TEACHING IN MALAWI

How To Make A Missionary Prayer Card

2012-02-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

As a missionary, short-term or career, it's really important to connect with your supporters. One of the ways this is accomplished is through the use of a missionary prayer card. The primary PURPOSE of the card is to remind your support team to pray for you. Because of the nature of the card, these often make their way into Bibles and onto refrigerator doors. Therefore, the missionary prayer card also becomes a reference with information as to where you're serving, what you're doing, how to contact you, send donations, mail, etc.

The PROBLEM with the missionary prayer card is that most of them are ... well ... umm ... not that great to look at.

Let me illustrate.

Yes, that is mine and the blotchiness isn't from your computer or my camera.

Believe it or not, this isn't that bad.

If you're not familiar with the concept, just google images of missionary prayer cards. You'll find thousands of these lovelies. I'll even admit that I used those examples as "inspiration" for my own card.

Even during the hours of DIYing my own card I felt that it was a clichéd mess, but I went with it, anyway. I mean, if this is the norm, then I guess this is just what you do. It's almost as if the construction of an awkward and dizzying prayer card is some sort of right of passage for missionaries. This, of course, does nothing in helping with the missionary stereotype.

After making great Christmas cards online, while in Africa, using such stationers as Minted and Tiny Prints, I realized that these sites could be utilized to make APPEALING missionary prayer cards.

Of course, there is a trick to this whole process because you won't find a link anywhere on their site that says missionary prayer card. Shocking, I know. However, THE SECRET is to ...

Go to the New Years card section of an online custom stationer. Why? Because New Years cards don't typically have a lot of holiday or event specific elements embedded into the designs, making them perfect for customization.

Choose a card WITHOUT a lot of fancy script. When perusing through the many style and design options it's hard to tell which cards have script that can be edited and which ones don't without clicking on each image. The general rule of thumb is that the more intricate and colorful the font, the higher the likelihood it can't be edited. Look for relatively plain script.

I have gone ahead and completed some of the legwork in finding New Years cards that can be fully edited and customized on both Minted and Tiny Prints for your own fridge worthy missionary prayer card. Choose a card you like, click on it, and presto you are ready to edit.

CUSTOMIZABLE CARDS

Click here for all New Years cards from Minted.

Fronts

Backer Options

Click here for the latest Minted coupon codes.

Click here for all New Year's cards from Tiny Prints.

Tiny Prints will even mail your cards to individual recipients.

Perfect if you're already living abroad.

Click here for the latest Tiny Prints coupon codes.

Also, any graphic designer that makes custom stationary (i.e wedding invitations) in your area may also be up for the challenge. You might be surprised at how reasonable their pricing can be. If you're in San Diego try my friend Jenn.

Whether you choose to use a custom stationer or DIY your missionary prayer card, I RECOMMEND that you keep your card SIMPLE, especially on the front.

FRONT

PHOTO(S) - No matter how unphotogenic you think you are, have at least one photo that includes all family members. Cards without photos are impersonal. Ministries are built through personal connections, not data.

NAMES OF ALL FAMILY MEMBERS - Again, it's all about personal connections and this is helpful for those that do not know all of your family members really well. Plus, a more intimate connection is created when another prays for you by name.

A CALL TO PRAYER - Something as straightforward as "Pray For [insert family name here]" will suffice.

COUNTRY NAME - Try Missionaries in Malawi, Serving in Malawi, or even Teaching in Malawi. You get the idea?

BACK

WEBSITE - This can even be a free blog service. If you don't have a website yet, I highly recommend you start one NOW.

SENDING ORGANIZATION - A nice reminder that you are not in this alone.

EMAIL - Given that posting your email address on the web can make it easy plunder for spammers to fill your inbox, putting your email on the card may be a better option.

OPTIONAL: Relevant Bible verse, quote, or statistic - choose one or the other, but probably not all. Additional photo(s) - these photos do not necessarily have to be of you but can be of the people or place you'll be serving. Ask your sending organization for images, if necessary. Other contact information - such as where to send donations, mail, etc. All of this can be information you put on your website, so it's not necessary to include it here.

AVOID TMI

If you haven't yet googled images for missionary prayer cards I suggest you do so soon. The most appealing examples, don't include a ton of information. Instead, you are guided to the appropriate resource to learn and do more. Additionally, some of the best cards don't include fake backgrounds. It's obvious that you're not standing in front of a waterfall, when you're not actually standing in front of a waterfall. What's up with all the waterfalls, anyway?

TAX DEDUCTION

Check with your tax professional because your missionary prayer cards may even be a tax deduction. Be sure to save your receipt(s).

In CONCLUSION, God's plans and purposes will not be fulfilled or left undone because of your missionary prayer card. After all, it's not all about you. We are simply called to do our part and an attention-grabbing card (in a positive way) might just be the means for building a partnership.

My New - Old Phone

2012-02-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Hello 2012 Jen,

It's 2000 Jen showing you my cool new phone.

Remember this?

Look how small it is!

Actually, this is my most recent phone as of January 2012. In an era of smart phones and apps, this is what I am rockin'. Many smart phones don't work here, so there really isn't much of a point. I even had my roommate bring me this from South Africa for cheap because you can easily spend $50 on something like this in Malawi. Surprisingly, you can get BlackBerry service and a lot of people are using it. I just don't use my phone enough to warrent paying extra for the service (or buying a BlackBerry). I suspect it won't be long before there is 3G and 4G service readily available in Malawi and everyone will be Skyping on their iphone while playing Angry Birds. Well, maybe not that soon.

Malawi Football

2012-02-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

Not long ago I got to go to my first pro football (soccer) game in Malawi. This was a big playoff game in which the associate pastor from Flood Church serves as a coach. So, some friends and I went all VIP for the event for about $6. Unfortunately, our team (green - and yes, I am a girl) didn't win that day, but it was a good time nevertheless.

Game Clip

Halftime Show

Cheap Seats

Guess What?

2012-02-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

Two lines is positive.

One line is negative.

I'm ....

But, first

...

do you even know what you are looking at?

That little gadget is every woman, man, and child's friend. The rapid malaria test. Just placing a droplet of blood on the device can determine if you have malaria within minutes. Any guesses as to what my results were?

I'm still malaria free.

Yeah!

Just a little malaria FYI for you. Even if that test comes up negative, the lab still checks your blood for the parasite and as of late even your platelet and white blood cell count. When it comes to malaria (and other diseases) we don't mess around here. If you have a fever, it's best to go to a medical facility for a malaria test. If caught early, malaria is very treatable. People half act as if they have the flu when they have malaria and for the most part, it's no biggie. The government even provides treatment medication free of charge. In fact, it is even advised to carry treatment meds when you leave a malaria containing country. Just about every non-malaria country will practically let you die before they acknowledge that you have the disease and then they often don't have the meds readily available to treat malaria, including the good old USA.

It is also important to remember that malaria is somewhat preventable. Take the preventative malaria meds if you can, sleep under a net, and wear mosquito repellent when you're exposed. I've also found that running fans helps keep mosquitos away, too.

With all of that said, Africa is still an amazing place and I highly recommend you visit it if you can. Don't let my ramblings scare you. Malaria is preventable and treatable. :)

Custom Valentine's Day Classroom Cards For a Cause: Minted Review

2012-01-24T01:44:00.000-08:00

Do your kids (grandkids, neices, nephews) exchange classroom Valentine's Day cards? Want something cute, unique, and custom? Want to support a great cause, too? This year Minted is designing custom Valentine's Day classroom cards. When you purchase these adorable cards through my affiliate link, 10% goes to support my work teaching in Malawi, Africa.

In true Minted fashion, there is even an option for a custom backer.

Click here to access these great cards and more.

Click here for the latest Minted coupon codes.

As always, thank you for your support.

Click here to learn more about my Shop For A Cause Sponsors.

Sponsor Welcome: Minted Review

2011-11-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. I'm currently crushing on ... stationary. I know it's wierd, but I really am a fan of my new sponsor and here is why.

Minted is known for its fresh take on stationary products. While they sell the usual holiday cards, invitations, and announcements, their designs are sourced by indie artists from all over the world making their products truly GORGEOUS.

I purchased this years Christmas cards from Minted and I couldn't be happier. Even my fiance said my cards were awesome (what guy ever says that?). Check out the eye candy.

Photo Christmas Cards

Pet Christmas Cards

Non-Photo Cards

Minibooks

All of which are completely customizeable.

front

back

inside

envelope liners and address labels

Customizeable Gifts

Journals

Return Address Labels

Minted is even a great source of inspiration for your holiday photo.

Click here for more Minted COUPON CODES.

Click here to read more about my Shop For A Cause Sponsors.

Victoria Falls Travel Review

2011-11-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

I HEART Zambia!

All of my stories of Victoria Falls are captured here in one easy to navigate post. If you would like to know more about all the great (endless) things to do in Livingstone, Zambia then click here. If you have any questions (how I got there, safety, etc.) don't hesitate to send me an email. Enjoy!

Jumping into Devils Pool on the edge of The Falls - Part 1, Part 2.
River boarding and white water rafting the Zambezi River.
Cliff diving into the raging Zambezi River.
Falling off a cliff on the Gorge Swing.

Victoria Falls: Gorge Swing

2011-11-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

One of the activities I had been really excited to do in Livingstone, Zambia was to swing off of the bridge over the lower Zambezi river that connects Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Don't get me wrong, I was a bit nervous about it, but very gung ho. So one afternoon we made the schlep to the bridge to watch the excitement. First, we watched a guy bungee jump by hanging from his legs. The jumping part didn't seem so bad but watching confirmed that I had absolutely no desire to hang upside down for a couple of minutes over a rushing river waiting for someone to retrieve me. I'm up for adventure and fun, but that just looked painful. Everyone I had talked to who had bungee jumped off the bridge said they didn't really enjoy it as much as they thought they would. On the other hand, swinging off the bridge came highly recommended. Up next was a jumper who was going to swing and it looked a little something like this.

Something happened to me when I watched that jumper fall and keep falling - fear. BIG FEAR. Fear I didn't even know I could have just from watching. It came quite unexpected as I am not afraid of heights. I was beginning to second guess my desire to jump. Luckily, one of our group members was recovering from being sick so we were going to wait a couple of days before making the big leap anyway. On the other hand, this gave me a couple of days to fester in my fear.

This was when I realized that I had a very real problem with fear. Swinging off of that bridge was going to be by far the safest thing we did that week. Even if I passed out during the jump, I would still be safe. No one had ever died from jumping and there was still this part of me that wanted to do it. Honestly, it made me wonder how much opportunity I'd been missing out on because of illogical fears. When it came to cliff jumping that week I had chose the small jump on two different occasions. Just moving to Malawi was 8 years in the making. Was I allowing fear to rule my life more often than not? I questioned a lot of my life choices.

I decided to conquer my unnecessary fear this time and jump. However, jumping off the bridge was a bit pricey and as it turns out there was a gorge swing in the area that was 1/3 of the price but only half as high. I was once again overcoming my fears halfway, but I suppose you have to start somewhere. The night before the jump I had difficulty sleeping. My stomache was in knots and I was popping antacids like candy. This sun did rise, I did get out of bed, and I did hop on the truck to take us to the gorge. I decided to put on a brave face and feign excitement BUT I was terrified. Yet....

I put on the harness.

I walked out to the platform.

I shimmied to the edge.

(I didn't dare look down.)

I leaned back.

I fell!

I kept falling!

And, I triumphantly whoohooed, repeatedly.

This swing wasn't about being adventurous, this swing was about not letting unnecessary fear rule my life. I conquered. What have you conquered lately? If you could use a little perspective when it comes to fear Seth Godin's book, Linchpin, is a book I have been reading that views fear from a different angle.

Click here to read more about my Victoria Falls trip.

Victoria Falls: Cliff Diving

2011-11-20T03:20:00.000-08:00

If everyone jumps off a cliff, would you? The answer to this childhood lesson is yes. However, the dumbest (most dangerous) thing I did on my Victoria Falls trip was to cliff dive (okay, so it was a jump) into the rushing waters of the lower Zambezi river without a life jacket.

