths to love and care on us!  Please pray for us, as we would continue to love and care for others as He has done so amazingly for us!

Update!

Sorry if it is a repeat to some of you...

Hello! Amazing how time has slipped out of my hands.  I am so sorry that I didn't update you last month. It was a full month of classes, everyday life that includes lots of people and visitors.

 

• ·      We had Tina come and visit for 3 weeks.  It was amazing to see her process Malawi (her home) with a new worldview perspective.  She was able to get her 5-year school visa and continue on her journey working towards her MBA!  
• ·      It was so also great to share what we do here with our friend and missions pastor - Mark!  He was able to teach here at the college and the visit the village ministries that we are involved with.  
• ·      We also have some good friends from Ireland visiting this week, which were missionaries here in Malawi while we here before.  It is fabulous to share life again with them
• ·      I have been very busy with a baby boy who has an empty left leg (he eats continually!) As soon as I want to sit and write - he is hungry.   He is now in 12-month clothes and is only 6 months! He is already getting 2 teeth! He is going to be such a tall boy!  He has come alive over these last few months!  The girls adore him and are in competition to see who can make him laugh!
• 
  

Malawi has gone through a major political change over this last week.  Our previous president was quickly becoming a dictator over the last few years. 

Read this for more information : President Bingu  

Over 3 weeks ago- he stated that he could be president forever. Hmmm.  Well- God had different plans.  He died on April 5th from a heart attack.  The vice president took over and is doing great. She has declared that her government will be corrupt free!  This country has been worn out from lack of fuel - there was nothing for 2 weeks! Lack of sugar - People stood in line for at least 4 -5 hours to get one package of sugar, lack of medicines in the hospital - people can't get simple treatment for sicknesses, lack of power- people that are sick on ventilators die- no electricity to run it and no gas for the back generator. At the same time there has been amazing stories that have shown God's faithfulness! 

 

How you can pray for the Stauffacher Family this month:

• ·      As classes continue here at the college, that we would be intentional with our students
• ·      Bob is working on the Masters of Divinity classes that will start in the fall.
• ·      Amy is teaching a bible class the College Senior Girls and helping in the clinic after hour emergencies for x-rays and being mama to many.
• ·      Nya is finishing up 4^th grade, Analise is finishing 1^st grade, Luke is passing 6 months  - They would enjoy life and continue to find Jesus real!
• ·      Life in Malawi is changing - that we would continue trust in the King of the universe.
• ·      Bob and Amy are doing a marriage DVD small group called Love and Respect and have gleaned richly from it.  Pray that we would be able to apply the knowledge we have learned to our silly arguments and our lives would be transformed daily!
• ·      We would find Jesus as our strength and our source of peace during times of change!

Thank you for loving, praying and supporting us as we serve Jesus here in Malawi, Africa.  We want to impact those who God has called us to love and challenge!  It is in the everyday life moments - is where we are to be accountable.

 

Love the Stauffachers!

Lessons learned...

As I sit here for a moment - while Luke is sleeping and in 30 minutes my senior girls are coming over - in between moments- I find that I wish I could share with you what living in Africa has done for our family! There are so many deep lessons that are taught when we get out of our comfort zone!   I am reminded - it is about what God is doing in us!  He stretches and shapes us to continually to make us more like Him.  Some days it is utterly exhausting and other days it is deeply amazing to see the areas where we learning and growing!  So while my moment is slipping away - my lesson learned is this-  

The grass is not greener on the other side.  Tina just recently came back for a 3-week visit to renew her visa.  She was craving home.  She was craving her Malawian culture and all that is included with that.  She needed her food, family, and friends.  She came here excited and so glad to be back.  But as the weeks continued she quickly realized that it is not what she had imagined.  It wasn't bad - it was just different.  Her perspective had changed, as does anyone who lives outside his or her home country.    She realized, that now she needs to call home and plug in, wherever she may be in the world.  Not to think - if I was here or there -I would be happier - But I will be happy where I am.

