Not always a cozy journey...

Where I bought my cokes today after going to 4 stores!

Living in a third world country...Some days I don't notice it.  Then there are other days that it extremely overwhelming.  This week it was extremely evident...  click on this link to read about the airports and other government agencies striking causing closures. There were no flights in or out of the country for the last 2 days, teachers not teaching and nurses are not working in the hospitals.  It has been a mess for the last 2 weeks leading up to this.  I have heard today that they did receive the raise that they were requesting.  

Please continue to pray for this country and its leadership.  The Malawian kwacha (money) has devalued over a 100 percent since we have been here.  That is like saying a $100 dollars is now worth only a $1. Huge decrease and it continues to devalue.  Poverty was already a huge problem.  Now it has even gotten worse.  Pray for this country's future and as people are getting upset and tired.  We see it very up close and personal with being involved with some many students and staff here at ABC. 

God still continues to transform and use us daily. He is so much bigger than all of this.   Please continue to pray for the medical team that is working to physically transform lives...  my friend continues to write about it.  Click on this to read her stories... She has the awesome camera and is a nurse so gets to be right in the trenches.  If you continue to read her blog you will see that her son who was born here in Malawi at ABC Clinic needed and received a cleft palate surgery by amazing Dr. Amanda Gosman and her team!

Just another reminder from my devotional today!  I love the reminders of truth.  It puts it all in perspective!

YOU NEED ME EVERY MOMENT. Your awareness of your constant need for Me is your greatest strength. Your neediness, properly handled, is a link to My Presence. However, there are pitfalls that you must be on guard against: self-pity, self-preoccupation, giving up. Your inadequacy presents you with a continual choice—deep dependence on Me, or despair. The emptiness you feel within will be filled either with problems or with My Presence. Make Me central in your consciousness by praying continually: simple, short prayers flowing out of the present moment. Use My Name liberally, to remind you of My Presence. 

Keep on asking and you will receive, so that your gladness may be full and complete. Pray continually. 1 THESSALONIANS 5 : 17 

Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete. JOHN 16 : 24 (AMP)

Young, Sarah (2004-10-12). Jesus Calling (p. 55). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

What is happening here...

Yesterday I updated you on what is going on this week at the Clinic.  My good friend Jill tirelessly updated her blog overnight!  She took some amazing pictures...  Thought I would share what I saw today!

My friend Tracy with Grace yesterday!

This is Grace right after surgery....

 The missionaries who work at the Clinic, have been so amazing getting everything ready for all the surgeries that were going to happen this week.  The team of specialists that are here working for free has worked tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds for this trip!  This is a snapshot of one life changed!  So many more lives will be affected by these people here!  It is so refreshing to keep perspective.  God cares about the little details and for Grace it will build her self confidence and in many other ways she has yet to know.  God uses people to love on people.  May we continue to be a light and allow Him to use us daily!

our sweet tina  - sugarbear, in her university's newspaper 

On another Amazing Note! Our sweet Tina has finished her MBA program and gotten her visa (which was another miracle) to work in the states to work as intern for the next year.  We are soooo proud of her and she graduates on May 18th!  Wish we could fly back and be there on that special day!  This is when we feel very very far away from Home!  She is hoping to work for the UN and transform the world ( well at least offer her skills and do one step at a time).

What else is happening here...

• Bob's Master's of Divinity program is back in full swing. Bob says it is so amazing to be teaching these future leaders of Malawi.  We went to one of his students church that He pastors this last sunday!  It was so great to see the impact that he is making in other people's lives.
• Due to the recent break in's, Bob has tirelessly been working with a team of men making our campus safer.  ( if your bored and you want to see what our campus looks like via google maps -Go to this link - Maps on Google  , then type in African Bible College (ABC), Lilongwe, Malawi and press the magnifying glass on for the search)  All the details that he has to do is another full time job, on top of his other full time job which is teaching!  So definitely would appreciate prayers for that!
• The girls are busy with school and friends and after school activities!  They just came home from school this afternoon and said they are going up to the clinic to play with kids who were waiting for surgery!  They are bringing bubbles and papers and crayons!  I love that they have a heart to love on people!  Can't believe that next month, Nya will be 11 and Analise will be 8 this June!
• Luke is a busy busy almost 17 month old!  He keeps me hopping.  So boy in everything he does!  He loves people and would go home with anyone!  Most Malawians love it due to there are not that many little missionary babies around here.  (well - most missionaries come when their kids are older) 
• I have been busy with mamahood, helping people and projects on campus, teams that come (like the one that is here doing surgeries) and loving on the college students and many other people that come to our house.  It is very busy and rewarding.  I am just trying to keep family and other stuff balanced.  I want to help in a thousand different ways but find that I need to keep my family the priority and everything else comes second.  I would love prayers to do that daily! 
• Please pray for our health!  It is so discouraging to be sick and have to keep on going on.  We have had someone sick in our house for the last month.

Thank you for being apart of this journey with us!  Amazing to have people praying and loving on us!  We couldn't do what we do without you!

Love- all of us!  

Everyday is a new day...

I love that we are not stuck in yesterday.  I love that everyday is a new day!  I love that God gives us enough grace to make it through today.  Many days,I have to choose whether or not I am going to give grace out to those people that are worn out and do not deserve it.  Many days- I am my own worst critic and do not choose to live in His grace that He has freely given me.  Many days- I feel that I am not doing enough or at least think I should be doing more.

I am reminding myself today to live in His mercies that are new everyday!  I am reminding myself that He is the one who carries us through.  I am reminding myself that His grace is enough...  There Is Hope for Today!  

2 Corinthians 12:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Lamentations 3:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

Amazing things are happening here on ABC Campus this week.  People's lives are being changed by a team that is visiting from San Diego. A team is preforming surgeries at our clinic here on many cleft palate and cranial facial deformities this week.  My friend is taking pictures and blogging about it. Click on this link as Jill Kyser is writing about it this week.  Please keep them in prayer as they do surgeries this week and all goes well.  We have had major electricity outages for the last week.  Praying that the power stays on.  Pray for wisdom as they have to choose among the many people that come from all over the country to see if they are eligible for the free surgery.


Here is a picture of my sweet friend Tracy with one of the girls (Grace) going to have surgery this week.

Thank you for your love and prayers! 

Love all of us!