So how did I get suckered in? In the national park that surrounds Victoria Falls you can take a trail that leads to the lower Zambezi river. Along this trail we kept seeing spray painted pink arrows. Initially, we thought it was to guide you down the trail to the water, but once we got to the water we realized that the arrows kept going along the waters edge. As curious as we were to find out where the arrows led, we waded in an eddy current in the river first. Cuz, you know, we have to indulge in every immediate and slightly dangerous thrill that comes our way.

After the allure of the wonderfully cool but not cold water wore off, we followed the arrows. We bolder hopped for a bit and then came across a relatively new climbing rope tethered to the rocks that led to no where but the water. After a few puzzled seconds past it dawned on someone that this was the makings of a rope swing. Not so much a swing, but a means to cliff dive/jump into the water AND pull yourself back to the shore.

Truthfully, I was skeptic but everyone attributes such things to my being several years older than the rest of the group. Regardless of my opinion, everyone jumped and it looked something like this.

After watching my fellow jumpers happily survive, I decided to leap, too.
And now for my feature film cliff jump in HD.

You might have noticed that I didn't jump quite as high as the others, but I had a lot of fun doing it.

Click here to read more about my Victoria Falls trip.

Victoria Falls: River Boarding The Zambezi River

2011-11-19T03:59:00.000-08:00

At this point I am starting to sound like a bragger with the craziness I've been up to, but... consider these posts as exposing you to things that you never thought were possible.

With that said, my second most highly recommended adventure to do while in Victoria Falls is to river board and white water raft the Zambezi River.

Catch that? River boarding. I'll pause to suggest you watch the video below before I continue.

Talk about an amazing rush. I am not the best swimmer so I stuck with the class 2 and 3 rapids. Most of the time, I wasn't quite riding the rapids but holding a boogie board at my side while being tossed around the Zambezi, but it was still awesome. Along the way you could hop back in the river raft whenever you wanted and when we encountered a small still patch of crocodile infested water, it was required. The whole thing was a bit scary, but far less dangerous than surfing in the ocean.

This was the best rafting trip I have ever been on by far. Rafting, river boarding, cliff diving, and riding rapids sans raft or board - Amazing! Have I used amazing enough in my posts lately?

We didn't head out to Jungle Junction as the video recommends, but I've decided I should ride in a dug out canoe at some point. If I ever make it out to Lake Malawi again, I think I can actually pull that off.

Click here to read more about my Victoria Falls trip.

Victoria Falls: Jumping Into a Waterfall

2011-11-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

How does one get to jump into a waterfall - at the top AND not fall over the edge?

Visit the beautiful Victoria Falls in Africa between September and December. Personally, I recommend the Zambian side.

During the dry season the Zambezi River waters are relatively low.

So low that you can actually walk across most of the 1 km wide Upper Zambezi River.

This is where it gets interesting. At the top of the falls an eddy current forms at Devil's pool. The current flows upstream due to the geology of the river and actually appears to lack any current whatsoever. Translation: if you jump into the river at this one spot, you won't be swept over the edge.

So without further a due footage of the craziness that is Devil's Pool.

You may have noticed that I am not in the video. Well, our group opted to have our pictures taken instead, which you can view in this post. But, the above video captures the awesomeness of what we did. We were all a bit surprised the eddy current wasn't more obvious. Which makes you wonder how anyone ever figured it out in the first place. Really, all that is between you and and a 100+ m drop is a couple of feet of rock. Amazing!

Sponsor Welcome: Amazon

2011-11-16T06:33:00.000-08:00

Are you making purchases on amazon.com? Now your purchases can help support my volunteer teaching in Malawi, Africa. It's easy! Just click through one my amazon.com links on the blog, including the ad on the right. Find something you like (within your budget, of course), because no matter what you purchase (even if it's not a product I am specifically recommending) 4% of the sale (at no extra cost to you) goes towards my work of improving education in Malawi. It's a win-win purchase. You buy products through Amazon that you were going to buy anyway, at a discount, and a small percentage of that purchase goes towards supporting my work in Africa. Seriously, that's it!

Click here or on the ad above to start shopping on amazon.com today and help improve education in Africa while you are at it.

As always, thank you for your support.

P.S. If you know someone who might be interested in purchasing products through this partnership feel free to email them this post or put this in your status update on Facebook.

DISCLAIMER: PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THIS LINK ARE NOT MEANT TO BE AN EXCUSE FOR A SHOPPING SPREE (i.e. "Honey, I bought my new Kindle Fire to help starving children in Africa"). HAHA!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Sponsor Welcome: Tiny Prints Review

2011-11-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

A big featured welcome to my new sponsor, Tiny Prints!

This premier online stationery store carries all sorts of beautiful paper products such as invitations, birth announcements, Christmas cards, and Shutterfly photobooks. I am a fan of their designs and used their services last year to send out my christmas cards from Africa. Tiny Prints even addressed, stamped, and mailed my cards. I have also used their awesome greeting card service to send personalized birthday cards. Tiny Prints has been a huge blessing given that mailings from Malawi take 3-8 weeks to arrive in the United States.

When you purchase through this Tiny Prints partnership, 10% of sales goes to directly benefit the Teaching in Malawi ministry at African Bible Colleges Christian Academy. Help improve education in Africa through the purchase of items you are already buying. It's a great partnership!

Click here for Tiny Prints coupon codes.

If you have used Tiny Prints, share your experience in the comments section below. Or if you know someone who could benefit from this service, pass it on.

As always, thank you for your support.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Victoria Falls: The Best Facebook Profile Pic Tutorial

2011-11-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

Curious as to how one achieves a Facebook profile pic like this?

Step 1: Travel to Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from September to December. Personally, I recommend the Zambian side. I know, this step is probably going to be your greatest obstacle, but Zambia not only has Victoria Falls but also has the best safari park in all of Africa. Really, Zambia NEEDS to make it onto your bucket list.

Step 2: Head out to Livingstone Island through the Royal Livingstone Hotel. Why? Cuz hanging off the edge of Victoria Falls is an organized excursion that you pay for (and can be booked through any lodging).

Step 3: Hop on a boat that ferries you out to Livingstone Island on the upper Zambezi River. Note the spray from the falls and pray your boat engine works and has an anchor. Just kidding (sorta, not really).

Step 4: Enjoy the view.

Step 5: Strike a pose.

The "giddy with excitement" pose.

The "watch Felix, your guide, show you how to gently wade into Devil's Pool" pose.

The "watch your guide NOT jump over the edge" pose.

The "hey - the guide survived and I am soooo doing that" pose.

The "I would NEVER get to do this in the United States" pose.

The "I am not wasting another minute, I am jumping" pose.

The "this is the most awesome thing I've ever done" pose.

The "don't cha wish this was you, sucka" pose.

Step 6: Shimmy to edge of Devil's Pool.

Take a peak.

Get a little closer.

Take a few deep breaths.

Over smile for the camera, cuz now there is even a rainbow. Really!!!

Add in a dramatic pose.

Or, two.

This is living for all it's worth!

What?! How?! - That post is here. Enjoy!

Click here to read more about my Victoria Falls trip.

Support (Almost) Raised

2011-10-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, most missionaries are volunteers and therefore need to raise financial support to fund their ministry. I, of course, am no exception. Today I am excited to announce that another member has joined the finance team. Yippee!!! Really, this is every exciting and deserving of a Snoopy happy dance. So I will say it again. Yippee!!

An animal heel click (we'll pretend that is what is happening) to really drive home the point.

Drum roll please (sorry, no animal photos for this one)....
My middle school and high school science education ministry is 90% fully funded. This even means that my thermometer on the right gets an update.

An additional $125 a month would fully fund this ministry. So close, I can see a victory lap in the future.

To help fully fund this ministry become a member of the finance team by clicking here.

As they say in Malawi - Zikomo! (Thank you)

Teaching in Africa: Unexpected Loss

2011-09-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

We lost one of our third grade students this week. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Below is a link to one of my fellow teacher's experience explaining our tragic loss to her students. There is hope in loss.

Teaching in Africa: Unexpected Loss: Yesterday was a very tough day at the academy. I arrived at school to find out that one of the third grade students had passed ...

The New Diggs

2011-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

To start off the new academic year at ABCCA, I moved into a new home. This is pretty common here on campus. Last year I lived in a home of a family that was on furlough for the year. They have since returned, so I needed a new place. I now live in another home with a new roommate. I am pretty happy with how everything has turned out.

Check out the new diggs.

Our Half of the Duplex

Front Yard - Compliments of Our Neighbors

Bath

Backyard

Kitchen

Back Patio - Great Place For A Cup of Tea

Living Room

Dining Room

Bedroom Closets

My Princess Bed

Making of a Princess Bed

Kids, this is NOT Recommended

I Am Engaged! - The Proposal Story

2011-09-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

Surprise! Seems a bit out of left field, given that I have been living in Africa for the past year, but you never know where life will take you.

Cozy up, cuz this post is a goodie!

I officially decided to move to Malawi in late spring of 2009 and committed to serving as a teacher at ABCCA for two years. I was 31 at the time and getting married and having kids was definitely on my bucket list. However, teaching in Malawi would definitely limit that from happening any time soon, but ~~I prepared to let down my long list of suitors gently~~ I have a track record of embracing unique opportunities that would be near impossible in a relationship. What opportunities were those? Oh, you know, like … I’ll have to think about that one. Truth is, I was everyone’s favorite single gal pal. Traveling the globe for two years when everyone else seemed to think it was time to settle down was totally logical, all things considered. I had wanted to do this for years and now was my chance. I said “I do” to Malawi and off I went. Actually, the big commitment was over a year before the move. Needless to say, a lot can happen in a year.

During the summer of 2009, I met David.

David and I hit it off better than either one of us expected. Seeing that we really enjoyed hanging out with each other, I dropped the “oh BTW I am moving to Africa for two years” bomb on him.. Surprisingly, he stuck around. While we had a great time together that year, I can tell you that our impending separation did complicate things. About a month before my departure we put an official expiration date on our relationship – the day I boarded the plane.

Those first couple of months were a bit tough adapting to a new culture, a new job, a new home, and moving on from a break up, but I knew everything would work out as it should. Ultimately, it was the peace and joy of Christ in me that allowed me to welcome my journey before me.

Ladies and gentleman, I am here to tell you that sometimes absence does makes the heart grow fonder. After a few months, David and I decided to re-evaluate our no relationship plan. Things had been good between us and maybe we could make two years apart work, somehow. To jump start our rekindled relationship, David hopped a plane to Malawi. That’s right! He flew 12,000 miles for over two days to hang out with little ol’ me. We went on safari in Zambia, schlepped through the markets of Lilongwe together, watched countless hours of sitcoms on DVD (Lilongwe isn’t the most exciting place), hiked Mkhoma and he even taught my taught my classes for a couple of days. For three glorious weeks we experienced Africa together.

How about my engagement story? I am getting there. Speaking of which, I am a practical gal and a busy gal that lives 12,000 miles away from her lovely San Diego home. If we were going to have a relationship, I made it very clear that a “bigger commitment” (wink, wink – nudge, nudge) would need to happen in the near future. I was assured that was part of the plan. Yes, I am a brat that ruins surprises. I knew a proposal was on the horizon.

So here we are, summer of 2011 and I am back in the USA. David and I are spending time together, he’s meeting my mid-west based family (ahem, asking my family for their blessing) and he’s making sure we schedule dates together (I had a lot of catching up to do with all my peoples during my short break). On one such date he surprised me with a trip to Palm Springs complete with an aerial tramway ride up Mount San Jacinto.

It’s lovely there overlooking the desert and, being at such a high altitude, much cooler.

We found a lovely spot with a great overlook and David started to set up a romantic picnic, but there were a lot of people near us who were enjoying the view, too.

So, we decided to find another spot to enjoy our picnic lunch. We were having a great time when a family of six plopped down beside us (BTW, plenty of space at this outlook point to spread out). And so we waited, and waited, and they just kept sitting there.

So, we finished our lunch and hiked again. We came across yet another lookout point, but this time it was small enough for us to have a quiet moment together. We were taking in the beautiful scenery and the warm air when it hit me – was this one of those elaborate moments where the guy wants you to think he’s going to propose, but doesn’t? {Sike!} To keep the proposal a total surprise, he later drops to one knee, pretending to tie his shoe, during a TV commercial break and then pops the big question. But, I digress.

