As I am sitting here thinking over the few months since I last shared with you, I am contemplating the rhythm to this life as it ebbs and flows from one situation to another, always to bring us to the place where we know the blessing of the Father who loves and cares for us.
The floods are in the past now and the people have moved on. Homes have been repaired or rebuilt. Neighbours and friends are helping each other and new relationships are being formed. New babies are being born and life continues.
Thank you for being so generous with your financial gifts, your time and energy, and the sacrifice you are making for God’s Kingdom. You are precious to me and so much more precious to God. Thank you!
As I have been thinking about what to share with all of you, I am reminded of how Africa is a land of many contrasts and surprises. Sometimes they are good and are obvious moves of God, and at other times they can be so sad and devastating. These past months we have seen this in Pemba.
After 10 years of living, playing, learning, and serving together, we left Patrick in Canada last September. This was really hard to do, a bit like an amputation. We are thankful for modern communication, but look forward to a face to face reunion. Patrick is having a fabulous year at Kings' Christian Collegiate in Oakville, thanks to friends who made this possible.
[Patrick climbing Malawi’s Zomba Mountain prior to leaving Malawi.]
People often marvel that we gave up our western life to move to Bangula, Malawi. Though that was challenging, it was not that hard. Our life in Malawi has a lot to offer. We spend a lot of time together as a family. We have lunch together every day. Malawians get up early and go to bed early, so our evenings are usually our own. We home school, which allows us to read a lot of the same books, and interact with each other about what we are learning. We have endless summer!
Lately I’ve been thinking about what it is that ‘I do’? So far I have concluded what not doing. I’m not building and padding my resume for my future or pursuing a job in my University Degree.
We are in training of various kinds. Patrick and David are training for an international bike race in Luwawa. They try to ride 30 km three times a week. With another years growth and much more intensive training, both expect to improve on last year’s race. Patrick, Daniel, and Kalina have all been part of our Iris Running Club in preparation for the CURE Hospital Fun Run in late April. My physical training is a lot less strenuous. I try to walk, ride or swim several times a week.
One of our Iris girls recently had her 16th birthday. On the eve of her birthday she ran over to my house wanting to spend to time with me. We were chatting about life and getting ‘older’. I asked her what she wanted to be for real when she grows up. She took a minute and then said, “I really do want to be a teacher.” She continued to say “I am going to be a teacher here and they will not even recognize where I have come from!” Curious about what this meant, I asked her to explain.
Here we are again. As I am taking some quiet time to reflect on all that has happened since my last update, I am amazed to consider all that God has been doing these last months.
As I have been thinking about what to share with all of you, I am reminded of how Africa is a land of many contrasts and surprises. Sometimes they are good and are obvious moves of God, and at other times they can be so sad and devastating. These past months we have seen this in Pemba.