“Stopping for the One”

Don and Elizabeth are completing 4 years of service with Heidi and Iris in Pemba...in addition to previously serving with Iris in Zimpeto. And their current commitment remains “open-ended: as long as the Lord, Iris, and our supporting churches and family enable us to continue serving fruitfully...!”

"I am still in preschool and loving it! We have our little routines and some push us to the limits........but over all, we have a fun time together. We had sent out a prayer request for a teacher and that has been answered.........potentially. A woman and her husband have come from Blantyre and are now looking for a house down here. She needs to get some paperwork in to Mo, then can start. I am very excited to have her on our team! I think she has what it takes. Pray for ease of transition, finding a home, a teachable spirit and quick adaptation to the Bangula area.

By way of an update, perhaps you would like a personal tour of our home. When you visit our home, you are very likely to find a new member of the Iris family. Kalina is particularly attached to Chimwemwe, our one month old baby. He comes to our house to escape the constant noise at the children’s homes, but he is the newest member of the Nsitu family (Boys 1). You will also meet Rhoda and Veronica who help Joanna remain sane by keeping the meals coming, and the house clean. On the back porch, you may find a tailor churning out skirts and shorts, and repairing endless piles of clothes.

It has been a busy time for Betty and me. We sold our home back in Canada and spent most of our time there deciding what we wanted to keep or sell and what to put into storage. We also helped our youngest daughter set herself up in an apartment. While we were In Canada, the team here expanded the sewing room to twice its size. Betty and the girls now have more room to sew. The girls are progressing in their sewing skills to include quilt making, draperies and dress making. It's wonderful to see them grow; the sewing room has an atmosphere of joy that keeps them coming!

“After a wonderful season of rest and restoration with my family in Canada in November and December 2008, I am back and starting my third year here with my Dondo family. God is really stretching and maturing me through different situations. These last four months I personally have had a lot of challenges and hard things that God has allowed me to walk through. I do thank the Lord for these seasons of shaking and purifying. My first trip on the first day of mercy ministry (food distribution) in Cheringoma, God ‘gave’ us a double rainbow!!!

December 2007 Miriam Kirk Update

In mid-December I had to make an emergency flight to South Africa,  
because of a rapidly growing cellulitis infection in my leg. It had  
dangerously already entered the blood stream and the doctor in South  
Africa said I got there 'just in time'. After initial hospital  
treatment I was advised by doctors not to return to Mozambique until  
my body was fully recovered. So a decision was made for me to return  
to Canada where I could receive virtually 'free' health care.  

"The past few months have been a mix with a lot of 'ups' and some 'downs'. I have seen a lot of progress in regards to site development and the care and skill that the builders are putting into their work. In September one of our builders died, and that was very hard for all of us. Jeke had been training here for several years and late last year we had promoted him to full builder. It was of comfort to see his co-workers support Jeke and his family through his time of illness and death.

"This past summer we were privileged to host an “International Leaders School of Ministry”. Personally, this was both a rich and rewarding  experience. We were responsible for the team that came, as well as for handling everything from scheduling and translation of materials, to providing all the necessities for the Mozambicans who came. Since we had never had any prior experience in organizing a conference, it was quite a learning curve.

The Morrison’s are in their 6th year in Bangula, Malawi. "The seasons are
now more predictable and the bumps in the road well known. Gigantic bugs
(in unheard of numbers) and puff adders are no longer shocking. The
challenges are known, but they still require creative solutions. How can
homeschooling be a pleasant experience in the intense heat? How do we
decide which widow’s house most needs rebuilding? How do we meet the
needs without creating a mob scene? How can we give to one without
generating jealousy?