While overlooking the desert, in one of my favorite SoCal spots, David dropped to one knee, pulled a ring out, and said some of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard him say. I’d love to tell you what he said, but I don’t remember. I did manage to NOT look at the ring until he finished sharing his heart and I replied with a resounding “yes.” It was a wonderful day accompanied by a wonderful three stone, round cut, diamond engagement ring.

South Africa: My First Hostel Stay

2011-05-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yep! I, Jen, at the tender young age of 33 finally had my first hostel stay. It's not because I've lived the glam life all these years, it's because I haven't done much in terms of world travel.

This then begins my series on my trip to South Africa over Christmas break. I dug into my savings and had quite the adventure. Before I share my tales of shark cage diving, eating Nile crocodile, and enjoying an afternoon snack while suspended 50 meters in the sky, let me begin by sharing a little about my first hostel stay.

My South African adventure began in the city of Johannesburg (affectionately dubbed Jo'burg). Jo'burg is South Africa's largest and most dangerous city. Needless to say we were cautious in our meanderings through the city, so after scouring the web for a safe and suitable accommodation I decided upon on Shoestrings Airport Lodge.

Granted, it wasn't the Taj Mahal, but...

It was secure.

We had a private room and bath to ourselves, with extra pillow upon request.

And I had a smile on my face after a good night's sleep.

The best features were complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast, and transport to and from the airport and the Gautrain. Seriously, you can't beat that for $25/person a night. There is even a hotel next door with a great restaurant. We stayed here again for our return trip to Lilongwe. I would highly recommend this place if you find yourself staying overnight in Jo'burg, which is quite common if you do any travel to Southern Africa. Contact Rob for a better rate than the one listed on www.hostelworld.com Needless to say, I am now an official hostel fan.

Lilongwe Wildlife Center: It's not just about the animals.

2011-05-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Lilongwe Wildlife Center is a rehab facility for many sick and injured animals. However, not all the animals treated are capable of surviving in the wild and are used for an educational viewing instead. For our visit we learned that the best time to go is at the end of the day when they feed the animals. Here's what we saw.

A lion.

A large crocodile.

A hyena.

Lots of monkeys.

Enough with the wildlife. This place was great for simply taking in life.

I learned that I was hippo height.

How to call people baboons in Chichewa.

And other helpful phrases.

If you're looking for a cig, try the candy bowl.

I live near (almost) crocodile infested waters. Sweet!

You can find a carport almost anywhere.

For those of you who think the Baby Bjorn is a scam...

Let's just say there is more than one way to ~~wrangle~~ carry a baby.

Loading ABC container #1

2011-05-16T02:35:00.000-07:00

Every year at least one giant shipping container is sent to Malawi with supplies for the college, academy, clinic, and staff. Curious as to what a container looks like? Check out this post by fellow ABC staffers Jill and Jeremy.

In This Life: Loading ABC container #1: "The warehouse before we started loading! Pretty much everything you see must go! Another view from the other end of the warehouse. ..."

Funny Sign Alert!

2011-05-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

Car Park (parking lot) at Dedza Pottery .

Reminds me of the poster that states "if you leave your children unattended they will be given an espresso and a puppy."

Packing For Africa: Part 4

2011-05-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

After having lived in Malawi for almost a year, I think a follow up to my pre-Malawi packing posts is in order. This is a lengthy post primarily for future ABC missionaries, but anyone else who might be interested in how my dutiful packing actually turned out may find this post insightful and maybe a bit entertaining.

I'll begin with the following statement.

Most anything you need CAN be purchased in Lilongwe, BUT...

you may not find what you want when you want/need it so patience is a virtue. If you've got something you need or really enjoy owning, bring it with you.
it's going to cost you. Most goods cost between 50% and 100% more.
made in China is not the same thing as made in China, for Africa. I am still amazed at how often items that don't seem like rocket science to make (like a pencil), don't actually work.

Now for a revision of my first list. Larger items are best if you are sending them on the container. Otherwise, it will be too expensive to put them in your luggage. Mailing items is very expensive and there is a chance they won't make it to your doorstep (maybe someone elses, but no one you would know).

Cookbooks with scratch recipes. I have the Joy of Cooking and Betty Crocker. These didn't make it in my luggage, due to weight restrictions. Honestly, I haven't missed them. The Internet comes in handy for finding recipes (when it's working). I suppose it depends on how serious of a cook you are. Then again, ingredient options are rather limited, rendering most American recipes rather useless.
Clothing for pretty much the entire time I am there. It's hot! You can buy second hand American clothing very cheap. However, new clothing is low quality and comes with a high price tag. This is especially true when considering children's clothing. One missionary had a child's onsie come apart after one washing because it was not stitched but glued together. It gets cold here at night during the dry winter"ish" season. Bring warm clothing, too.
Extra socks and underwear as local detergents are harsh on clothing. True.
Shoes (running, hiking, dress, walking, sandals) With all the rain here, I'm considering buying a pair of Crocs. Most of my shoes stink now. Shoes are probably the most important item to bring as shoes here are very poor quality (and very uncomfortable).
All medicines Absolutely! The over the counter selection is very limited. Consider bringing vitamins, too.
Contact lens cleaner solutions, saline (got to love Costco). Haven't checked to see if this is available anywhere here, but if it is it won't be consistently. Plan ahead.
Toiletries If you have certain items you really prefer, then yes. Otherwise, you can buy shampoo, conditioner, etc. at reasonable prices. Exceptions: expect to pay between $10-$15 for a small can of shaving cream, razors are only single or double blades, and travel sized items are nonexistent. Bring any cosmetics you want, especially if you have fair skin.
Tape – all types (random - apparently not readily available) Mystery solved! This is one of those items that is sold here that doesn't actually work. You can find tape (masking, duct, transparent) here, but it doesn't actually stick. Crazy!
Scissors You could skip.
Batteries and chargers – all types You can buy batteries here, just bring specialty items and chargers.
Flashlight I like my small Maglight but you can buy flashlights here.
Camera This is one item I wish I would have spent more money on. I've never taken so many pictures and videos before.
Teaching Supplies (that's a whole other list) Most classrooms are pretty well equipped. Highly recommend dry erase markers and mechanical pencils.
Sunglasses, glasses, extra glasses (good thing my prescription has not changed in the last decade). Yep.
Stamps Haven't used mine yet, but if you need something mailed in the U.S. it helps whomever is carrying it back for you to have postage paid already.
Laptop, printer Both are a must. Include extra ink. Academy printers don't always work, so if you're a teacher this becomes a necessity if you create your own lessons. On the other hand, many teachers don't have a printer and figure out a way to deal. I suppose it really is a personal preference.
Smoke detector Houses do have them, don't bring.
Water filters Initially helps with the taste of the water, but you do get used to it. The houses all have special antimicrobial filters.
Head lamp – power outages average 3X/week Still recommend. However, power outages are almost daily and usually only last 10 minutes or so till the generator kicks on. Note: this only applies if you live on campus. Power outages can last an hour or a whole day otherwise.
Reusable containers, towels, napkins, bags Plastic containers are pretty decent here, towels can be purchased, napkins made (cheaply), and bags can be purchased, too.
One piece swimsuit (prefer one that isn't scary ugly) A tankini is completely acceptable and a bikini is fine in some places, too.
Book day costume (Halloween type costume) I'd ordered one but it didn't arrive on time. I was lame to not have one nor was I really equipped for a make shift costume either. This event is a big deal. There is also International Day. A patriotic themed costume is fun for that. Note: dressing like a pilgrim is a bit frowned upon given the issues with "pilgrims" to South Africa. The use of a costume really only applies to academy staff and students.
Mosquito repellent You can buy that here, but packets or travel sized bottles come in handy while traveling.
Spices Lots of spices here but limited seasoning packets (and they're very expensive if you do find them). Consider bringing taco seasoning and parmesan cheese.
Good hair cutting scissors (nervous about what this implies J) Don't bother. You can get a good and inexpensive haircut here from a few places.
Chocolate chips (~~very expensive~~) Try nonexistent. Bring them. Even if you're not a chocolate addict, sometimes you want something that "tastes like America."
Electric kitchen appliances Depends on your level of cooking expertise. You can find them here.
A good pot and pan (quality is hard to find) You can buy decent pots and pans here now. Then again, if you're a serious cook, you may want to consider bringing them.
Water bottle/thermos bring a leak proof water bottle, coffee thermos, and I would recommend a CamelPak too if you're into hiking. You'll drink way more water here.

Other Items to Consider

Towels and Bedding - This may depend on where you are living. The people that lived in your home before you may have left linens behind and you can use theirs. Contact ABC to see if this applies to you. If nothing was left behind you may want to consider bringing your own. When you arrive after two to three days of travel all you're really going to be interested in doing is showering and sleeping. You probably won't be up for a trip to the bank to exchange money and then shopping for overpriced linens. The other option would be to see if you can borrow this stuff till you can purchase it. I brought my own, but I wouldn't call it necessary. Again, planning is everything here.
Travel sized items & travel friendly clothing - Given that you're in Africa you'll probably want to do some travel while you're here. You'll want a bag that can't fit under your seat on a bus and doesn't have to be checked on an airplane (roll aboards - almost always get checked now). The issue being that if the bag isn't in your possesion, count on someone rifling through it (even if there is a lock on it). Theft is highly likely if you travel through Johannesburg (a.k.a. Joburg). Don't put anything valuable in a checked bag. You can't buy travel sized items here, so stock up (at least on the containers). Quick drying/multipurpose clothing (so you can wash it in a sink) that can be squashed in a bag is ideal.
DVD's - so this genius thought she could download tv shows and movies to her computer to save space in her bag. hahahahahahahahah. Ha! Have I mentioned that the Internet connection here is slow?! A three minute YouTube video can take 3 hours to play. Music and podcasts take awhile to download (but tolerable). The good news is that many people here have a lot of movies, but not much for TV shows. Maybe recommending someone bring DVD's is a bit for my own benefit, but I've got a stash to lend out, too.
Games - Good times when you probably won't have a TV with a satellite subscription.
ebook Reader - This is definately optional, but you may find that once in awhile you actually will have time to read a book. Granted there a quite a few theological books on campus to read, but you may appreciate something from another genre now and then. You can download books to your computer and the Kindle app is great for that. I have a Sony ebook reader that I really DON'T recommend. While the Sony eReader is a bit cheaper than the Kindle (hence the reason I got it), the books cost more, there isn't as much of a selection to choose from, and many can't be downloaded outside of the U.S. If you're going to do this then I suggest the Kindle. Many staff members here have one and love it.
Speakers - I threw a compact stereo onto the container last year and have really enjoyed having good sound. If that is not an option for you, I would recommend speakers that plug into your USB port on your laptop and run off of power from your computer.
Mobile phone - If you have a mobile phone that you love, you can bring it and probably have it unlocked (this may limit your ability to use it in the U.S. again). This is assuming that your SIM card is accessible. I know that some Droid and Palm phones don't have accessible SIM cards, however, SIM cards can be cut to fit the iPhone. Otherwise, a new (ancient style) phone, will run about $20 (heard of these but never seen one for sale) - $60 (more likely).
Compact umbrella - It rains a lot and having a small umbrella that can be stashed in a purse or bag helps. You can buy large ones here that double as canes if need be. (What? You don't need a cane! Bring a compact umbrella then).
Travel packets of hand wipes/hand sanatizer/tissues/mosquito repellent - Sanitation isn't the same here and I haven't seen these items for sale.
Cups and coffee mugs - Cups and mugs tend to be small here (I feel like I am drinking from shot glasses and teacups). This is really a personal preference and more realistically a very American preference. I brought a bigger coffee mug and love it. I will be schlepping another larger mug back with me and larger drinking glasses (acrylic). Sometimes more is more (and better).
Long shower curtain and liner - curtain rods tend to sit a bit high around here. I have heard others note that their shower curtains don't even make it to the height of the tub, leaving quite a mess in the bathroom.
Over the shoulder bag - While I don't feel like people are out to grab my purse, I definately felt more comfortable with an over the shoulder bag when I first got here. The largest bill is only worth $3 and only a few places accept cards. Your going to feel like you just robbed a bank with the amount of cash you'll carry with you and it takes awhile to get used to.
Bibles - Bring your favorite study Bible and a smaller Bible as you'll be bringing it to various events. Those that have brought only a small Bible, to save space for packing, wished they would have brought a larger study Bible, too.