My moment of clarity came when I was back in the states- sitting on my front porch and after having an amazing Dr Pepper Big Gulp. (I can just taste it)  I had everything I thought that would make me happy.  Cozy food, cozy family, cozy house and cozy friends.  But I was sooooo crabby for no reason.  Unthankful and crabby!  I was talking with Bob about it and realized it's not Africa that makes life hard sometimes (this is was about a month after coming back from Malawi).  It's not the things that I don't have while I am in Africa or when things get uncomfortable.  It is just me!  Me!  I am stuck with my responses and me. So when I find myself getting crabby these days- I am choosing to find things to be grateful for.  It changes my perspective.  It makes me realize that I am wasting my precious energy on my yuck and my bad attitude.  I can tell you that it is not always this easy to do.  But that is what I am doing to grow and change!  Keeping things in perspective.  The grass is not greener on the other side!  I just need to fertilize the grass I have been given!

An answer of prayer...

Amazing!  Things were so quiet and smooth this Easter holiday as our current president died on Thursday and by Saturday night we had a new president.  There were fireworks and excitement from many of Malawians that we spoke with!  This country has been exhausted from lack of sugar, lack of power and lack of fuel.  The people are ready for a change and to feel like there is hope!
Please continue to pray for the land we love and as there is a huge transition process!

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/04/new-president-malawi-second-woman-head-of-state-africa/

Thank you for praying!

Please be praying for this land we are calling home!

The president has died unexpectedly and please be praying! Please click on this below to see what i am talking about -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17636393

Something that is as simple as sugar- is not a simple thing!

Today was a reminder that we live in very strange times here Malawi. Along with no gas - we have a quarter of a tank and don't see a fill up anytime soon- there has been a sugar shortage. Sugar is a staple here in Malawi ( ok a staple everywhere- can u imagine life with no sugar? ). Most Malawians have tea with sugar at least one time a day and more if they got it! I went shopping for food today and this was the line for sugar! Just for sugar! There were lines like this at 2 other stores and in most stores there was no sugar at all. Hard for my mind to wrap my mind around.

Life today!

The whole gang is back together!  Analisey, Shonduri, Nya,  Tina,  Luka, and Funa!

Sisters!

Look at all his toys!

What a cutie!

Bob drew pictures of the girls!

Analisey showing me what she has!

Life today

We have been blessed by our friend Mark Dalton visiting us for this week! He has had an awesome visit already with many college students. Lukey has been visiting many people. He is laughing and smiling at everyone!

Inside the market with Tina!

Love that we get to spend time with our girl Tina!  She has been able to renew her visa and amazingly they gave her a 5 year visa!  Yay! Simple treats.  I got to get her some of her favorite fruits and veggies in the market with her on her first day she arrived.  Here is a little video of her as we are in the market...

She is here for 2 more weeks and so glad that she gets to see her family here and have a small taste of home!  Love this girlie!  It will be so great to hear her process Malawi!  That will be in another blog!

Everyday life in pictures!

Love life in Malawi!  Traditional fabric worn here!

Luke in the tire swing!

Playing with Dada in the pool.  Luke's first time in a pool

Girls playing in with kids from a local village

TIna made it.  Here she is with Luke and Funa

Analisey with her favorite college student Memory

Lukey with Chisomo and Tina

Came out to feed Luke and look who snuck on the couch!  Naughty Dog!

Wearing a wig- Analisey lost 3 teeth last week!

Somebody love that baby boy!

Chiku.... Please read as my sweet friends grieve... God only knows the whole story!

A Lilongwe Home: Chikumbutsu: This morning started out like most weekday mornings.  I (Bruce) get Grace ready for school while Sarah prepares Beth's morning bottle of mil...

Starting off right

I am so exited to continue teaching at the college- the seniors girls. There are 9 girls in this class and 8 of them have committed to come. We started this week baking a chocolate cake and a devotional! This class is not even counted as a credit -these girls are volunteering to come. Please pray as I meet with them, that I would point them to the King of the universe and that I would rely on Him!

This is from my neighbor - very well said and I decided to share it!

A Lilongwe Home: "How Can We Help?": People ask us quite often, "Is there some way we can help the work there at ABC?"  We'd like to address this to all our blog followers just ...

Okay one more chapel video! Love this...

Love this song!  This song means - there is no better doctor than Jesus!  No one can heal you like Jesus!  This was taken this morning!  Love the students praising Jesus! Enjoy!

Sounds from the Village and what we are doing

Above are the girls playing with local kids from one of the village outreaches that Bob helps the college students do ministry at.  So cute to hear the laughing and screaming of joy on this video! 

