Our visit to Dowa

We are traveling to Dowa which a town and a region. We were going to a village in the Dowa district. Bob was going to preach at a church that was established in 1894 and the building built in 1951. It is apart of a Presbyterian group. They were happy to have a professor from African Bible College come and talk to them.
Here is the beginning of the dirt roads that we traveled for about an hour each way. This was the good part of it.
It turned into an amazing amusement park ride with all the thrills and chills...actually we were really sweating it. Bob did a great job driving and the angels did a great job keeping us on the road and upright.

Some of the fellow road travelers along the way, they were slow to move over.

This lady is like so many Malawian women that carry great loads on their heads. No wonder they have such great posture!!!

This the church where Bob preached and the pastor interpreted. It was a long service of 2 1/2 hours on wooden benches. The church had many choirs and the hall echoed amazingly. It sounded like the battle of the bands in heaven. It was very unique.

Gary got to greet the congregation and then pray. The pastor adopted Gary as his "gogo" grand parent. Very cute. Gray hair has some rewards in that people want you to be their "gogos"

Here is the group that traveled to Dowa with the pastor and his wife.

Here we are dancing at the village where Mwyli and his family live and that we ate our second lunch after the pastor fed us also. Bob is kicking it up and Mwyli is flying through the air.

This is our audience and the families in this small village. Many of the young men were off playing soccer.

If you think your kitchen needs a redo look at this one where our food came out of. We are praying that we will not have a Malawi stomach tomorrow.

Think a new counter top could be needed here?

It was an amazing day and the best ever for me... We are off to Lake Malawi for a few days, so no more up dates for a little while. Barb

Our Monthly Update

Another holiday season here in Malawi. The humidity and warm weather has increased along with the frogs with their mating calls ( I love that noise). The rains have begun and we are all getting excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

What a treat we have had over this last week to have my parents here at ABC with us. We have loved seeing life in Malawi through their eyes. We love sharing our friends with them and they have been really loved by them. They have been able teach classes and bible studies here at the campus and in the village. We have been able to keep them really busy here just on the campus. They are about 600 people in and around the campus and we have connected with more than half of them. We have really appreciated them sacrificing their time and money to come and love on us and many many more people here. They are so refreshing to have here.

We have only 4 more weeks of classes until Christmas. Amazing how time flies. Our ability to give and serve has been above and beyond what we had expected this year. Bob said to my dad just the other day that it is amazing here "every single day we have an opportunity to give out and change someones circumstances" That is why we are here to help, give, serve and love on people! Teaching has been our ability to get involved with people's lives.

Praises & Prayer Requests -
• We are so thankful for the amazing financial support of our supporters- even going through this "global financial crisis" we have see God provide through our churches, friends and family. Thank you for allowing us to be used here in Malawi!

• Please be praying for us as this country is in a fuel crisis. The lines around town are horrendous becauser there is no diesel. Soon there will be no petrol (regular gas) this next week. That means no gas - no car- no food.... It has big problems attached to that.... Please be praying...

• Please continue to pray for our time with our family. They have not only blessed us but they have blessed many other here in Malawi. Please pray that they would remain healthy and when they come back to the states that they would not have too much jet lag and they would be refreshed.

• Please continue to pray as we love people here in Malawi that they would grow deeper in their walks with Christ as we are daily challenged to.
Thank you for loving us, praying for us, providing for us as we serve here in Malawi. We would not be able to do what we do without you being behind us! Thank you so very much. Love- all of the Stauffacher family (Bob, Amy, Nya and Analise)

Outreach on Friday

This is the village we went to on Friday with four ABC students, one staff, and Bob and Amy and girls. There were approximately 100 to 125 homes in this village. It was off a very bumpy dirt (red in color) road that we had to dodge donkeys and goats. It is always a "thankyou Jesus" when we get some where in one piece and the truck is still intact.

The homes are all in various states of desrepair with pigs and goats wandering into the open doors.

This is one of a few old grandmas we saw. They would come and shake our hands and smile. We saw lots of children, some young girls (early teens with babies) and a few women in their twenties with children. I asked where the men were in the village and one of the students (Lewis) said they were probably in the fields planting or in town drinking. We saw very few middle ages men or women.

Analise gathered a group around her as she drew pictures in the dirt. Some times it was a little intimidating as the children wanted to touch her and if the group grew too large.

Nya was more comfortable with the children and their interest. These children loved having their pictures taken.

Here we are handing out some gum to the children (only 1/2 a piece) and we quickly ran out.

Amy and girls taught a bible song to the children using Dalitso as a translator. Then she told the story of creation letting the girls illustrate the different animals and then the children would imitate them. Amy and girls did sooo good and they had a good response from the children.