Stuff to forget about.

Binders (and sheet protectors) - I brought them to organize all my files, assignments, etc. Paper is A4 here so a standard binder is just not big enough.

You could absolutely bring only a carry-on and purchase some version of most things you appreciate here. Your American life won't translate no matter how much you bring and that is all part of what makes the experience great. Everything mentioned above is just a suggestion to make your stay in Malawi a bit more comfortable, but you'll be fine without those items. After all, they are just things and don't we all have enough stuff? Additionally, just getting off of an airplane with a carry on is going to make you far richer than most of the citizens of Malawi anyway. Living in Malawi makes you realize how most of what you own isn't really all that important and that you were probably more materialistic than you ever would have noticed otherwise. Granted we are humans and our desire for stuff, comfort, and luxuries doesn't really ever subside, but living here has helped to keep the materialistic side of me in check.

Feel free to email me through my contact page if you have any questions.

ABC peeps share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section. What do the ABC newbs need to know?

Read more about packing to live in Malawi at the following posts.

Packing For Africa: Part 1
Packing For Africa: Part 2
Packing For Africa: Part 3

P.S. For those of you who read part 2 and are wondering if I wore a fanny pack {shudder}, the answer is no, no, and more no.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Gardening - Malawian Style

2011-05-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am going to get a bit morbid for a second, so bear with me ... this all turns out okay in the end. Have you ever heard those stories of massacres in Africa in which hundreds or thousands of people are slaughtered with machetes? If you're like me you may have wondered why in the world would someone have a machete. Let alone the notion that many people have machetes.

After living in Malawi for about a day, you immediately solve the mystery.

Machetes are ....

wait for it....

Catch that?

Precision Gardening Tools

In a place with consistent fuel shortages and a lack of access to power tools, let alone power gardening tools, gardeners use machetes to trim edges, and sickles to cut grass. Most of the grass on campus is trimmed by gas or electric movers, but there are no weed whackers for trimming edges and hard to mow areas.

Where does one buy such precision gardening tools? The markets. Most machetes put Crocodile Dundee's "this is a knife" famous tag line to shame. Admittedly, it's quite intimidating to see people walking around with giant knives.

Anyone seen this before elsewhere?

What Song Would A Kid In Malawi Want To Sing For a Talent Show?

2011-05-06T12:00:00.000-07:00

Even more specifically, what would an eight year old girl want to sing for a talent show in Malawi? Give up? Mylie Cyrus's The Climb - Duh! Yes, even in the heart of landlocked Africa the kiddos can't get enough of Mylie.

Side note: Many Malawians have a Facebook account, even though they don't have a computer!

Anyway, what does this have to do with my living in Africa? Well, I found myself not only being a co-chair in charge of a talent show but also a judge. Actually, my 9th grade students voted me in as a judge. They thought I would have funny comments for the show. Don't know where they got that idea from. Could be that I have trouble keeping my "observations" to myself.

Guess who played Randy, Simon, and Paula?

Hard at work carefully critiquing each Mylie Cyrus song and dance number.

In the end, the winners of the talent show did not receive a trophy or medal but the great joy of shoving a pie in the face of a beloved staff member. I think this is really an under utilized reward/incentive and should be implemented in the workplace. Instead of handing someone a certificate of appreciation, how about allowing the employee of the month the honor of pieing their boss in the face. After all, most companies are not in a position to give pay raises. Talk about a boost to employee morale. The students seemed to enjoy it at least.

As far as my funny comments for the show, I'm afraid I'm not always impromptu funny on cue. However, when I was asked what talent I would perform if given the opportunity I replied with "parallel parking". I got quite a few laughs on that one and I wasn't even being sarcastic. Anyone else have a "talent" or "superpower" along those lines?

Returning to the Blogosphere!

2011-05-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

Greetings Followers,

(Still obsessing over giant old African SUV's)

I am alive, fabulous, and staying malaria free. I can attribute the gist of my absence to blogging burnout accompanied by intermittent Internet access and the general busyness of life. However, I recognize that as I round out the school year my friends and family may be a bit curious as to what I have been up to these past few months. Mostly, a lot of teaching and planning. After all, that is what I am here for and so is to be expected. On the other hand, I can't say that it has been all work and no play. Even work has had its unique and memorable moments. Cuz hey - I'm an American living in Africa!

Off to write more posts,

Jen

The Return of Espresso Saturday

2011-01-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

While living in The States, one of my favorite ways to spend a day off was to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with friends. One friend of mine and I called it brekie and another friend of mine and I dubbed it espresso Saturday. It's comfort food for the soul. Needless to say that breakfast or coffee out with friends doesn't happen much in Malawi. In fact, I was living in Lilongwe for 3 months before I finally got a chance to indulge.

I was so excited that I took a picture of me drinking a cappuccino. Sad.

It's not that I don't drink coffee in Malawi, I still indulge daily but... I just don't have a coffee maker or an espresso machine. So how do I pull that off? I mix boiling water and coffee in one cup and pour it through a strainer into another cup. Or ... I drink instant coffee. Oh yeah, I am definitely roughing it.

So while visiting my friend Cara and her family in South Africa over Christmas break, I spent leisurely mornings and evenings sipping homemade cappuccino. It was refreshing. I decided that I definitely needed to schlep one of the gizmos back with me to Malawi.

Drum roll please.

Introducing The Espresso Machine/Coffee Maker

Picture me smiling on the other side of the camera.

Monday was a public holiday, which meant no school. In order to properly break in the espresso machine (coffee maker and burr grinder) I invited the ABC staff over for Cappuccino Monday. Needless to say it was a big hit with about 20+ people.

Lilongwe Gets A Wal-Mart

2011-01-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, Wal-Mart isn't in Lilongwe, yet. But, a Game store opened in Lilongwe. Game is a retail store from South Africa. Going into the store is like being teleported to the western world. I almost feel as if I am no longer in Lilongwe when I am in there.

Surprisingly, a lot of the merchandise is the same as what you would find in a Wal-Mart. I guess that is what happens when everyone buys their products from China. On the downside, everything is twice as expensive. Guess you can't really have it all.

UPDATE: Game is now owned by Wal-Mart. So, Malawi now has Wal-Mart.

Funny Sign Alert!

2010-12-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

I guess they're trying to move people from "put it on my tab" syndrome.

Official Currency of Zimbabwe

2010-12-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

Seriously!

Drumline - Burundi Style

2010-12-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

The Burundi drummers of the Dowa refugee camp in Malawi recently showcased their talents at ABCCA's International Day. To be more exact, redefined the possibilities for a drumline. Nick Cannon's got nothing on these musicians.

Yep, playing and marching with the drums on their heads.

Watch the last drummer carefully, he beats the drum with his foot.
Wow - on so many levels.

In case you missed the drumming contortions in the last video, the first drummer beats the drum with his foot.

Balancing, playing, and dancing with a drum is no easy feat.

huh?

No, you definitely weren't imagining things.

He made himself comfortable by sitting on his drumsticks.

These guys were the epitome of talent and creativity.

Christmas In Lilongwe

2010-12-24T02:00:00.000-08:00

Celebrating the Christmas season in Lilongwe has definitely been different, but mostly because I'm not spending time with my family and friends that I've been celebrating with for years. The parties are still a focal point around these part, so here is a tidbit of all that has happened so far.

ABCCA CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

GLORIA: The story of Christ's birth as told from the perspective of the angels in heaven.

Supervising from the stands.

The English teacher actually wrote the program script and then utilized various Christmas songs for the singing and ballet portions. Impressive! Certainly, not an undertaking I would do well at.

Of Course, I had to throw in a little video to give you an idea of what was going on. Mary and Joseph were a progressive couple each from different ethnicity's.

FIELD HOCKEY PARTY

It was a junk food fest.

MY CHRISTMAS PARTY

I actually forgot to take pictures!

The whole event was a pretty low key potluck. The idea behind it was to get together with some of our non-ABC staff friends to celebrate the holidays but we invited everyone. The more the merrier!

LAURA CHINCHEN'S HOLIDAY PARTY

The Chinchen's founded ABC so they've been here for awhile. It really feels like Christmas at their home with all of the decor up. The evening was comfort food for my soul. We munched on desserts (this even included a chocolate fountain), had a white elephant gift exchange (the funniest and most strategic I've ever witnessed), and we sang an unexpected and funny version of the twelve days of Christmas (imagine the possibilities for two guys acting out 8 maids a milking - oh, they went there).

This was in a picture frame for the white elephant gift exchange. It looked creepier and [insert your own adjective here] in person. Mike and Tyler definitely got a few laughs for this one.

FIESTA NIGHT

The Breuninger's, fellow San Diegans, hosted Fiesta Night. This included homemade refried beans, tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole and a little pinata fun, too. Did I mention everything was homemade? Believe it or not there are still parts of the world without a taco shop on every corner. Shame!

Jeannette explaining to the kiddos how to give a pinata a proper hit.

The kids line.

Jack Chinchen

Larry Brown

Some of the big kids gave it a go, too.

So far so good and more to come.

How To Eat Giant Fried Flying Ants

2010-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to those who've uttered the words "I'LL NEVER..."

STEP 1

Find ~~a Malawian~~ an unsuspecting eleven year old British girl with a butter tub full of giant fried flying ants.

STEP 2

Open the box.

You don't necessarily have to open the box yourself, best to let someone else do it for you.

STEP 3

Harness the power of unsolicited pep talks from 6th graders.

"Tastes like buttered popcorn."

"No, it tastes like bacon."

"Ms. Dinwiddie and Mr. Ammentorp ate one."

STEP 4

Pick up a giant fried flying ant.

STEP 4B

Have someone else put it in your hand due to deep seated fear of insects kicking in and preventing you from holding the giant flying ant (brain doesn't care if it's dead) for more than half a second.

STEP 5

Put on a brave smile.

Chant: "I am Anthony Bourdain."

"You're a grown up now and you can TOTALLY handle this."

HINT: Chanting is best done silently to yourself because you wouldn't want anyone to think you're crazy.

STEP 6

Film it for the world to see ~~how easy it is~~ how you embraced this rare opportunity ... and lived.

I couldn't tell you what it tasted like. All I could think about while I was trying to down that sucker was how distinct those little legs were on my tongue. I tried to chew the ant, but I ended up swallowing it whole. I even had to take a couple of gulps as those pesky legs got caught in the back of my throat (insert gag reflex here).

{dramatic pause for recovery breath}

Anyway, I knew the day would come when I would eat an insect but I didn't think it was going to happen on International Day (hence the fun outfits), but it seems kind of fitting now that it's all said and done.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

If you decide that someday you would like to determine if giant fried flying ants actually taste like bacon or buttered popcorn, I would recommend removing the legs first. Or in my case, have someone else remove the legs for you.

If you're interested in other culinary delights available in Lilongwe, might I suggest mice on stick as detailed here.

Over Twenty Countries - One Day

2010-12-22T08:21:00.000-08:00

International Day 2010 celebrated the diverse make-up of students and staff at ABCCA. While the student body is about half Malawian, the other half comes from all over the globe. The diverse background of my students is one aspect of ABCCA that I really enjoy.

My 9th Grade Homeroom - USA, Malawi, Portugal, Zimbabwe, & Ecuador.

And no, you can't escape Gator fans even in the far reaches of Africa.

The day began with everyone dressing in a style that would represent their home country.

U.K. & U.S.A

Traditional American dress can be interpreted a whole lot of ways. From this.

To this. Apparently, a puffy white shirt goes a long way.

George Washington on International Day and a pirate on Reading Day.

Parade set up.

The assembly included a little music from Korea.

Traditional Portuguese dancing.

Traditional music and dancing from Burundi.

(These guys were so amazing that I will be dedicating an entire post to it.)

Staff and students performing a traditional dance in chitinges
(Malawian wrap skirt).

Most Malawian women wear western style clothing, but some wear chitinges.

What could possibly be traditional dancing for Americans?

Anyone? Anyone?

Country line dancing to the Boot Scoot Boogie.
I didn't see that coming. I should have known better.

