Pictures... finally!

Here we are! Better late than never, right?!

This is me holding baby Grace and sitting with Beatrice (Grace's big sister) and her friend. I took Grace from Beatrice's back so she could go play net ball with the other girls. She was stoked and her team even won! This was a typical afternoon for our team (only for the first half of the summer for me). We would go into the outer villages with our kids to run little mini day camps for the kids.

This is the feeding program... actually just the kids washing their hands... in Mtsiliza. I spent most of my summer in this village working with the widows, doing evangelism and working on sponsorship. There are almost 400 kids receiving aid in this village.

Gift is the son of one of the widows. He would spend the mornings with us bouncing from lap to lap. He's a precious one... well they all are. Ruby took a picture because Gift and I matched that day... green and green...

Flood interns doing what we do best at the lake. We had a midsummer retreat at Lake Malawi where we recharged, spent time with the Lord on the beach, snorkled and just relaxed! Oh! And we toured a crocodile farm and saw the fish aqaurium- 85% of the worlds aquarium fish come from Lake Malawi! fun fact.

We're not supposed to have favorites. If I happened to have favorite this little spitfire, Thoko would be at the top of my list :) As we found out at the end of our time in Malawi is one of the widows kids. He is super crazy, energetic and has a hard time following directions (which is an ever bigger deal in Africa than in the US). We spent the summer loving on this boy like crazy and saw a huge change in his behavior! He spent hours on our laps just cuddling and playing little games like how dirty can I get Amandas sunglasses.

Okay... Im having problems adding pictures now so Im going to stop. Ill try to add more later... if you want I have more up on my myspace and facebook.

home sweet, northern hemisphere

Im home! Although Africa was amazing and my summer was divinely appointed it is so good to be home! The travel was smooth- long but smooth. I thought my jet lag wasnt too bad but I ended up awake last night until 3am. I'm feeling fine however. We arrived in what seemed to be the most humid place on the planet, sunny Southern California at about 1:30 pm yesterday. All our luggage went through and we met our rides promptly after we all sailed through customs. My teammates date drove us to North County where two of my fantastic roommates and best friends, Kara and Brittni, met me. I was appalled at their completely normal summer San Diego attire and felt completely embarrassed looking at them. None the less I was stoked to see them. They received me well and we started our short trek home. It was so good to be with them again. They told me stories about the two of them and our third roommate, Sarah, moving into our new house. They laughed at me saying, "you're like a foreigner", as I got excited to hear really old songs on the radio and stared out the window like I'd never been to San Diego. Kara had been preparing for me all day she said... she got my car washed, made welcome home amanda cupcakes and bought me a selection of cereal and fat free milk (the milk and cereal was upon request... my most missed food item). What good friends I have!
Our new house is just as beautiful as I remembered! The only sad news is our spa doesnt work yet but an electrician is coming... don't you worry ;) haha. My roommates promptly showed me "our Mexican place", Niko's... you can see it from my bedroom window. It's maybe two blocks away. Wonderful! For dinner I had half of a Niko's bean cheese and rice burrito and a bowl of lucky charms... mmmm. I was home. hahaha. Then I got to work unpacking my room- one of my favorite activities. The girls have lived here for over a month but my stuff was never unpacked from the move. My room is a bright, cheery, light blue almost aqua. It looks like water... one of the things I missed in Malawi, the ocean. I cant wait to finish decorating, doing laundry and having everything clean and in its place. Oh how I have missed order and cleanliness in my life haha.
After multipule phone calls and emailing I fell asleep at about 3 am. I awoke to a lazy morning at about 9 am and here I am 20 minutes later... still in bed, blogging. Ill start my day soon I have tons of laundry to do and errands to run. Oh! Good news! My mom said I got 100% and 90% on my RCW2 and Social Worker 2 applications and that Im on the hire list for both of them. I think Ill call the county later today to get those balls rolling. Keep your fingers crossed for the Social Work position but we'll see where God leads me.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support! Ill keep blogging as I process the experiences God has given me this summer.

Coming Home!!

This is it! Goodbye Malawi. This day snuck up on me while at the same time I thought it would never come. Safari was AMAZING! I took some video and my friends got great pictures! We saw everything from lions to baboons! We saw a leopard hunting, lions eating a kill, hippos, elephants, birds and heard hyenas laughing. It was a blast! The food was good and a welcome change. I woke up one morning to the sound of an elephant trumpeting outside my window. We would sit and have lemonade as we watched hippos float in the river right next to our lodge. How awesome is Gods creation! We got in some much needed afternoon naps and enjoyed the time together on the drives. We just finished debriefing which is a much needed but boring process. There is a lot of introspection which is much too introverted for me. We discuss our experiences, process things and prepare for "reemmersion" back into our native culture. They say we've been here long enough that going back home will be just as hard and overwhelming as coming to Malawi was in the first place… we'll see! I can't wait to be home!
We just had lunch (pizza in town… yummm) with George and Chimwemwe from Flood Malawi! What a blessing! They are such amazing men of the Lord! They are hospitable, welcoming, wise, fun, faithful and encouraging. I feel so blessed to have spent time with them here! Working with Flood Malawi has been one of the highlights of my summer! I love hearing their passion for their own nation and people! Their vision for Flood Malawi is thrilling and encouraging. I am so stoked to see how God blesses that ministry. I have full confidence in the church here.
I have loved my time here, learned important lessons, met amazing people and have been challenged in new ways. I don't know where God will take me after this place… which is exciting and anxiety provoking but I trust in His plan! Thank you for helping me get here- I am sure it was Gods will for me. I can't wait to see you all and if you would like to hear to tell you about my time in Malawi. I love you guys! Keep us in your prayers as we travel home… you are in mine!

