Made it!

It is so great to be back in Malawi. We were greeting so warmly at the airport by widows and several people that we had made connections with last year. They always make you feel like you are home again. We have spend the last two days with the widows and children. Monday we went with the widows to their homes so they could show us the life of a Malawian woman – how they cook, clean, chop wood, carry water. We all had the opportunity to learn to do these things. Even though we all know how to sweep, it is a little different to be sweeping and mopping dirt!! It provides great entertainment for them. The children are so beautiful. We were greeting all through the village with cherry smiles and waves. They love to walk with us and hold our hands.
We spent Tuesday morning with the widows, doing a little Bible teaching and making beaded bracelets with them They were so excited to have us there with them. We will be heading back on Wednesday morning to bless them with all of the fabric and yarn that was so generously donated. They are going to be so excited when we show up with 3 full suitcases of materials just for them. They use those materials to make items to sell to generate income. Thanks to all who donated items for these beautiful women.
Yesterday we had the chance to meet with the children that we have sponsored individually. It was great to have lunch with them, and just have a chance to get to know a little more about them.
We went to the Children’s Crisis Nursery on Tuesday afternoon and had such a wonderful time holding little ones. They have 14 babies there at the present time, so you can just go in and pick one up to cuddle. I was in heaven. They had little 5 day old baby twins that were so sweet…
We are off this afternoon to head up to another village up north. In this area, COTN has several houses where 8-10 children live. While there, we will put new screens on their homes. We will spend two nights up there. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us up there.
We covet your prayers!!
Will write more when I get a chance!
God Bless You!

London!

We made it to London this morning. Flights were all on time, and all. We rode the tube into London and went to the Tower of London, saw the jewels and some castles - ate fish and chips, and are now back at the airport waiting for the next leg.

I am so excited to get to Malawi and meet with the people from Children of the Nations. I know that God has such incredible plans for our time here. I received a call just as we got on the plane in SFO that they were anxiously awaiting our arrival.
I think we are more excited to see them, tho.

More when we arrive, if we get internet access.

God Bless!!

Mark's Thoughts : Part 5

Okay.... it is Friday morning! We leave today in a matter of hours not days anymore! WOW!!! Go figure I woke up early unable to sleep. I feel anxious to get going, but at the same time I am feeling confident and as well prepared as I can be. Bags are packed and I am enjoying my last cup of coffee at home. My goal for this morning is to get as many hugs and kisses from my family I can before we head for the airport. So far I am well reaching my goal! Praise God!!!

Pray for safe travel for team Malawi '09!!! Woohoo!!!!

YEAH!!!! Team Malawi 2009!!!

Final Team Meeting

It's so incredible that two weeks from today, we will be heading back to Malawi! For half of us it is the excitement of going back to a place that we are SO touched by, for the other half, there is the great anticipation of the unknown. I remember that feeling last year.
We had our final team meeting and dinner last night. Before that, we met at Mark's to pack supplies into suitcases and get them all weighed. We have such a great assortment of things to take over to Malawi with us... fabric, books, crayons, toiletries, yarn, beads! Our bags will be packed to maximum capacity!! That is so great!
Our team will be serving together at the World Vision Caregiver Kit build project here at Lakeside Church next Saturday - which is sure to be an awesome experience.
We have received our schedule from COTN so now know some of the things we will be helping with. It looks like there will be plenty of time spent with the widows and children. We will travel to another village and install screens on windows and teach computer skills to some of the older children.
I am so honored to be able to return to Malawi. Thank you to everyone who has given financially, donated items and committed to pray. People have committed to fast for our team (one is fasting today!!). Thank you, thank you, thank you!
God Bless You!

Mark's Thought's Part : 4

"Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right." Proverbs 20:11.

"He called a little child and had him stand among them...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Mathew 18:2-4.

God shows us things in so many different ways. Even at times when we are least expecting it. Yesterday God humbled me through a child and confirmed the reason I am even going on this trip. Here is my story:

I was at a children's birthday party for a friend of ours. My daughter and their daughter are both 7 years old and are like two peas in a pod. My daughter's friend had heard about my trip to Africa to help orphans her age that are less fortunate than we are. Before we left the party she had brought me an envelope which she had decorated with her name and flowers and other adorable pictures that 7 yr old girls love to draw. Inside the envelope was money for my trip from her. It was all her allowance money she had earned. She gave it up without the blink of an eye. For her it was like giving up all she had.

I was not only humbled by her selfless giving, I was encouraged to go to Africa and show those kids that people do love and care about them thousands of miles away. To see life through a child's eye makes you stop and rethink about what is important. Jesus calls us to be like a child and not let the world cloud our minds. Why can't we all show selfless love and compassion without analyzing it all to death. The answer really is quite simple.

Mark's Thoughts : Part 3

The garage sale was a huge success. It was a major blessing in so many ways. The first blessing was our team working together to get the sale organized, set up, and torn down. This is a great team and I think we are going to do great things together while we are in Africa. The second blessing was God bringing all the people to the sale, which by the way was a ton. There were cars parked everywhere and people coming from every direction. Another blessing was the weather. God kept the rain away all morning and gave us just enough time to do what we needed to do. There was one part during the morning when I looked up and saw a square patch of blue sky directly over the house we were at.....seriously. The best blessing of all was being able to bless all the people who bought stuff at our sale. We sold tons and tons of stuff at ridiculously low prices. There were some people who desperately needed clothes and we were able to provide the clothes at next to nothing prices. They walked away with the biggest smiles. What blows me away is how much we still made selling everything so cheap. God definitely had His hand over that garage sale. Thank you God for all your blessings. Africa, here we come!