My first post from Africa!

Greetings from chilly Lilongwe, Malawi! Things are going great! God
blessed us with a simple, easy trip over here- there were no problems!
After a week of acclimation and orientation we started our ministries!
I have to make this email quick because we have little time in town
today- not the mention the internet is wicked slow. So here's a run
down of what my weeks look like here in beautiful Malawi...
Four mornings a week I work with a few other interns in a the widows
ministry in a village called Mtsiliza. The ministry was formed a year
ago to help the 30+ widows who care for their own children and orphans
(most of them at least 6 to 8 kids total) create an income for their
families. They pray, study the bible, sing, knit, crochet, and sew
together. The other interns and I lead Bible studies, teach business
techniques, create patterns and run a store at the COTN camp where we
sell their things to the American short term teams! We also spend one
morning a week in the homes with the widows which has turned into a
super rewarding and really fun time! Yesterday morning I learned how
to mud the floors in their houses (its how they clean-weird but true),
how to make the Malawian staple food, Nsima and a relish with cabbage,
onion and tomato. We also washed dishes. And get this mom- they kept
saying "wow, you know how to cook!" haha... little do they know... we
ate it though- the kids said it was good! So fun!
In the afternoons we either go to Mtsaliza or one of the other COTN
villages and accompany the children as they venture to another village
to do evangelism. Its so fun to watch the kids who are effected by
COTN teach other kids about their God. It's always a fun time to see a
new village, meet some new faces and learn crazy Malawian games!
We are the chosen interns to venture into the village behind our camp,
Njewa for the first time! How fun! Most of the kids there had never
seen white people- or as they affectionately call us "AZUNGU"! It was
an awkward experience at first but but now they know us and are stoked
when we come. Most of the children in the village are pretty severly
malnourished with big bloated bellies. They are probably the poorest
people I have ever seen. They also have a drinking problem in th
village. Frackson, a Malawian who works with us said it one of the
saddest villages he's ever seen. Because there are enough parents there
COTN won't start a feeding program or a home there but will teach
parenting techniques. In fact, the widows from Mtsaliza will come to
Mgui (the village behind Njewa) and teach the women their skills to
create extra income! How exciting! We do regular programs with the
kids- games, songs, bible stories ext. and are in the planning stages
of implementing programs like parent ed. and substance abuse ed.! How
exciting! Keep them in your prayers!
Wed morning and Saturdays are our days off where we can do loads of
hand washed (horray) laundry, rest, go into town and do whatever. The
other widows girls and I end up running the store a lot during that
time.
I have been in pretty good health minus a little bacterial infection
that has now hit every American intern. It knocks you eight off your
butt hard. Buuuut God is good... so is cipro- the antibiotic that
saved us! Alas- I am good now and praying for good health!
We leave Saturday for another village about 2 hours away called
Chiwengo- we'll be there for a week. After that we go to Lake Malawi
for our mid summer retreat. So exciting! That means though no email
for two weeks- sorry friends!
I LOVE knowing you guys are all back home thinking about me and
praying for me! I love it here but I miss you guys! Thank you SO much
for your love and support! Keep the Malawians and the work here in
your prayers please! I'll try to email as much as possible it's just
such a process! Love you guys!
Amanda