December 2009 David & Joanna Morrison Update
“The Morrison’s are in their seventh year in Bangula, Malawi. The base has grown considerably during that time, from one Bible school dormitory, to several classrooms and three dormitories at the Bible school, a Primary school with 8 classrooms, a library, and several teachers’ offices, four children’s homes for 52 children and their Malawian house parents, 3 missionary homes for 10 full time missionaries, and a Visitor Centre which can accommodate up to sixteen visitors at a time. The most recent addition is an aquaponic farm, designed to provide fish and vegetables for the community.
[Iris Africa ministry base in Bangula]
“Family life is still dominated by home schooling, which takes place from 8 to 12 each morning. As Patrick steps into high school, he is focusing on getting his pilots license. He is quite keen to fly us around Malawi, and save hours on the bumpy roads. Both Daniel and Patrick have been very grateful for the arrival of 2 more boys on the compound. Jonathan and Caleb came with their mum and dad, to host our many visitors. It has been wonderful for the boys to have friends close by. Kalina continues to thrive among her Malawian friends. She is learning the recorder and enjoys the social interactions over a game called ‘jingo’. It is like French skipping with a piece of elastic around two girls’ legs while the third person jumps various patterns.
[Patrick with one of our Iris boys, Thandy]
[Patrick got a chance to fly with a pilot while in Canada this past summer]
[Daniel working at the fish farm with Kelvin]
[Kalina with one of our Iris girls, Patricia]
“Mo’s office is in the middle of the compound, very close to the children’s’ homes. He gets up very early to find some quiet, and sees the kids off to school. Leadership training is a high priority, which involves meetings – meetings with house parents, commissioners, guards, individuals and small groups. His favourite part of the work is still bringing home children. As we look forward to bringing home 50 more children, we are already scouting out the children who are most in need. This will be a season of adjustment for the children and for us. We need your prayers as we search for the right house parents for four new homes.
“I (Joanna) am occupied with home schooling in the mornings, and have a long list of dreams besides. Much of the day is filled with the urgent – sick children, finding clothes for children, finding shoes for someone, mending clothes, helping people at the gate. The other part is teaching. I teach at the Bible school on Monday afternoons, at a small Ladies’ group on Tuesdays, at Girls’ and Boys’ clubs on Wednesdays and Fridays, and sometimes at church on Sundays. I also enjoy teaching recorder at the Primary School. In the midst of the busyness, I am praying, interceding for Malawi and for these children. I pray, ‘What is the one thing that is necessary? What does God require of us?’”
[Joanna with Esther and Chrissy]