My Blog

WOW- it’s been a long time!!!

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:55:16 +0200

I can’t believe it’s been SO long since my last blog update! I’m hoping to take the next few days and update LOTS of blog posts. You can tell that I’m in full swing with all sorts of things here in Malawi but that’s NO EXCUSE. So- I’m start with the most recent thing that I want to blog about and then go back from there! Thanks for being patient with me (or maybe you have been so upset that I haven’t been blogging...sorry for that!)

So the most recent thing would be Club 2:8 at St. Andrew’s! I’m leading YL CLub here in Blantyre for about 100-120 kids from mostly St. Andrew’s but lots of other kids come from home schooling, out of town. We have it every other Friday at a FABULOUS families home who provide the space, dinner for everyone and hot chocolate at the end! They just love opening their home, backyard, huge porch, swimming pool for us to do ANY kind of fun games, mixers, crazy messy skits! Thank God for them and their love for kids.

So, I started this back in Feb but we have just started the 2010-2011 school year last Friday. The group has been called Youth Group for the city of Blantyre basically but we are trying to change that name to invite kids who wouldn’t naturally want to come to something called “youth group”. Our purpose is to provide a venue/atmosphere for kids to have fun hang out time, get to know adult leaders who want to invest in their lives and to present the gospel clearly. I feel God has gifted me with the ability to plan, organize games, and run the night in a fun inclusive way. I do not however feel so gifted in giving the talk at the end of the night (I have tried and trust me- others would say the same thing). So, we have others who are extremely gifted in that area present a message from the gospel and relate it to these kids lives.

We have called the time together Club 2:8- the 2:8 coming from 1 Thessalonians 2:8:

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

I feel that God gave me that verse about these kids...We do love them so much and care for them- all their LITTLE and BIG decisions in life and so we as leaders share our lives with them! Join me in praying for them and our times together. We have some bible studies that break off from this group during the week and try to understand meaning in life and what it is to be a Christian seeking after God.

I’ll add blogs after our Friday’s together- Below are pics from our Back to School Club 2:8. Next theme is Western/Country!!!

Back to Boarding

Sun, 5 Sep 2010 16:04:04 +0200

School starts back tomorrow for St. Andrew’s International School here in Blantyre, Malawi! Always an exciting time! This year though, I’m extra excited because I’m going to be a boarding parent for the girls! Boarding here at Saints holds about 90 kids- half are girls. So, I have a year group (Yr. 9’s which in America is around 13 years old) and I act as their parent while in boarding. There are 4 other women that are boarding parents for the girls so we each have a day of the week that we are on duty from 6am to 10pm roughly. We wake them up, check them in at every meal, and put them through study hall (known as prep 2x at night- before and after dinner) and then get them sorted for the next day and off to bed! So, those are the ‘formal duties’ but I LOVE the in between times where we just hang out and talk about life, school, boys, etc. The mentoring/pastoring part is my favorite. The girls actually get along pretty well and that helps too. We have started a mentoring program where older girls (age 16/18 years old) watch over the younger ones (10-12 years old). Apart from our weekly duty time- I have 2 weekend duties from now until Dec where we stay on campus and are there from 8am Sat to 10pm Sun. I’m supposed to plan fun things during the weekend (perfect for me)! So, I’ll update after my weekend duties on what we did!

Please help me pray for these relationships and the girls that I will be with so much. I have come to love these girls and most of them come to Club 2:8- our Young Life Club/youth group on Friday nights. I just blogged about that too! Pray that I can encourage, lead and love the girls well!

I feel MADE FOR THIS kind-of thing:)

MOVED AGAIN!!!

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:04:28 +0200

Yeah- I moved again and I’m excited about it! I should be in this house until my time in Malawi ends and I come home!

Why I’m excited about the move:
INTERNET 24/7 (when we have power)
Closer to town/school/everything- so much closer:)
Bigger space to have groups over for bible studies/dinner, etc.
Now, I’m living on the SIM compound where the office is located and 4 other families!
AMEN- I have a bed bigger than a bread box (only slightly kidding)...It must be a double but it’s AMAZING!

The only bad thing- no food garden here...just beautiful flowers! So back to the market I will go for fruits/veggies, etc!

WORLD CUP

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:33:48 +0200

It has been AMAZING to be here in Malawi during the World Cup for a number of reasons! First, the WC is in Africa...there is so much pride from ALL AFRICANS that the world cup is here. Secondly, soccer (football here) is so popular. kids are always playing football- with wadded up trash, rotten fruits that have fallen from trees, occasionally a flat soccer ball and of course all are barefoot. So there is lots of interest and knowledge about the sport here. Also, it seems that when an African team has a match- the world here stops. There is no one to be found anywhere...all watching somewhere or crowded around a radio somewhere! AND I have some friends here from America who are huge fans of the World Cup- so we have been finding places around town to watch games. When USA played we had a big party at a friends house with TV...and we all stood to sing the national anthem with great pride. (I think pride for things “back home” goes WAY up while oversees!) The picture above is when we gathered as a group and watched the first game- South Africa vs. Mexico that ended in a draw 1-1. We were glued to the TV and when SA scored (the first goal of the WC) the place erupted! So FUN!

Anyway, it has been GREAT fun to be on the continent where the World Cup is happening. In 4 years maybe I will be doing missions in South America...for 2014 WC???

Love,
sarah:)

Still Learning

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:45:05 +0200

WOW- It has been awhile since I last blogged! I’m not sure how time flies sooo fast. I have so much to report on and will be trying to fill in the past month of not blogging! I go through each day thinking- I need to write about this or I can’t believe God has allowed me to be part of this. I know that I am a still learning here in Malawi. Just when I feel comfortable about my life here- it feels like God puts a new challenge or struggle for me to remember that I have to trust Him! I also know God has blessed me with great friends here, Malawian and expats, to share with me in my experiences. Friendships are sooo important abroad I have come to learn because without others to help me think about, chew on and process things that I’m going through- I could get overwhelmed first and then not really take in all I can that God wants to show me.

For instance, last week I had some money stolen from my house (more so my purse that was in my room) while I was just outside in the garden. Of course, I should have locked the door and now do every time I step outside. However, I live in a compound where I know everyone and there is quite a bit of trust with people who are around me. When I realized my money was missing- I felt hurt, upset, scared a little and didn’t understand why someone whom I know so WELL...would risk trust/friendship/a job/etc. for $50. After much thought, prayer and conversations with others...the thief was confronted, the money was returned and we have had a few conversations about where we go from here in terms of trust. I knew that in the middle of the ordeal...I was being watched (as a white outsider and Christian) by everyone around as to how I would handle this. I feel that I handled it in the best way possible, taking into consideration this other persons best interest in the future while protecting myself and the money that God has given me through friends to be here in Malawi.

So having said all of that, I am taking a break from having people in my house for a little bit. Which is really hard for me because I have LOVED having kids in for parties, movie nights much like the pictures posted here, or dinners with my friends. Help me pray that God uses this situation for good and that this person who has a habit of stealing can break free from that. In this culture, a thief is pretty much the worst kind of criminal you can be. Many are killed once caught and in general, there is little grace extended to a thief.

Hope to write more soon and catch up on the MANY events/conversations/exciting things happening here!

Love,
Sarah:)