Could have been worse.

It could have been ... the Electric Slide.

The assembly ended with everyone singing an African Christian praise song in Chichewa (Malawian language). From what I understand this is sung throughout Africa with each country having its own version. I want to say the song is called There is None Like Jesus in English but I am probably a little off on the translation. Either way, it was cool seeing everyone come together and sing.

Of course, the whole day concluded with a mass feast of food from around the world. Yum!!

It also included a Fear Factor moment, so I'll leave you with this.

Any guesses? It deserves it's own post.

Tomorrow.

I Heart Turkey 2010

2010-12-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's been a long time since I've posted. Life got to be a bit overwhelming teaching four different science courses and all of the other things that came along. Sigh. Anyway, I've had over a week off from school and I'm starting to feel like myself again. So let the posting begin. In honor of the holiday season, I'll share about my 1st Thanksgiving in Malawi.

First off, I think this would count as the largest and most intimate Thanksgiving dinner that I have ever attended. Attendees consisted of the many missionaries at African Bible College. Can I tell you how much I and many others enjoyed celebrating on the actual day? Since it's not a holiday here, we didn't have the day off. That part I was actually okay with, but a week earlier the event was scheduled for Friday. I was SO thankful it changed.

My camera can't really do this justice, but 50+ were in attendance in that room alone.

Hence, the need for seating assignments.

Making use of any and every possible seating option.

Enter the hungry diners on a mission to find their seats and get the party (food shoveling) started.

Turkey! It's a bird just like chicken, right? Should be able to get that around the world, right? Wrong! That was the first time I had had turkey since I arrived in Africa. Smothered in gravy, it was just as delicious as I had remembered. From the photo you might recognize mashed potatoes, carrots, cranberry sauce (imported, of course) and stuffing. Delish! There was one staple that was missing. Can you tell what it is? Green bean casserole. While I don't quite have the love affair with it that most Americans do, I missed it's presence. I'm going to try to get the ingredients for it on the container for next year. I think it will be a smashing success.

Since our table was last to be served dinner, we got first dibs at dessert. Hence, the beautiful slice of pumpkin pie front and center. While green bean casserole didn't quite happen, that heavenly slice of pumpkin pie really helped to fully ignite Thanksgiving cheer.

Why am going on about how much a slice of pumpkin pie helped to make Thanksgiving so special? There was only ONE pie for all of us.

Dani and I enjoying our pumpkin pie. Although, if there hadn't have been enough turkey to go around I might have had a different Thanksgiving story to tell.

With Christmas Day on the horizon, I suspect I'll have stories to tell as well. So far I've been to a couple of parties (hosted one this past Sunday), with more on the horizon. Actually, that's my next event for the day. The Chinchen's (President and founders of ABC) are hosting a gathering tonight. Looking forward to the event as they've been living in Malawi for almost 20 years and they've been working hard to get their place decorated for Christmas. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here, finally.

If You Encounter An Elephant While Sleeping You Should ...

2010-10-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

A. rush to the screen of your tented cabin and exclaim how you wish you could post this on Facebook.
B. repeatedly shoosh your well-meaning friend while cowering in your bed.
C. turn on the lights to your tented cabin so you can get a better view of this rare event.
D. probably none of the above.

Yeah - probably D.

My "seizing the excitement of the moment" friend chose option A.

I chose option B as it was clearly the only logical choice. I didn't share the same confidence that the mesh tent walls or the genuine wood branches holding up our tented cabin were really a mighty force field.

Our chalet neighbors, the ~~questionably~~ bravest of them all, responded by turning on their lights and noisily chatting about all the action.

According to the ancient African wisdom (a.k.a. common sense) of our guide, the most appropriate response is to be quiet, stay inside, and keep the lights out. Luckily, our friends who were sleeping in an actual tent followed these simple rules. Since elephants have a big schnauz, they know you are there, but you probably don't want to scare a mama and her calf so mumm's the word.

However, if an elephant(s) had decided to knock down our mighty tented cabin we could have used our special, in suite, elephant whistle (it was really just a plain old whistle). Well, other people had a whistle in their luxury accommodation; we would have had to utilize our vocal stylings. After having listened to shrieking junior high girls for years, I know the perfect pitch to stop anything in its tracks.

Having experienced elephants running around outside our chalet and living to tell the tale, I would have to say that it was pretty amazing. The elephants were so close we could hear them breathing. One of them smacked a tree a couple of times and knocked down a coconut. Both managed to shimmy their way through a narrow-ish opening, for an elephant, to even get their all access pass to the campers. Impressive!

The only creatures that didn't make their way through that opening were the hippos. Didn't see a one near our chalet. Would have been pretty amazing if we had and probably would have involved a lot less shushing.

So next time you're in Africa and encounter an elephant while sleeping, you know what to do.

Get Blog Updates Via Email

2010-10-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

Tired of checking the blog to see if I've posted any new content. Reading my blog has just gotten easier. I've added a new widget on the right that lets you read blog posts through your email. All you need to do is enter your email address and the widget does the rest. Easy!

Preview for the next safari post.

This sign greeted us as we entered our campsite.

It should have warned - BEWARE OF ELEPHANT!

Subscribe now so you don't miss my tips on what to do when you encounter an elephant and her calf while sleeping in a tent (or tented cabin). I now speak from experience.

The Game Drive

2010-10-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

The game drive was definitely my favorite part of the safari. We were out watching wildlife for about 3 hours: 4pm - 7pm. We were on unpaved trails and cutting through the bush. I loved every minute of it. I was worried I was going to feel like it was Saturday at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but it was so serene with wildlife everywhere. While Liwonde did not have a big variety of large game animals (no big cats, giraffes, ostriches, etc.) it had a lot of wildlife. I was worried I wouldn't see an elephant at all but I saw at least a hundred. Most of the groups we saw even had babies. In about six hundred square kilometers there were 800-900 elephants, so many that they were being shipped to other parks at about 100 at a time. It was so nice to see wildlife thriving, but the biologist in me will stop raving and kick start today with my favorite moment.

They really look like they are moving in slow motion, but they can cover a lot of ground, fast.

My game drive ride. It still makes me drool and miss my 2000 Jeep Cherokee.

more drooling ... anyway

Consistently saw all sorts of animals feeding in the same area. Yes, the wart hogs actually get down on their knees to feed. They'll walk on their knees, too. Entertaining.

Another shot of the elephants walking.

Elephant chowing down on a tree.

sunset feeding

impala

water buck

Zooming through the African plains -- highly recommended.

While our game drive continued, the sunlight did not. This is my last picture. The guide sitting on the front of the vehicle had a red flashlight (so as to not spook the animals) looking for more wildlife.

The story doesn't end here.

Check back again, tomorrow.

The Boat Safari

2010-10-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

Breakfast with the baboons.

Believe it or not seeing the baboons and warthogs around the camp and listening to the singing of the hippos all night long wasn't even officially part of our safari adventures. Needless to say I was awake at 5 am (in true form from my 10 year old going to Disney World self) as I was too excited to keep sleeping. Had a little breakfast and enjoyed a nice leisurely cup of coffee and then it was finally time for the boat safari at 7:45 a.m.

Swallow buidling its nest in our boat. -- Okay, I'll stop teasing. Onto unique African wildlife.

Our first elephant sighting of the day.

Fish eagle.

Look carefully at the log - sunbathing crocodile.

more crocodiles

hippos

More hippos. Easily saw over 100 hippos in small family groups like these.

Hippos enjoy laying in shallow water and rest their heads on the rumps family members.

water buck - has an oily taste, so crocs aren't a fan

baboon

more wart hogs

impala

I might just be a bit giddy at this point.

Upper left - local village fishing poachers using their free mosquito nets as fishing nets. Currently, fishing from a boat is illegal in this part of the Shire, so the poachers were attempting to hide somewhat near the reeds. Local villagers can fish from the banks legally.

Boats formerly used by poachers. Not exactly sure what happened to these boats, but crocodiles do hunt humans. Large crocodiles will knock over small boats. Poaching is dangerous on a variety of levels.

Lots of elephants.

From the boat, most of the pictures I have look similar to this.

Tomorrow I'll post about the evening game drive. Lots of amazing pictures and a couple videos of the wildlife, especially the elephants.

But I'll leave you with one last preview.

My First Safari

2010-10-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yes - I took this picture!

I had last week off and embraced the opportunity to go on my first African safari. The day before I left I felt like I was ten again heading to Disney World for the first time. Last Wednesday my roommate and I headed to Camp Mvuu (hippo) in Liwonde National Park south of Lilongwe. After five hours of dirt roads and dodging potholes, goats, and villagers, we arrived at the banks of the Shire River for our ferry to Camp Mvuu for some one of a kind and once in a lifetime fun for the next two days.

The boat dock.

Angel, our gracious and knowledgeable guide, shuttling us to our luxury accommodation.

Our "everything you could imagine an African safari luxury accommodation could be" - chalet (a.k.a tented cabin)

Our chalet really added to the ambiance of being on an African safari in the middle of a national park but with the perks of hot water and electricity.

Unfortunately, the skeleton key hole you see above is not a novelty but still common to Malawi.

It still amazes me that these are used every time I see one.

My first wildlife sighting - a warthog.

After we got settled we watched the sun set and hundreds of bats flying around.

Serene! African sunsets are so amazing with all the pink hues.

Clear sky's! We were lucky gals.

Dinner was a traditional African braai (BBQ). Basically, a meat fest that included my indulgence in wild boar, not so much because of my highly adventurous spirit but because I haven't eaten much meat lately. I didn't think twice about downing it, either. Once again, making my outdoor sportsman dad proud.

A little live music.

A little dancing.

A little more dancing.

A little preview of tomorrow's boat safari post...stay tuned.

Make it easy on yourself and become a follower.

So I was in a car accident...in Africa!

2010-09-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

I'll start by saying that I am okay and so is everyone else involved. We are very thankful that it wasn't worse on so many levels. The breakdown: I (yes, I was driving) was turning and focusing on not hitting all the pedestrians on the side of the road when a pick up truck, driving too fast, came over a blind hill and smashed into the car. Neither me, nor my passenger, ever saw the vehicle, and didn't know there was a problem until we had been hit. It all happened pretty fast and the sequence of events don't seem to make any sense in our heads; like not hearing the screeching of tires or people screaming on the side of the road until after we were hit.

Luckily, we were just outside of the ABC campus, so many of the people there that helped were people we knew. This is a really good thing as often people and cars are looted after an accident. About 50 people were on the scene within two minutes. Calling the police is just about useless, so someone had to go find them. Strangely, the policeman was found in a bar (kind of like a donut shop, I suppose). I didn't ask a lot of questions on that one.

No one was seriously injured, mostly just sore after being jolted around. The most serious injury was when a looky-loo tried to help move the car out of the road and cut his finger. He ended up getting stitches in the clinic. I havechemical burns on my face from the airbags. I try to think of the burns as a chemical peel about to reveal younger, softer, smoother skin. Truthfully, I am surprised that a car from the early 90s had working airbags, but it was a Toyota so...

The next day I had to go to the police station to give my report and pay a $13 fine. I would have to say that was one of the most efficient things I've done while here in Malawi time wise. We figured it would take us all morning but it only took 45 minutes. Sometimes I am surprised that anyone is in a hurry. The paperwork consisted of writing down the events on a blank piece of paper. It wasn't very high-tech or involved. FYI, the police station looked like what you would expect it to in Africa (small, rundown, and bare). Would have loved to take a picture but I didn't want to up the price of my fine.

Even with the somewhat discouraging event of a car accident, I still want to be here and feel that I should be here. Keep me in your prayers. Safety and good health can't be under emphasized.

Click here to see more pics.

I'm adapting.

2010-09-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Had a revelation today. Almost everyday the power goes out. Usually, it's during the day in the middle of my lesson or while I am trying to heat up water for my morning ramen and tea break. When the power goes out in the evening it requires you to stop what your doing and find a flashlight or light some candles. Luckily, in the evening the power is only out for a few minutes and then the generator kicks on and all is well. This evening when the power went out I was on the phone chatting with my neighbor whose power also went out. We never paused during our conversation and just kept on going. Later, during Bible study the power went off again while we were singing but this time it was only for a few seconds. No one stopped singing, the guitarist didn't miss a beat, and we all acted like it was totally normal because we've all just gotten used to it. On the flip side, the college student dorms are on the other side of the street. Every time the power goes out you hear a roar of moaning and groaning. I suppose that some never get used to the power outages, even if it's been happening for years. Funny!