This is Annie, a junior at ABC, teaching a bible study on I Corinthians 13 to a group of women. She asked Amy and Barb to share a little also and then she translated for us. She said 4 women responded to the bible study to wanting to invite Christ into their lives. The women listened intently and would ocassionally ask a question. While we were with the women and children, Gary, Bob and Lewis went house to house and shared the gospel. Gary said they met the chief and his wife and they were very warm to them and told them they could use a certain building in the village next time they came. This was only the second time the students had come to this village. Four people invited Christ into their lives with Gary and his group. The students thought there was a good turn out due to white people coming into the village.

Gary dancing with some of the children.

We stayed about 1 1/2 hours at the village. It was a real eye opener to us to come into the sphere of these Malawians. What a challenge every day living is for them.

Here are some more pictures of sharing life here with my parents

Here is some pictures from the village outreach that we went out on. Weekly ABC students are doing dicipleship training with this village about 30 minutes from our house... We were able to go along. About 20 people commited their lives to God that day. We were able to share with them and really felt priviledged.




Here is my mom sharing with some of the ladies of the village. More came and about 12 women commited to following Jesus! They will be followed up with dicipleship with the college student Annie who is on the ground.

Nya is playing with the kids and an ABC student named Dalitso.

Analise had a regular following of kids as she drew pictures in the dirt...

This is my favorite picture of analise....

While we at dinner and talking about bugs al of sudden a big - we call them chop chop came under our table. All the women were on the chairs and the table was put upside down. It was killed and now here is a picture of it next to the malawian money and my finger... Enjoy that you don't have those there...

My mom wants to share her experince in the village so that will be the next post...

going to market

This is one of thousands of small plots along the side of the road that are being worked by hand to be ready to plant with maize. They work so hard. It is beginning to rain more often now and it will be time to get the seed in the ground. They have to time it just right.

Okay...here we are at the fruit and vegetable market. Amy is bargaining for a better price for tomatoes. She prefers for Bob to do the bargaining because it is very exhausting to go back and forth about every item you purchase. The sellers are very pushy. When they would get to pushy or suggest a price that was way too high...Amy would just laugh. She handled it so well...I was a proud Mama. Don't these tomatoes look wonderful!!!

Rows and rows of fruits and vegetables all stacked and made beautiful so that some will buy. Lots of competition and pushy sellers.

We kept a tight hand on Nya and Analise due to the crowds and unfamiliar people. They seemed to be quite comfortable with the whole scene. Not like Gary and I who were nervous, because we are "Mzungus" (white people) and don't speak the language. Amy has many words in the language plus some speak a smattering of English. Most the time Gary and I have no idea what is being said. We would be lost without Bob and Amy.

This at a "suburban" home of a Malawian that is where a "tailor" lives. The white stuff on the mat is the end product of the corn they grow and it has been milled to flour but is wet so it needs to be dried. Lots of flies were helping it dry. Notice the little charcoal cooker on the cement that is used to cook the family's food.

This is the "tailor" that will make some clothes for Amy. Amy brought three ladies from the college to help explain to the tailor what it is that she wanted. Notice all the pictures on the walls of the possible styles of dress. He made them all without patterns. He took a few measurements and smiled alot. Amy felt satisfied with the end results.

Here we are all in the small space where the tailor works. He was in his mid to late 20's and earned a good wage for his family.

This is the market where we bought the cloth for Amy's projects. It was very dark in the area and the women were very pushy about their goods. Most of the sellers had the same patterns of fabric and it changes every day. All the fabric there was of the same quality.

Visitor's journey

Bob and Amy's lovely front patio where we have spent many hours. I am playing "Old Maid" with the girls and Bob and Gary are chatting.

Dennis the grounds worker made the beautiful floral garland around the door as a welcome to us. Analise and Nya have the cowgirl outfits Grandma made for them on. They have been wearing them for days now.

On the way to town. Many walking (always) and carry things on their heads. I took this from the car

Men selling plastic bags, belts and colorful striped socks, with a market area behind them.

Gary and Barb sharing to Bob's class on the commitment of marriage.

Gary enjoying the many students on the way to "Tea Time" at 10 in the morning. Nice little break time. We have been swamped with the many impressions and sensory overload of this new land. We have adjusted fairly well the the time change and the long trip. Yesterday there was several thunderstorms and heavy rains and today it is cooler, thank the Lord. It has been very warm and humid. We had a chance to share with a couple on staff concerning their marriage which was very rewarding. We are grateful for the warm welcome we have received and all the wonderful people we have met. Here on campus it is easy to forget all the challenges that are right outside the campus gates and just enjoy the peace and grace that is all around us on this oasis. Amy and Bob have created a lovely home and provided a gracious place for students and fellow staff to be encouraged and refreshed on a daily basis.

Almost here...

My Parents are coming in 3 days. It will be amazing to share life them here. I can't wait to pick them from the airport. I can't wait to see them soak it all in. The smells, the tastes, the people. It will so much fun. They are coming to see what we are doing here. What a treat to share it all with them. They gave up alot to come here and I appreciate it all so very much. We will sharing more as they come.

