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!

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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

life...

There are days it feels so simple...

Ice skating for the first time

Bowling for the first time

Playing UNO with Tina via skype for the first time. :) that was fun

Simplicity at it's best. Sadly- we tend to complicate it with all of our junk. Being simple can quickly become complex if we don't be careful... Whether we are comparing ourselves to the next person, ( which I tend to do often ) or whether we bring our insecurities and dump them on those closest to us. We daily choose what we do trust Jesus and surrender or trust ourselves and worry...

Below is what I want to do... But often fail to do...

“give yourself fully to the adventure of today. walk boldly along the path of life, relying on your EVER-PRESENT Companion. you have every reason to be confident, because My presence accompanies you all the days of your life – and onward into eternity. DO NOT GIVE IN to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your RIGHT HAND. nothing can separate you from My presence!”

Lots of love- Amy Louise

Moving to Africa- and trying not to bring all of America with me.... trying

My kitchen here in America

A typical kitchen in Malawi in the Village

PERSPECTIVE...

Planning, thinking and writing lists. There are simple basics that we do need to bring to Malawi that they don't have in Africa - simple life basics just to survive - (well what I think that is a simple basic for us to survive not a typical Malawian basic), but when we live in a culture of stuff. I find it very difficult to balance the basics and the wants. I look at my list and everything that is on it there seems reasonable. I then go the store to check off some off my list and I realize- do I really need this? Here we are continually bombarded by ourselves and our wants. We can get everything we need in one store and still need more. So as I am trying to balance - packing and living in Africa and not bringing all my wants too. Well- lets just say that I am trying to be balanced. trying...to...be...balanced... :)

1 Timothy 6:8 (New Living Translation)

⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

thanks for loving us- amy louise

Come and be a teacher in Africa!

Analise and in her class last year! Teachers are needed! Come teach my girls!

Monthly update- may be a repeat for some...

UNWORTHY BUT STILL ANSWERING THE CALL!



Hello sweet friends and family! Happy new year! Can't believe that it is 2011! As this new year begins - we begin the process of gearing up to go back to Malawi in about 6 months. Sorry to those who don't think past the next 2 weeks- but when you are planning to move Africa- it is on your brain continually! And these last 6 months flew by and so will the coming ones too.

When we began this journey "missions" about 5 years ago- it was the last thing I ever thought I would doing. I didn't feel like I was the "missionary type"- whatever that was in my mind that I had made it to be. As we are in the middle of Missions week here at one of the churches that support us, it is very humbling. We definetly don't feel like the missionaries that they talk about. But we know that we called to this land called Malawi- Africa! We feel unworthy to be called but we answer the call! Even more now than ever. We are getting excited to go back and serve at African Bible College. We will continue to the "missionary thing" We will continue to give out and give our skills away! We definitely want to dig in deeper and make a bigger impact- God willing!

As we are in the middle of this thing called furlough- home assignment it is very interesting to see God provide in so many ways. We have been encouraged continually as people love and support us! We have so many people being our cheerleader! Thank you for all your love, prayers, support and cheerleading. We are so thrilled to be able to have an amazing team behind us.



What this last month has brought for us...
Bob has been teaching a class at the Seminary- Intro to Missions - very appropriate- he has about 5 more weeks of that class! He says it has really been fun and challenging to teach!

We have been able to share at Missions fair here at Shadow Mountain, in classes, sunday school classes and in our booth we have set up in the pavilion. Inviting everyone to come and help in Malawi! We will see who will respond to the call. we have already someone coming so far! That is fun to share life in Africa with others.

We have been able to visit our family at Christmas time- Yummy! and have family come to visit. Lovely!

We have been able with the help of Bob's parents prepare our house to rent out when we go back to Malawi!

We have been able to enjoy this amazing San Diego weather.

We have seen many of our supporters here in San Diego! - If we haven't seen you- email me and we want to see you!



Please continue to pray as we....
Start raising support to move back to Malawi- We will have to buy plane tickets, a car and so forth! Fun times-

That we would remain healthy!

That we depend on Christ for everything!

That we would be intentional in our marriage and parenting as we choose Jesus in every moment. It is still a challenge because we are piles of yuck, but He is faithful to give us grace to love beyond ourselves!

What a treat to have you loving us - as you are our cheerleaders!!! Thank you- love all of us- bob, amy, nya and analise

home!

Our home in Malawi

Our home in San Diego

I have come to a "deep" conculsion that I have 2 homes. I know that really is not new "news" but it is profound for me as I went on deeply thinking about how life is to have a world split. To have a life that is split in 2 worlds is quite deep and crazy. To cherish and love both is even deeper and crazier. But as I am preparing to gear up to go into the other world- halfway around the world, I am finding that I cherish this world that I living in so much more and at the same time so enjoy how much I have over there in that world. Confusing but simple. But as I continue to think about it- home for me is where my family is. My worlds can be split in 2 but at the same time be whole. As I continue down this path- I realize and am so thankful that I really only have ONE home and that is what my energy should be focused on. Life with my eternal father. Not that I that I don't take care of my homes here but my hope and joy is eventually sharing life with the King of the all the worlds.

What a joy to refocus and remember ...in light of eternity... what really matters...

Family and Sharing eternal life with the King!

Perspective is what He wants and am so thankful that He is faithful to remind us of it! He certainly has reminded that for me! Lots of love- amy louise

Happy New Year and Pictures to share

Here is some fun pictures that I put together of our life in Malawi! Click on the link below to see if you are not on facebook. If you are on facebook- go to my photos! Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=262287&id=544515874&l=d68b047154

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I can't believe it is already mid January- Where does the time go? We are so blessed to have another year starting off in San Diego that will be ending in Malawi Africa. We definitely on are full gear up mode. I know for many of those reading are thinking - that is not until this next July- but wasn't it just summer around here. It flew by! We are treasuring the time we have been given still here in this place we call home!

Bob's family - his 2 brothers and their families and his parents

My family and 2 sisters and brother and parents...

We were priviledged to spend Christmas with each of our families!

It was so cute to see the cousins have quality time together - priceless.... It is very interesting the older we get to see the journeys that our families go on. We all have different paths. Different stories! We come together and share those- but there is a common thread. We are from the same family blood line. We have common memories and common backgrounds. But our future is different, our stories are different and that is amazing. What if we all did the same thing? It would be boring and not very interesting. I love it! These stories that are shaping our lives. Our kids lives. Our stories now will be their stories and so it goes.

So this year I am into making the moments count. The exciting moments, boring moments and even drama moments. These are the moments we have been given. Not the moments that we dream of- not that those can become reality but often they never come and we miss out

on these right now moments. That is all I have - Right now! We have been given today - When God teaches us to pray - He tells to focus on today- we are not praying for tomorrow but for today!

Matthew 6:11

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.

So we keep on keepin on in these moments we have today!

Thank you for your friendships, love, support, and prayers- the stauffy family!

Merry Christmas!

Our family christmas picture!

Giving Tina a inside joke cake for her birthday!

Analise loving on Grandpa's new dog and as she enjoys the the snow.

The girls sledding in the snow in their pajamas - They couldn't wait...

The girls going out in their jammies in the snow! Seriously they couldn't wait!

Life flies by! We are loving this Christmas as we are able to spend it with family! What a treat. We are loving the snow and all that comes with it. We have been able to sled and play. The girls have loved experiencing snow for the first time. Tina has too. We so blessed and grateful for the simple gifts that a Holiday season is. Wishing you all an amazing Christmas! Love- all of us!