Feeding The Orphans?

2010-09-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, I went and fed the kiddos at the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery. Currently, there are about 20 babies from infancy to two years old. I think they all look to be about 6 months old (mostly due to malnutrition) but they really do range in age. Most of the kids are orphans but some have been removed from families that were not properly caring for them.

The interesting thing is that all of these orphaned kids are not up for adoption. The family structure works a bit differently here. Several of the kids were there because the mom died from complications of child birth. In fact, out of the twenty kids there were three sets of twins. I thought that was strange but didn't initially make the connection that many mothers die during the birth of twins due to complications. Which seems to account for some of the negative attitudes towards twins throughout parts of Africa. Sadly, obstetricians are a rarity here and there is no NICU. When the mom dies many kids go to crisis nursery facilities till the kids are weened and relatively healthy. Then the kids will either rejoin the dad or extended family members. The kids would have to be completely abandoned in order for them to be adopted. All of those kids have a family member still interested in having them apart of their family.

Some of the kids are HIV positive. I didn't ask who was who. Many kids end up at the facility due to neglect and malnutrition and are quite sick. One of the babies had passed away that morning, so moral was low at the facility that day.

Carson & Melissa playing with 20 not crying babies.

One of the twins whose mom passed away from complications due to childbirth.

I am not one to oooh and aahh over any baby that I see. Kids of close family and friends are a totally different story. Knowing that these kids didn't have their families loving on them all day made me want to love on them more. I have never been with this many babies in one room for so long and not witness a crying breakdown. They were all happy and mild mannered. The Malawian staff ladies there are really good with the kids, too. It's about a five to one ratio at this point.

Seeking to make everyday meaningful.

The good news is that the facility is well equipped with clothes and other baby supplies through donations from the U.S. The problem is that they could use more staff, which costs money and depends on more donations and/or volunteers. I hope to go about once a week and help with feedings. I think Monday afternoon is my day.

Ministry of Hope

On top of Nkhoma, all covered in bugs. I ...

2010-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, a group of us went to Nkhoma to go hiking. This was cool because several of our students at ABCCA live in Nkhoma which is about an hour outside of Lilongwe. It's really a cute little town at the base of a mountain. Enjoy!

Heading Towards the Mountain

Having fun on the drive up.

At the base of the mountain.

Still admiring the mountain.

Was actually attempting to take a picture of the small hut in the distance but also got the dog "relieving" himself.

Made it to the top of the highest point.

We made it!

Words of wisdom.

Amazing view! The bugs were a bit irrating but hey they don't carry malaria, so no biggie. Right?

Click here for more great pictures from the hike.

Malawi Mouse - On a Steeeck!

2010-08-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Having lived in San Diego for over a decade, if I was to come across a small brush fire I would panic and call the authorities. Here in Malawi, these are pretty common and no one is calling the Fire Department. Reason: it may be harvest time. Let me set the scene. Malawi is a very poor, small, land locked country in southeast Africa. Sometimes eating is solely for survival and often leads to desperate measures. That is where the following option comes into play.

Kumbali Village Dinner

2010-08-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, the staff at ABC went to Kumbali Village to have dinner. I can almost liken it to a Luau, Malawian style. At one point, we found ourselves taking pictures in a replica hut, in a replica village, singing "In The Jungle." Tourists!!! On the flip side, the Kumbali Village was put into place as a cultural center to help preserve and share the history of the Malawian culture. All in all it was a fun night and being expats we may never get to see or enjoy such traditions otherwise.

Chris and I in a replica hut. Very small, so either not to size or very old school. Realistically, I don't think anyone lives in anything this small, but many homes in the villages do have mud walls and thatched roofs.

On of the barbeques that our food was cooked on.

The kids table for grown ups, also known as the singles table. I am going to work on infiltrating the lives of the married peeps.

Traditional Malawian fare. It was good, but I expected it to be spicier. The orange sauce was a mango chicken gravy that was amazing. The Fanta in a bottle would be considered traditional, too. FYI: the soda choices are predominately Coke, Sprite, Coke light (still has some sugar in it) and a whole assortment of Fanta flavors. I am a big fan of Fanta Pineapple.

One of the bands.

The dancers.

Musician warming up his instrument over an open flame.

Like the end of a luau, we all got up and attempted to dance along. Looks like my amazing dance skills were not caught on tape, so you'll have to imagine.

Also, adjacent to the cultural village is the Kumbali Country Lodge where Madonna stays when she is in Lilongwe. It would be the nicest place to stay in Lilongwe and not priced too bad, either. They also have a nice restaurant.

Trip To Lake Malawi

2010-08-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we drove for about an hour and a half through the countryside to Lake Malawi. I was really surprised to see that the lake beaches looked more like ocean beaches. Kind of made me think of the California coastline a bit.

Trip To Lake Malawi

Driving In Malawi

2010-08-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Every time I am in a car I am completely fascinated by all that is going on around me and little surprised when I make it back home accident free. I hope to continue to take pics and videos of this and one day put together a montage but for now here is a few I have taken for just a glimpse into life on the road. Enjoy!

Always seeing people riding in the back of pick up trucks in all sorts of ways.

Our fearless South African driver enjoys synchronized passing. Seriously, I freaked out a bit as you'll notice when the camera dropped. My sigh of relief at the end was priceless.

This video was necessitated after almost being t-boned by a small herd of cattle (mostly bulls). No ever one seems to be paying any attention to what the cattle are up to. I like that the two in the back seat, just kept their conversation going like it's no biggie.

Honking is absolutely necessary for everyone's safety in Malawi. You're sharing narrow roads with other cars, bikers, walkers, and the occasional herd of goats.

First Day of School

2010-08-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school for African Bible Colleges Christian Academy. It was a whopping two hours long. Whew! Needless to say, I REALLY enjoyed the format. First, my ninth grade homeroom students arrived and we discussed a few details for about 15 minutes. Then all of the middle school and high school students came to my lab for a group meeting for 30 minutes. Crazy to think that they all fit but the current high school is primarily an online program so they're aren't many students. They are looking to have a full high school program in the next few years. Anyway, having all the middle school and high school students together was great way to introduce the students to their teachers so they didn't have to travel from classroom to classroom. We, the teachers, all shared fun, interesting, and sometimes embarrassing facts about ourselves. Then it was off to a school wide assembly with the parents. This event totally blew me away by the sheer number of parents in attendance. I would have to say that almost all kids had both parents present. There were more parents than kids. It almost brought me to tears, but since I was sitting on stage I had to internalize my "get it together" speech. After working in a Title I school for so many years, I think I almost forgot that kids actually have parents. It's kind of similar to when students think their teachers live at school and sleep under their desk at night. After the assembly I even had parents come up and introduce themselves to me. Unbelievable!

Prayer Partnerships Made Easy

2010-08-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

I have a new gadget at the bottom of the blog to make prayer partnerships much easier. A friend of mine suggested that while I am serving in Malawi, Africa I should have friends and family volunteer to pray for me once a month on a regular schedule and I for them. So I have been thinking about how to pull that off and that's where Google Calenders has come into play. If you are interested in being a designated prayer partner send me an email or Facebook message (include your email) with your desired day. I'll add you to the calender and the program will send you an email once a month reminding you of our prayer partnership. Easy! The email will include prayer requests and you can respond with requests of your own. How cool is all of this?

Flood Malawi

2010-08-16T02:00:00.000-07:00

I attended church at The Flood Malawi, the sister church of The Flood San Diego. In fact, a group from Flood San Diego was there. I had met the missions pastor prior to my departure from San Diego and he was there. It was nice to see a familiar face on the other side of the world. Today a women's choir was there and sang a couple of songs. I recorded a clip because it's not your typical choir. Very cool to be there.

What this clip wasn't able to capture were the babies on the mamas backs. The ladies with kids were in the back but when the moms bent over you would see these little heads pop up. So cute!

BYOB

2010-08-15T02:00:00.000-07:00

Buying fresh milk at the grocery store seems logical and almost universal. It's not! Here the milk that you buy in the grocery store is the ultrapasturized, sits unrefridgerated on a shelf, and endures like a twinkie milk. If you want fresh milk, then you must go to the milk store. There you are greeted by this lovely sign.

Sacrafice???

2010-08-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

When I was preparing to leave the United States I definitely thought about all that I was giving up. I sold my beloved Jeep and most of what I owned, gave up my downtown San Diego apartment, left my nice paying job, distanced myself from friends and family, and ultimately departed from a life I was familiar with. I was becoming a bit of a matyr in my head.

Anyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

I had chalked that verse up to one of those nice "storing up treasures in heaven" verses.

Fast forward two weeks later and I have come to realize how much more I have been provided since I have arrived in Lilongwe. I have moved into a house with a huge yard that normally houses a family of ten. There are only three of us living here. My bedroom is bigger than my last apartment. We have a full time gardener and a part time housekeeper for very little money by U.S. standards. My classroom facilities are amazing. My living expenses are far less than they were in the States. Ultimately, I have been blessed and getting the experience of a lifetime.

I do recognize that cross-cultural stress will most likely set in at an inopportune time. I will probably become quite frustrated by the unfamiliar and will be longing to return to the United States. For now, I am acknowledging that God really does look out for us on so many levels and not only meets our needs but our desires as well.

I've always wanted a big table so family and friends could sit around and enjoy a meal together, play games, Bible studies, book clubs, really just enjoy one another's company. A table always feels more intimate than the living/family room. I got my wish. So far my roommates and I have had a couple of big get togethers and I believe we are going to make Tuesday night dinner and game night.

Lilongwe Market Scavenger Hunt

2010-08-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Wednesday began our staff orientation. Part of the orientation had included heading to the markets via a minibus. Honestly, I've been a bit leery of the minibus experience. The buses are small, cramped, and the drivers are fearless. Then it was pointed out that the mini buses are how the ABC students and many of the people that work at ABC get around town, so I decided I needed to get over myself and experience a part Malawi the way the locals do. Additionally, the scavenger hunt is a right of passage for all new ABC missionaries.

The newbies were divided into groups each with an ABC Malawian student guide. Me, Nane (our Malawian ABC student guide), Chris (my housemate), Michael (one of two single guys at ABC), Amanda and Cara.

Waiting in the rain to catch a minibus took about 15 minutes.

Here is a short clip of the ride. Notice the windshield wiper sticking out and the crack across the windshield. Classic! Really, I've noticed most cars sport a cracked windshield.

Still smiling.

Produce portion of the market.

Not only are those sardines but they are dried. To each their own.

Buying eco-friendly shopping bags. Mine is on the right.

BabyBjorn Malawian style.

Toll bridge to get to the other side of the market. The cost was approximately 7 cents.

I didn't think the photo was really doing the bridge justice.

Cleanest and widest part of the market. Even our doctor from India said the markets were much more cramped than she was used to.

The butcher. This picture actually looks nicer than it did in reality. The stall was small and dark as we were standing just outside of it for the picture.

Minibus lot for a ride back to campus. Basically, a minivan with a fourth row of seating. Yes, I said fourth.

I didn't realize just how big the markets were. I had been to the produce section before but crossing the bridge led to a series of markets. I hope to get video walking through some of the areas because there is just so much going on. It's quite fascinating. While we got all the items on our scavenger hunt list and beat everyone back to campus, we didn't win because another group managed to pay less for all of their goods.

Introducing Our Little One

2010-08-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is my new pet. I wasn’t sure how to feel when I saw the little one scurry past me on my bedroom wall. Initially, I jumped up, ran out of the room, and tried to think of some way to get rid of it. I grabbed a piece of Tupperware and tried to cover it. Of course, the gecko was far smarter and faster than that. My housemate, Sara, came in and mentioned that it had been running around her bedroom for the past couple of weeks. I then decided it’s not like a mouse and I should just let it go. Today I found out that geckos eat mosquitoes. With that I have decided that my new mosquito repellent needs a name. Any thoughts? Is Geico too cliché?