By the way can you believe it is already mid-November! I can't! I will update again sooner than later! Amy Louise

A fundraiser and a bit a competition...

So yesterday the junior class held a fundraiser with a class competition for a banquet they put on for the senior class. So as a friend of the person in charge, they asked if I would sing. I laughed and responded "have you heard my singing!" Anyways they insisted and thought why not! Why not pretend to be an amazing singer and have fun. I decided the only way to have more fun is to ask Analise and Nya to join me. So we sang the song we all know. Easy. Ok so the below are some videos of that and some of the other classes singing. Fun, Fun and love African Music! Enjoy and please know I was not a born singer but as my mom just said to me via skype! "honey...you have music all through your body soul and life..." Thanks Mama! So just enjoy!

ABC Womens Choir

Here is the women of Abc singing like the mamas do in the village!

Us girlies singing

They asked me if I would sing and I am not a singer. But I would sing for fun if my girlies would sing, so we did it together.

abc students

The Students did a competition at African Bible College. This is the Freshman class singing.

The girls that are apart of our lives!

Just wanted to show you a couple of amazing women that we get to be know on a deep level. Friendship is so easy with each one of these amazing women. Each one of these girls are orphans and are here at African Bible College studying. We love them dearly and are so glad that they are apart of our family. Christina in purple and is a senior. Shonduri is a junior in the middle and Mafunase is in the black and is a senior. We known each one for the last 2 years and cherish them deeply! Nya and Analise adore them!

In the last blog - was my monthly update with the spelling check done on it. :) Anyways just wanted to connect and know that we are doing great!

Love- Amy Louise

Life is good…

Hello from African Bible College! Wow! I am going to say that it has been a normal month here in Malawi. Who knew after 2 years of living here, I would call living in Africa normal. I never thought that I would even think that. I guess things do grow on you.

We have been busy with many classes, special projects, loving on people and living life as a family. All that comes with that too. Sicknesses, broken down car, and sometimes fights ( only with the girls - Bob and I never fight! ) We get the privilege this next month to have my parents come for a visit! We are so excited to share our world with them. They will get a chance to love on us too. They will be involved in doing Marriage Enrichment classes here at the college and for missionaries here.

How you can be praying for us:

-Continued health as we live our lives here in the faraway land of Malawi

-As we teach at the college and the high school that we would radiate Christ in our lives and that we would be intentional in all that we do

-That our time with my parents would be amazing and refreshing - and that they travel safely

We want to say thank you for each one of you for loving and praying us! We are so thankful to share our lives with you here! We also want to say thank you for supporting us as we give out our lives to the students, people we meet, friends and many others that are affected by us while we live here in Malawi.

Living normally here in Malawi- Bob, Amy, Nya and Analise

A getaway to Lake Malawi...

So it kinda looks like Hawaii I admit. The one of the most poorest country in Africa - has a beautiful natural Lake. So here are some snapshots with Bruce Sarah and Grace Halon from Massachusetts and the Stauffachers enjoying the Lake!

Thanks for taking a breather with us. And Thank you Bruce and Sarah and Grace for the great getaway! lots of Love- all of us!

Here is an article on a student that Bob...

Here is an amazing article of a student that Bob taught a high school Bible class our first year here in CNN. William - what an amazing kid. He taught himself at 14 to make a windmill to make electricity. Please enjoy reading about the people we get to impact while we are here. thanks for being apart of our journey, so we can be apart of their journey. Lots of love- amy louise

Classes and Classes...

We are busy busy with classes and are in the thick of school right now. I wanted to show some pictures of some classes that we are involved with. The academy every year does a reading day, where the kids dress up a character in a book. So below are an assortment of pictures....

Here is Analise and Mrs. Harper. Analise is of course Tinkerbell and Mrs. Rebecca Harper is dressed up as a tree. From the book "the giving tree".

Here is Nya with her classmates. She won the award for best dressed. She of course was Dorothy and was so proud. This cute Dorothy dress was given by some friends. She looks so perfect in this dress.

The girls striking a pose before they left for school. I think Analise really does look like Tinkerbell.

Here is Analise in her class. She loves it and is growing and learning daily. Running a bit tired from going everyday. She loves her teacher and her new friends.

Below here is Bob teaching a class. This is the entire class of sophomores preparing for Outreach. He is teaching Inductive Bible Study. They learn how to present the Gospel with the knowledge of the the Bible and then they go out to the same village Bob has been working with and disciple people on a intimate level. This doesn't happen often in a village. Because people may come and then may go but to continue on disciple for the last 2 years has been amazing. To know that the impact of real discipleship is amazing. Real lives transformed.

I will have more pictures to follow up in the village and of my senior girl's bible study. We are thankful to be right here and right now. This is exactly where we are supposed to be. Thank you for following us as travel around here in Africa and make small impacts on people's lives. May we be intentional in all that we do. Lots of love- amy louise