Going on Safari

Ziquienda! (the chichewa whats up)

Hi friends! This will probably be my last update but go ahead and check next Saturday just in case!

Yesterday was our last official day of ministry. It was hard for sure but they were all good, healthy goodbyes! We had a little party with the widows in the morning at Mtsiliza. We made cookies for all of the ladies. We had a blast making them, it was a little taste of home. Despite all the African cookie making setbacks they were actually really good! Oatmeal raisen and chocolate chip with no chocolate chips... mmmm! The women worked on our projects for a while, ate a ton of cookies and then we sang and danced together! They asked us to sing for them and taught us some sweet african moves. The goodbyes were happy filled with kisses, hugs and thank yous... and some other things in chichewa that we didnt understand but were clearly good wishes!
In the afternoon we had a goodbye party in the village called Mguyie which is behind our compound. After word got around that there were going to be treats hundreds of kids showed up. We played some games and split them into smaller groups. From there they received half an orange, some buiscits and sobo (kind of like tang... i hope that makes you smile jon pray). The kids were obviously stoked and quite greatful. They met me bowing or received their sobo on their knees to show respect. Precious. Precious I tell you. After a few more games and lots of hugs we were back to the compound which is about a 3 minute walk away.
Last night about ten of the oldest girls from Chitipi, one of COTN residential care homes, came to Njewa (our compound) for a sleep over. It was SO fun! We bought them soda, cookies and chocolate (our goal was clearly to make them sick) and watched the cronicles of narnia while we colored and painted nails. Yep, African teenage girls love the same stuff we did! And of course... in true African style and Flood tradition... there was dancing.
Speaking of dancing! Last sunday night we had a brii (a fat malawian bbq) with the Flood Malawi crew! That might have possibly been the highlight of my summer! The food was AMAZING! Beyond amazing... there was the most tender meat I have ever tasted! mmmmm mmmm mmmm Really good potato salad, fruit salad soda (a treat here)... ugh... it was just such a good meal. But even better than the food was the company! George, Sean and the rest of the crew were there! It was strange at first how comfortable and Flood like the atmosphere felt. Honestly, I think I had a little culture shock at first. It took some time to let loose and feel comfortable but in no time we were dancing with the Malawians, chatting and shoving our faces. It was a side of Malawi we dont see with COTN. We sang worship together, shared in Floods vision in Malawi and laughed and laughed. It felt like home. God is good!
Monday we leave for safari! I cant wait! Weve heard the raves from the short term teams about safari. Apparently you wake up before sunset, board the jeeps and take off. Thats when the most action happens, watch animals and stop for tea. The afternoons are time to relax and sleep because before sunset you take off again... stop for tea and return to the lodge for dinner at about 9pm. Im so excited!
After safari we start debreifing. It will be a time of individual and group reflection and prep for home. They assure us returning home will take a lot of adjusting and that we've acclimated here. Even things as simple as wearing jeans or seeing girls in shorts throws us for a little loop... we'll see what it's like returning to sunny san diego at the height of beach season! haha.
I have learned a lot this summer... most of which I probably wont realize until Ive been home for a while. Something huge Ive seen first hand is the reality of spiritual warfare... I know I sound crazy but it's true. We have nothing but halloween to compare it to but you see and experience the reality of evil spirits here. They are engrained in the culture and passed down in family lines. There is a lot behind this... Id love to talk to you about it some time and I might blog about it when Im home but its for sure something huge Ive learned. The devil is real... as real as our God. Good thing God has already won the battle and is ultimatly stronger! But we shouldnt underestimate the devils power... that's how he fools us is making us think he's not real... just a though. God's big! Horray!

Malawi is called the warm heart of Africa. Come here for a day and you'll see why. They are by far the most welcoming, tender hearted people I have ever encountered. I have learned hospitality and selflessness from the interns I work with, the people we encounter and mostly the women in the widows ministry. The widows have also taught me what it means to work hard, fight for your family and perservere. I love those ladies.
I am also greatful for the exposure I have had to the realities of long term missions work. I have seen the impact of short term teams and experiences many of them. Ive done the work of longer term missions and understand more what that looks like. I am not sure if that's where I am called but if I am I will have a better understanding of what I would get myself into.

We fly home a week from this sunday, the 19th in the morning. We will arrive in LA monday the 20th at about 1pm. It will take forever to get out of the airport but our first stop will be in & out. Ill get a number two, no onion with pickle, barqs rootbeer and a neopolitin milkshake. Ill meet my sweet roommates (whom i miss like CRAZY) in north county san diego and they will humbly drive my sick butt (from in & out overload) home to our new house! YAY! My phone has been off over the summer but it will be on again the morning of the 20th. feel free to call... if im sleeping or dont want to talk I just wont answer or ill turn it on silent :) I cherish my time in Malawi but I cant wait to be home! To be clean, to have quiet, to drive myself places, to eat what i want when i want, to be with people who know me deeply and to talk to my family... finally!

Im praying for a safe, easy journey home and that I will have time to rest and a job upon my return. There are some good possibilities but I'm praying God will open doors for me where He wants me. Also I'm praying for an easy transition back into American culture and little culture shock.

Thank you guys for your support, love and prayers! You're the best! Im done here and headed back! I love you guys!

BIG PS! Congrats Carly and Jon! I saw little Cameron! He's precious! Tell Mac P says hi and I love her! I cant wait to see you guys and meet Cameron!