Knock on Wood

2010-08-11T02:00:00.000-07:00

As with many third world countries there are concerns about the water and Malawi is no exception. Apparently, ABC's location in Lilongwe provides us with some of the cleanest water in the area. So far I haven't gotten sick (knock on wood) and I've even brushed my teeth using straight tap water. I, however, have not been drinking it straight from the tap. At ABC we use this ...

Katadyn TRK Drip Ceradyn Water Filter

This is one of those cute little water filtration systems that you use when camping in the back country on steroids. Evidently, highly effective. The school had a microbiologists that came and tested the water and its fine. No boiling required. You can see my Brita hiding in the back. The water from the Katadyn is a bit chalky so the Brita helps to improve the taste a lot.

The water filters are activated charcoal and silver impregnated ceramic. I find them fascinating. Anyone else ever use a Katadyn product? If you're as enthralled as I am or planning on living where the water is questionable check out the Katadyn TRK Drip Ceradyn Water Filter or Katadyn TRK Drip Gravidyn (Gravity Container) System 2110080. A little side note on usage - that much water takes hours to filter. Because the water goes in and out much like electricity, we try to keep the tank full and we've got extra bottled water stashed. To future ABC missionaries most of the homes are already equipped with water filters. Check with an ABC staff member to find out if you'll need one.

Knock Knock!

2010-08-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

I walked into the dining room to unexpectedly find this standing at the back door.

Yes, that is a turkey standing on the other side of the door. My neighbors Paul and Laura have a couple of turkeys and if I hadn't seen them wondering about a couple days before hand I probably really would have screamed.

Truthfully, seeing these two beautiful birds makes me salivate. I am my father's daughter.

Lights Out

2010-08-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

The electricity goes out almost daily. Luckily, there are a couple of generators on campus that kick the power back on in about 10 minutes to compensate for the lack of consistent power. Most of the time the power goes out before sunset. The other night I was fixing dinner after dark and the power went out. Having blog stalked other missionaries for months I knew exactly what to do.

Enter the headlamp. Cooking resumed and my housemates insisted that my brilliance must be captured on film.

I’m In Malawi Now!

2010-08-07T12:18:00.001-07:00

After two days of flying and taking a few days to get my bearings, I am ready to share about life in Malawi. First off, I made it safely, with all of my luggage, and traveled according to my scheduled itinerary. Whew! I was exhausted and very thankful to see my hosts, Carson and Jeff, waiting for me on the other side of customs.

The airport is on the far outskirts of Lilongwe in the middle of beautiful open fields. It was actually how I imagined it to be but without the dirt runway. Modernization! Carson and Jeff brought me to Campus and helped me to settle into my new diggs. Truthfully, I was so exhausted on the ride that I found it difficult to take in the scenery; it was kind of a blur. I was actually really excited to take a shower and a nap when I arrived. I went to turn on the water and it just trickled out. I looked around for some kind of switch, of which there was none. Eventually, more water started pouring out of the faucet. Later I asked my new housemate what the trick was for the water. Turns out the water goes in and out just like the electricity, for some reason that never occurred to me. After laughing at my ignorance, I went down for a nap. I woke up and dutifully took my anti-malarial pill and quickly learned that you shouldn't take those on an empty stomach. I was lucky I didn't throw it right back up. Others haven't been so fortunate.
Carson and Jeff fixed a nice dinner for me and I got the chance to get to know them a bit. Carson is a nurse at the ABC clinic and Jeff will be teaching history at the academy and a couple of courses at the college. Yes, you read that right. I found the Stacy (nurse) and Jon (history teacher) counterparts in Africa on my first day. Carson even had an anthro volcano candle in the living room. Love it! Day 2

I had seen pictures of my lab but it is bigger and nicer than I had expected. On the same note, my class with the largest roster is …… drumroll…. 20 students. I will be teaching grades 6 through 9 science. The amount of prep work will be enormous but I am truly blessed to have such amazing facilities and small class sizes.
After a couple of days of eating PBJ it was time to venture off to the markets. First stop, THE market. I would love to share details but it, too, was a blur. Between vendors selling as you're walking (imagine several mall hand lotion and mobile phone vendors at once), trekking in and out of stalls to different vendors, bartering (which was more like turning to my colleague and asking "is that too much?"), checking out the sights, smells, sounds, and counting my cash I was a bit overwhelmed to say the least. I haven't quite been to something like that before and it was a bit of a stimuli overload. However, I did manage to come out with some beautiful fresh produce and I am looking forward to venturing back soon. Then it was off to a supermarket. Actually, the supermarket was an experience as well. I was surprised to find so many brands that I recognized but I was also wowed by all the things I wasn't familiar with and somehow managed to leave feeling like there wasn't that much to choose from either. Anyone else ever feel this way? From there it was onto the cellular phone company. I giggled inside when I heard my host ask, "Do you have any phones today?" Luckily, they had two to choose from (my housemate went today and they didn't have any). I chose the nicer one and was out the door a couple minutes later. I don't think I've ever purchased a mobile phone so fast.

Since then I've been getting to know fellow ABC missionaries, unpacked, and settled into both my new home and classroom. I've included some pics below. Enjoy!

My new bedroom, probably the size of my last apartment, with the mosquito netting draped across the bed it does look quite dreamy. I purchased a blanket before I left and it has really helped to make the space feel more me.

A kitchen that is very well stocked. My housemates and I are very blessed to have such ammenities.

Living Room/Dining Room

Home, sweet home!

Packing For Africa: Part 3

2010-07-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

If you are still interested in knowing a bit more about packing for Malawi, I have a link to another blog that I have found really helpful. Enjoy!

http://comingtoabcmalawi.blogspot.com/

Interested in learning more about preparing for you move to ABC? Check out these helpful posts.

Packing for Africa: Part 1

Packing for Africa: Part 2
Packing for Africa: Part 4

Packing For Africa: Part 2

2010-07-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

I recently received some helpful information for packing and traveling to Malawi. I know that several of my readers have been to Africa or other places in which careful packing and planning is a must. I would love for you to share anything from your travels that may be helpful for my own adventures when it comes to packing an preparing. I have included the information that I have received below. Comments appreciated. I also hope this helps others, too.

BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE:
Well in advance, call the health department about which shots you need for the countries that you will be visiting. Some to these are required to be administered as much as a month in advance and the serum can be difficult to secure.
Be sure to call credit card companies and tell them when you will be traveling abroad and where you are going. Be sure that you jot down the contact information for reporting a lost or stolen card (should be on the back of your card) and keep it separate from the card.

WHAT TO WEAR ON THE FLIGHT
Something very comfortable; remember you will be trying to sleep on the plane. Layers are recommended. Sometimes the airplanes very hot, but sometimes they are very cold. You will be required to take off your shoes at least ONCE each way. You will also be walking quite a long distance in some of your layovers. Include an extra pair of shoes in your carry-on. Be sure to check the weather before you go because it will probably be totally different from what it was when you left the states. You can do this easily on the Internet prior to leaving. Also, keep in mind that the temperature will vary from country to country and even city to city, depending on the elevation.

PASSPORT PACK (on a cord around your neck, tucked into a jacket or shirt when you’re sleeping)
Passport
Photocopy of other family members’ passports that are traveling with you
Info on how to report/replace lost passport
Contact information at your destination(s)
Hotel confirmation at your destination(s)
Airline tickets
Boarding passes
Drivers license or other photo ID
If taking lots of cash, put some here.
Exchange contact phone numbers for reporting lost or stolen credit cards and keep theirs here.

FANNY PACK
Cash for exiting country
Tip money ($2.00 U.S. per traveler in Joberg and Malawi)
Cash for spending money
Credit Card
Gum
Reading glasses (I wound up keeping these on a chain around my neck)
Lip Balm (flying dries you out terribly)
Tissue
Ambien
Ear plugs
Toothbrush

BACK PACK
Quart size Ziploc bag with 3 OZ. TOILETRIES OR LESS
Toothpaste
Liquid foundation makeup
Hand sanitizer
ANYTHING LIQUID – hairspray, makeup remover, moisturizer, eye drops, mouthwash
Malaria RX (if taken daily)
Any other routine daily medicines
Medicine for motion sickness or allergies or whatever if you’re prone to such
Over-the-counter pain medicine (Ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.)
If taking lots of cash, put some here
Camera
Book(s) for reading on plane or during layovers
Sunglasses (after being on plane, sun is very bright)
Optional Items:
Makeup (liquids already in Ziploc bag)
Dental floss
Small hair brush
Deodorant (solid)
Shower cap or hair band to hold hair during face washing
If you do not have a piece of carry on luggage, you might want to put panties and a change of clothes, etc. in here. (Just in case you spill something on yourself in route or your luggage gets lost, etc. etc. etc.)
U-shaped, neck support sleeping pillow—this is essential for ANY sleep on the plane!!!! We tied these to the outside of our back packs.

CARRY ON LUGGAGE
Electrical products that you need in Africa (just in case your luggage gets lost.) Note: Converting from 220 (Malawi and most of Europe) to 110(United States) can be quite tricky. An adapter will only work on items that are below a certain wattage. Typically nothing that gets hot will be below that wattage with the exception of a few curling irons. Talk with your “hosts” to find out if they have converters available for you. (Converters are not the same as adapters.) If staying in a hotel in Joberg, South Africa has its own distinct electrical outlets. I took a bag of adapters and none of them worked. There was a hair dryer in the hotel room, but we didn’t need it. In other words, no need for curling irons, electric razors, curlers, flat irons, etc. in Joberg. Might want to inquire about camera chargers!
Pajamas (weather appropriate)
Toiletries (ones not already in back pack—NOTHING liquid)
Weather appropriate change of clothes for however long you will be in Joberg (if you don’t want to have to unpack your checked luggage)
Extra under garments
Outerwear (weather appropriate)
Shoes?
Camera charger?

CHECKED BAGGAGE
You are limited in weight, size and number of pieces and it varies from airline to airline. Typically, you are allowed to check two large pieces that each weigh 50 lbs or less. Be sure to use TSA locks on your luggage.
Clothing – Again, be sure to check the weather on the Internet before you go. Also, the number of clothing items that you take can be greatly reduced if you are able to wash your clothes while on your trip which I was able to do.
Shoes -- try to keep shoes to a minimum because they are so heavy!! Take primarily comfortable shoes.
Toiletries – anything that you need that was either not in the carry on at all or not in large enough quantities to last the duration of the trip. This includes shampoo, other hair products, bug spray, sunscreen, lotions, toothpaste, mouthwash, cotton balls, q-tips.
Pharmaceuticals -- This included Phenergan, Peroxyl, Benadryl, Neosporin, Bandaids, Imodium AD, Mucinex DM, Nyquil, Sudafed, a prescription antibiotic and anything else that you like to use for common illnesses that are not life-threatening, but make you miserable if you don’t have the right medicine.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Since I am moving to Malawi what goes into my checked luggage will vary. Apparently, I can buy things like shampoo and toothpaste in Malawi, but not the brands I am used to. I suppose that becomes a bit of personal preference.
One thing that really stands out on that list is the use of the fanny pack. Not sure that I am a fanny pack person. Scratch that! I am not a fanny pack person. However, last time I flew in the U.S. the airlines required that I stuff my purse into one of my carry-on's. So the fanny pack may go unnoticed being strapped around my waist and possibly a means of getting more of my belongings on that flight. Something to consider. Sometimes practicality does outweigh beauty. More importantly, isn't there another name for a fanny pack? It makes me cringe every time I hear that term. What do you think?

Interested in more information on packing for Malawi? Check out these helpful posts.

Packing for Africa: Part 1
Packing for Africa: Part 3
Packing for Africa: Part 4

Two Weeks Left!

2010-07-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that in two weeks from this moment I will be sitting at the gate at LAX waiting to board a plane for my journey to Africa. So far it hit me hardest when I was selling most of my belongings at a garage sale last weekend. It's not like I am particulary attached to my stuff, since I've pretty much maintained the look of a college student in anticipation of this moment over the years. However, seeing most of my belongings go has put my move across the world into perspective more so than any other task on my never ending to do list. My apartment no longer feels like a home but more of a storage facility. With that said I am so thankful that as a teacher I have most of the summer off and don't have to return to work on Monday as my fellow Cavaliers (Chula Vista Middle family) do. From this point forward it is all about spending time with my friends here in San Diego and checking off tasks from my list.

