An update...

I sent this around via email. But wanted to share on my blog...

Giving beyond yourself...

Well- I am amazed by people. I love seeing people love on people. I have a friend here that gives herself out to people everyday. It is really inspiring to be around people like that. For this last week, Analisey has been sick with just some normal american virus. I have spent all week home and realized today that I have had no one knocking on my door needing anything from me. Only my cute little missy needing me. I never how much my house in Africa is a revolving door as people come and go all day long needing something from or of me, until I have had no knocks on my door. I really could exist not giving out. I could go all week long not giving beyond myself. We are so independent here and to be at a place in need is very humbling. We definitely see that as missionaries - personally (we are living on support) and as we can give daily in Africa to people in need. I don't want to be that way here! I want to give beyond myself. I want meet people in the time of need. It can't be just an emotion. But it has to be a way of life. I want to be that in everything that I do. Give beyond just my immediate needs. I want to give out my friendship, my stuff, and my love that God has placed in my life. But I won't be able to do that in my own strength. Only in HIS. That is where I stand on. His LIFE is my LIFE! Give out, live blessing others, and see God carry us through in all that we do. I love you people! Thank you for choosing to share your life with me. What a treat to have amazing people in my life...

Please keep us in prayer as we...

- live life - girls going to school, family time, connect with friends and family or as we just go to grocery store. Simple things!!!!

- continue to raise support and use this home assignment wisely. That we may rest and be renewed - so that we can do that revolving door thing in Africa.

- As our girlies process life here in the states and as they grieve missing home "africa"

Praises!

- we are truly blessed to settled into our home in lovely San Diego... we had it rented out as we were in Africa and our renters moved the same time we came back from Malawi... yay for God's planning!

- Life is a blessing and we are mostly healthy (just a little virus thing) :)

- that we have an amazing team of people praying for us. we truly feel loved and cherished...

Keep loving on people and giving out more than you have... Give out of Christ... it is a deep cavern that you tap into when you are dependent on Him!

Love the Stauffachers- Bob, Amy Louise, Nya and Analisey (aka - little missy)

P.S. I attached my door here in america and my door there in Malawi

Here the girls hanging out in that little window box when we got home!

Here are the girlies when we first moved to Malawi! - 3 years ago!

When my home is not their home anymore...

My girls- I love them so much. We are processing living in this land I call home... But they are officially "Third Culture Kids" ( that is a term that is used to describe someone who has lived in another culture and is not apart of that culture or their parents culture.) After a month long journey to Spokane and back... I quickly announced as we came upon San Diego that "we are home" Analise quickly responded back- "We are in Africa?" No I said and she said to me that was home not San Diego... As I quietly try and figure out what to say next... I realize that is true to her. That is all she has ever known. That is what she knows. AFRICA is home for them. Nya told me tonight... "Does my teacher know that I am from Africa?" I say probably and her response is that it is important for her teacher and the kids in her new class to know that. I find it easy to understand this land called America and they are struggling to find their place in this foreign land called America... Amazing to see them process... How does it work for them in the big picture we don't know yet, but for now they struggling to find foods they like... ( they don't like the stuff they used to like when they were little here...like yogurt, certain cereal...cheerios - what? who doesn't like cheerios- Nya never had heard of bagel before - even though she had- she didn't remember the word...) So as they find their footing... This week they start school. Please pray as their little worlds are rocked that they would find friends and personally see God carry them through.

Who knew that we are from 2 different worlds now. People of one family! Thanks- Amy louise

Still busy loving on people...

Hi! I know it has been a quiet month from me as it goes for blogging but I have only been able to access the internet via phone not computer. ( little phones don't work to write a paragraph. The letters always get mixed up and i write even worse on them. I already have grammar issues , you don't need it worse due to my cell phone's little keyboard.. You all know what I am talking about too... Those keyboards take a while to get used to...)

So here I have a quiet moment as we travel back to San Diego from Spokane at 11pm. I can blog as my cute family sleeps - to share really quick snippet of our month... I definitely have lots to share but I will do that in another blog soon. For now I will leave you with a one on one session with our church in Spokane. Life Center with our fun pastor - Pastor Joe- whom we all love and have known for 20 years now. (Wow that is a long time...I am starting to feel a little bit old!) Anyways enjoy- it starts in about 3 :27 min or so...

THE INTERVIEW

Lots of deep thoughts and pictures to come. Love- amy louise for the stauffy family