This last month flew by without me being able to send a monthly update.  So here is what we are up to...

• Bob has taken on classes at the college and has been involved with starting a Masters of Divinity program here at the college.  He and Bruce (fellow missionary here at ABC) have researched and complied the program from scratch and will be starting this coming August.  Bob has been able to go with students at least 2 times a week to local villages to do long term discipleship training. He also has many responsibilities with being in charge of security at the 50-acre campus.   His days are full of people and connecting and praying with many students.  Along with being dada to his kids!
• I (Amy) am busy staying home with Luke and the girls, but being home doesn't mean I do nothing - I get to love on people.  Many come through our house or I just have to go across my yard to connect with the many college students.  This next week I will be teaching the senior college girls Bible study!  I am so excited to do that!  Also, I am able to help out at the hospital (clinic) that we have on campus doing x-ray.  I love that I have a skill that can help people in the time of need.
• Nya and Analise have very full days of school and playing with friends!  Daily they have at least 7 people coming to play!  They love it!  Whether they are making up a scavenger hunt or playing "school" - continual playing is on! 
• Lukey is now 5 months old and is rolling, going to chapel, eating solids and hanging with people!  He is such an easy baby!  What a treat!

                              

Luke at chapel!  Memory (a senior) is loving on Luke!  

He is snuggled right into her!  She is a very dear friend of ours!  So lovely to be here and continue in our friendship!

Please continue to pray for us-

 Pray for us as we choose Jesus daily and that we would love people through Christ's love!

Pray for Malawi, as there are daily shortages of fuel, power and even sugar... We get to see God provide in so many amazing ways!

Thank you for loving and supporting us as we serve the King of the Universe!

Love the Stauffachers!

My Worlds Collide

When you live in a different country everything is different.  Strangely though, you crave familiarity.  As I went into a local pharmacy here to pick up my malaria medicine, I saw this newspaper clipping below. 

A local newspaper ad

It was so strange to see a familiar Walmart logo.  We have a store here that is way overpriced on stuff but we have called it our "African Walmart"  As it may be - it actually is Walmart.  They bought it and now the store Game is Walmart.  What- my brain can't consume that idea that Walmart has taken over the world. I thought it only had taken over America not the world, not Africa!  But it has...But why not Target!  I mean really - Target makes me happy!  Even seeing a Target bag makes me happy!  I know - I got issues!  

So after buying the malaria medicine I walked around the corner of the store and came across this in the window.  Oh yes I see I am still in Africa!

Don't you want to cook this up for dinner tonight?

Now here is some amazing music from Malawi

The above video is from chapel today at African Bible College.   This song is in chichewa (Malawi's local language) and it is delicious to listen to! Enjoy!

My little shopper in my little grocery store

Here is one of the grocery stores I go to weekly. This one is like the size of 2 gas station marts put together! Can you see my good little shopper! He is such a good shopper and gets all the people to smile!

I read this today in my book...

In Jesus Calling by Sarah Young




Trust and thankfulness will get you safely through this day. Trust protects you from worrying and obsessing. Thankfulness keeps you from criticizing and complaining: those “sister sins” that so easily entangle you.

Keeping your eyes on Me is the same thing as trusting Me. It is a free choice that you must make thousands of times daily. The more you choose to trust Me, the easier it becomes. Thought patterns of trust become etched into your brain. Relegate troubles to the periphery of your mind, so that I can be central in your thoughts. Thus you focus on Me, entrusting your concerns into My care.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
—Colossians 2:6–7

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
—Psalm 141:8

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:7

A typical house in Malawi

Some amazing mamas and kids that live in that typical house in Malawi

Such a good reminder! We have so much and yet we spend our days worried and complaining!  I am the first to say I am guilty! As I keep seeking Jesus daily - I am reminded that I need get to have a new perspective that only comes from Him!  Then I have His eyes and can take my eyes off myself and love on someone else!

ABC Chapel

Every day the college has a chapel service before classes begin.  Here is a video clip (click here if you don't see a video) to capture the singing of the students.  I need to capture some of the beautiful songs in Chichewa.

Also- my neighbor put on their blog what my husband is up to besides teaching.  Since we don't have a car - I haven't been outside of the campus much to capture the happenings.  Click here to read what Bob is doing with our neighbor Bruce