Save the Date

2010-05-13T15:29:00.000-07:00

Several boxes have been shipped and my ticket has been purchased. Official leave date: July 31, 2010. Tentatively, my going away party is set for July 27, so save the date.

A Little About Malawi

2010-02-01T12:01:00.001-08:00

Where is Malawi?

Country Statistics

Population 13.6 million

Land mass 36,324 square miles

People per square mile 374

Life expectancy 43 years

Under age 5 mortality rate 120/1,000

Literacy rate 64%

Access to safe water 73%

Average annual income US$170

Religion

Christian 79.9%

Muslim 12.8%

None 4.3%

Other 3.0%

Overview

Located in southeast Africa, the Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country bordered by Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest, Zambia to the west, and Tanzania to the north. Lake Malawi, the 10th largest lake in the world, occupies the majority of the country’s eastern border. The north-south Great Rift Valley, which runs through the center of the country, is flanked by mountain ranges and high, narrow, elongated plateaus. In the higher elevations, Malawi is cooler than many other African countries, but the lowlands are hot, humid, and tropical. Natural resources include limestone, hydropower, uranium, coal, and bauxite.

Due in large part to the explorations of David Livingstone, the area known then as Nyasaland became a British protectorate in 1891. After several decades of public outcry for independence, Malawi became a self-governed nation on July 6, 1964. One-party rule under the presidency of Dr. Hastings Banda lasted for 30 years, but in 1994 the Malawian people voted for a new form of government. As a result, the country held their first free democratic multiparty elections that year, voting in Bakili Mazuli as president. A decade later, current president and economist Bingu wa Mutharika took office amid pressure to alleviate the country’s deteriorating economy.

The three prominent ethnic groups in Malawi are the Chewa, who occupy the central area; the Nyanja, who live predominantly in the south; and the Tumbuka, who have settled mostly in the north. Other groups include the Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, and Ngonde, as well as some Asians and Europeans. Chichewa is the country’s official language, though English and others are spoken regionally.

Eighty-two percent of Malawians live in rural areas and are engaged in farming. Agriculture products include corn, sugarcane, cotton, tea, vegetables, nuts, cattle, and goats. Despite a recent surplus of maize, severe food insecurity in Malawi has afflicted approximately 4 million people—more than a million of whom are children under age five or pregnant women. The chronic food crisis is a major cause of malnutrition and has increased the risk of diseases.

Eghty-two percent of Malawians live in rural areas and are engaged in farming. Agriculture products include corn, sugarcane, cotton, tea, vegetables, nuts, cattle, and goats. Despite a recent surplus of maize, severe food insecurity in Malawi has afflicted approximately 4 million people—more than a million of whom are children under age five or pregnant women. The chronic food crisis is a major cause of malnutrition and has increased the risk of diseases.

Drought, fluctuating trade expenses, high transport costs, few skilled laborers, and a deteriorating transportation infrastructure are the primary reasons that this largely agriculture-dependent economy is struggling. Malawi is ranked in the bottom eight percent of the world’s least developed countries on the human development index. Nearly 53 percent of people live below the poverty threshold, the inflation rate is 28 percent, and more than three-quarters of the population live on less than $2 per day. Nearly 75 percent of secondary school-age children are either working or staying home to care for their families instead of receiving valuable education.

Despite attempts at economic reform, the government continues to face challenges due to a rapidly growing population and the increasing number of HIV and AIDS cases. The HIV prevalence rate is 14 percent; nearly 1 million people in the country are living with the disease. More than 550,000 children have lost one of both of their parents to HIV and AIDS. In addition, the threat of cholera remains high in Malawi due to outbreaks during the rainy season (November to April); this becomes a huge risk in flood situations because of the possible breakdown of water and sanitation capabilities.

The above information was courtesy of World Vision.

Packing For Africa: Part 1

2010-01-18T16:45:00.001-08:00

In April, a container will be shipped to Malawi from Mississippi that will probably arrive sometime after I do in late July/early August. I am trying to keep a running list of all the things I will be packing. I know that many of you have spent some time living and traveling abroad, so I would love your feedback. Please leave a comment if you see anything that I am missing and you think would be helpful. I am essentially packing for two years to live in a place that does not have access to a lot of modern conveniences. If those conveniences are available they are expensive.

Cookbooks with scratch recipes. I have the Joy of Cooking and Betty Crocker. Recommendations are welcomed (and needed, if you have had my cooking J)
Clothing for pretty much the entire time I am there. It's hot!
Extra socks and underwear as local detergents are harsh on clothing.
Shoes (running, hiking, dress, walking, sandals)
All medicines
Contact lens cleaner solutions, saline (got to love Costco)
Toiletries
Tape – all types (random - apparently not readily available)
Scissors
Batteries and chargers – all types
Flashlight
Camera
Teaching Supplies (that's a whole other list)
Sunglasses, glasses, extra glasses (good thing my prescription has not changed in the last decade).
Stamps
Laptop, printer
Smoke detector
Water filters
Head lamp – power outages average 3X/week
Reusable containers, towels, napkins, bags
One piece swimsuit (prefer one that isn't scary ugly)
Book day costume (in lieu of a Halloween costume)
Mosquito repellent
Spices
Good hair cutting scissors (nervous about what this implies J)
Chocolate chips (very expensive)
Electric kitchen supplies
A good pot and pan (quality is hard to find)
Water thermos/cooler

Interested in learning more about what to pack for Africa? Check out these helpful posts.
     Packing For Africa: Part 2
     Packing For Africa: Part 3
     Packing For Africa: Part 4

Laboratory Facilities At ABCCA

2010-01-18T16:06:00.001-08:00

Some of you may be wondering what my new teaching facilities will look like. Surprisingly, ABCCA has just built a brand new set of classrooms that even include a laboratory facility. This lab classroom is actually way better than my current classroom in the United States (although my current school is also in the process of building a brand new science facility). I really feel blessed for the opportunity to have such great facilities at my new home. Below are photos of the new building, lab, and other classrooms. I really like the ABCCA strives to provide a quality education and environment for its students. Apparently, it is very rare to see something this nice in Malawi.

Financial Support

2010-01-18T14:36:00.001-08:00

African Bible College Christian Academy (ABCCA) teachers are faith missionaries, meaning I will not be provided a salary but will need to raise support. By doing so, this allows tuition to the academy to be much lower for families to send their children to school there since the funds are not going towards teacher salaries. The blessing in this is that some local Malawian families are able to send their children there. Otherwise, attending a top notch private school would be unobtainable to local Malawian families. I know this seems a bit unconventional, but I like that ABCCA is not just a school for International students but for the local community as well. ABCCA's goal is to have a student population that is half Malawian, enabling them to better serve and meet the needs of the community.
    Current estimates for support are around ~~$1200/month~~ (cost of living increase) ~$1500.00/month, which is a lot but less than my monthly expenses in the United States now. I know that some of you may have wanted to help Africa, but have not felt comfortable donating to an organization where you are unsure of where the funds are going. The good news is that 96% of the funds donated go directly to provide for my financial needs, with only 4% of donations going to cover administrative costs of running the home office in Mississippi, which is there to assist the African Bible College's missionaries abroad. Asking my friends to partner with me financially has been difficult. However, I have to acknowledge that many of you would love to help Africa and this may be one way in which you feel comfortable. On the flip side, in these tough economic times I know that many of you are struggling financially and my prayers are with you. However, when I look at how little most Africans have and even have access to, I realize that I have more than enough and I know some of you feel the same way. Nonetheless, presenting you with this sponsorship opportunity has been very humbling. If you are feeling led to partner financially with me in this journey, I would be very grateful.
    Partnering with me financially in this journey to Malawi can look a couple of different ways. Regular sponsorships would be best. For example, if I had sponsors contributing $50 a month, I would only need 24 friends to meet my goal of $1200 a month. I suppose that makes this process seem less intimidating (at least to me anyway). In case you are wondering, what would happen if I received too little or too much funding – here is the rundown. Best case scenario, I receive more funds through financial partnerships than I have expected. In this case, extra funds will go to support future months in Malawi, as all funds given to me will go to me. If at the end of two years there are leftover funds, then I would have them go to support other teachers at ABCCA. Worst case scenario, I need to raise at least $600 in support each month. The remaining amount of support would come from ABCCA. The tough part about this for me is that funds to support the development of the school are going to me. Ultimately, that is not the route that I would like to go. Other options for financial partnerships would include intermittent or one time donations. Honestly, any support would be useful and appreciated. The good news is that all donations are tax-deductible.
    Giving can be done in a variety of ways: check, EFT, and credit cards. Depending on your preference, all information needed is provided at the following link. Donate here. Be sure to note Jennifer Jackson on the donation.
    Thank you in advance for your support, whether it is financial, prayer, and/or encouragement, I am very grateful to have such supportive family and friends. I could not do this without you.
God Bless,
Jen

Prayer Support

2010-01-18T14:35:00.001-08:00

As I am heading off to Malawi I cannot begin to tell you how important your prayers are in this endeavor. The following list is just a start. If you can think of other things, by all means add that to your prayers.

African Bible College
ABC Christian Academy
Future students
Fellow teachers and staff at ABC
Fulfilling God's plans and purposes in this
Finances
Health and safety (nervous about these)
Courage and obedience
Time management and stress (I will be teaching and prepping for four grades).
Packing everything that I can think of that I will need for four years.
Wisdom and guidance in all that I do.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day and lifting up the needs of Malawi and myself up in prayer.

God Bless,

Jen

Teaching In Malawi

2010-01-17T14:46:00.000-08:00

During the summer of 2010, I will be journeying abroad and taking my science teaching skills to Lilongwe, Malawi in Africa. Yes, you read that right—Africa. Let me explain a little as to how this came to be.

A few years ago while at church, I was introduced to a group of teachers that were heading off to teach at the African Bible College Christian Academy (ABCCA) in Malawi. A couple of the teachers were even acquaintances of mine from college and this program struck me as something that I could do. Of course, I tried to dismiss this, but I kept coming back to this program and my desire to be apart of it has continued to grow.

Last spring, I got in touch with a local contact for the organization and learned that the college president and his wife, the head of ABBCA, would be in town that very next week on a visit from Malawi. Coincidence?!! As you can imagine, I met with them one evening and learned more about ABCCA. The more I have learned about ABBCA, the more that I have confirmed that ABBCA is where I need and want to be. ABCCA has even recently finished construction on a brand new science facility. Seriously! Journeying to Africa to teach at ABBCA has definitely become my calling. African Bible College in Malawi is a place where they really want to serve and be a blessing to the surrounding community. In addition to a top notch college, ABC has a low cost community medical facility, and an affordable high quality private Christian preK-12 academy that strives to have a student population that is half Malawian and accepts students regardless of nationality or religion. Additionally, ABC partners to support many local community outreach organizations.

I cannot begin to tell you just how excited I am to be apart of this amazing program for a country nick-named the “warm heart of Africa.” Needless to say as someone who has had an impact on my life, keeping me in your thoughts and prayers is vitally important as I trek across the world to live, teach, and serve in a place that I have never even visited. Nevertheless, I am confident that my skills and talents will be utilized and I will be truly blessed by the whole experience.

In order to keep the cost of education low to the families of ABBCA, I will be teaching as a volunteer missionary. I have some funds saved and set aside for this but I will not have enough to support myself for two full years. I am guessing that helping Africa may have been something on your heart, but giving to a big organization may not have been something that you have been comfortable with and spending time in Africa may not be feasible for you either. However, I would like to ask that you consider partnering with me in this endeavor through prayer and/or financial support.

If you are interested in following me through this process I will continue to update this blog throughout the next couple of years. I encourge you to view the links to current teachers in Malawi, so you can preview what life will be like for me. Additionally, I am on Facebook and I will have updates there, too. If you would like to know more about ABCCA, http://www.africanbiblecolleges.org/ has a lot of great information and photos.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I need them probably even more than I can imagine. :)

God Bless!

TEACHING IN MALAWI

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Packing For Africa: Part 2

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Save the Date

A Little About Malawi

Packing For Africa: Part 1

Laboratory Facilities At ABCCA

Financial Support

Prayer Support

Teaching In Malawi