Triathlon

Sydney participated in a triathlon at school last Friday and she won her age-group for the girls! She did great! Sam started the race, but the swim was too long and he stopped. But hopefully in a few weeks they will have a shorter race for the smaller kids. It was a great day--except that our sunscreen was expired and we all ended up with a good sunburn. So Sydney has the award for being the first person in our family to complete a triathlon. Mike and I will have to think about participating in the Open event--although I'm pretty sure I would sink to the bottom of the pool trying to swim 11 laps. Maybe if I could do the under-8-year-old distances instead (3 laps). I doubt you will see pictures of this event even if it happens. But certainly there will be more pics of the kids should they participate again. Hope you enjoy.

Sam and his buddy Andrea before the race

Early morning walks

I am so fortunate to have a group of ladies to walk with 3 times a week. Never mind that we have to leave our house in the dark at 5:30 in order to get back in time for work, school, etc. It is still something I look forward to every time.
This morning my walking partners decided to sleep so I got to walk by myself. I used to be a bit apprehensive about this, but now I feel very comfortable. As I was making my way home I wanted to share some of the sights, sounds and smells of my morning walks that have become so special and unique.

I leave my house in the early morning light. The sun is not yet up, but the sky is just becoming light. I let myself out of our gate as the night guards are always sleeping somewhere and are never awake in the morning to open the gate for me.
It's just dark enough that the Malawians that are out and about, blend in a bit to the darkness--so as I get closer to them on the road I will see men in uniforms heading to their security jobs, men on bikes riding home from their night duty, women with big bundles on their heads--most likely carrying things to market to sell that day. Even in the dark, there are a few men outside their gates, sweeping the dirt driveways and picking up the leaves around the outside wall. There is the smell of fires burning and of dust. Although this morning, it was a bit more wet as it had rained heavily the night before.
I enjoy walking in the early hours because there are very few cars on the road, and although there are people out, much fewer than later in the day when I fear for my life as I walk on the same roads because of the narrow roads and congestion.
As it gets lighter, the people I pass greet me. "Hello, madam". I feel very special being called 'Madam".
I usually walk the same route each day so I often see some of the same people. It's nice to greet the familiar faces and wish them a good day. One couple I look forward to seeing is this darling older Asian couple that always walks together. She walks with a cane and is very hunched over and almost shuffling--with beautifully silver-black hair. Her husband stands tall and walks beside her. And everytime we pass them they greet us with "God bless you".
As it gets lighter I start to see the Malawian children heading off to school. They wear their uniforms--most commonly a bright blue dress for the girls and a white shirt and shorts for the boys. They look so young walking along the road in small groups. I imagine some of them are only 5 or 6 years old, walking 1/2-1 mile to school each day.

As we live at the bottom of the hill, my walk takes me up the hill around the upper neighborhoods and the last part of the walk is heading downhill towards home. At the top of the hill I always have to pause and appreciate the view. Usually the sun has just come up, the clouds are often just losing their pink color and I can see the city center laid out in front of me. The minnarets of the Mosque stand up above the rest of the buildings and in the distance I can see the rocky "mountains" that lie just south of town. They are big rocks that jut out of the ground. It truly is beautiful in the quiet of the morning.

More visitor experiences

Pat Jacquin and I helping wash hand before the meal at COTN feeding program

While our visitors were here, we took the time to break our normal routine and do a few things we hadn't done in awhile. Before we went to the States last fall, we were going as a family to the Ministry of Hope's Crisis Nursery about twice a month. This Nursery cares for orphaned infants through about 2 year olds. We would come as a family and hold babies and play for an hour or so. Sydney always loved it, but Sam wasn't so enthused about entertaining the babies. But since we've been back to Malawi, we havent' taken the time to get back there. So Miriam, Pat and I went last week to visit. It was so fun to see the kids--they had all grown and changed so much in the 6 months since I had visited the nursery. The older kids had moved on--some back to extended family members, now that they were older and could eat regular food, some to foster homes. It's a sweet ministry and it's a good way to get my baby fix every once in awhile. There's always one child I want to take home with me.

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Pictures of the "graduates" of the widows training program

The three of us then accompanied Brenda Jansen to Children of the Nations feeding program in Mtsiliza. Mtsiliza is an urban village tucked into the center of Lilongwe--just across from ABC Christian Academy, where the kids go to school. It is a very poor area and the COTN feeding program provides 2 meals a day to orphans and children whose parents cannot provide for them. Before the meal we were treated to a beautiful time of singing by the kids. I have a video of it, but it doesn't seem to want to upload. Then the kids come for their meals, and Pat and I helped by washing hands.

The program also reaches out to widows in the community. Miriam was especially interested in this ministry. They are in the midst of a second round of training for local widows. This training involves teaching trades such as sewing, baking, and knitting in an effort to provide skills for these women to make a living. The first "class" of trainees numbered about 40 and currently there are that same number involved in the training as well. The two women in charge of this current class, were graduates of the first class and you could sense the pride they had in their own accomplishments and in the women they were training currently.

It was so good to break from my routine and see some of the other ministries that are happening around me every day. God is working through many different avenues to bring light and hope and meet needs in Lilongwe.

Visitors

Enya, a patient attendant at PIH, showing off her cross necklace

Jessica (patient intake) and Miriam (accounts) are very happy about their gifts!

For the last week we have had the privilege of hosting two HCJB Global visitors, Pat Jacquin (HR director) and Miriam Neff, whose husband served on the board of HCJB for many years. Miriam worked as a school counselour for many years and has written many books. She shared her wisdom (and a gift of a cross necklace) with the women at Partners in Hope as she shared on "Women and their Emotions". She also helped lead a "Soul Care Day" for a number of missionaries over the weekend.

Her ministry has changed dramatically after the death of her husband 3 years ago. And now she has a ministry called "Widows Connection". She writes and speaks to widows around the world and she has helped come alongside a widows ministry in rural Mozambique through a partnership with World Relief. She is in Mozambique right now visiting the project.

It's good to host visitors from time-to-time because it gives us the opportunity to change our routine and visit some other ministries happening here in Malawi. More about that in the next blog...

Miriam sharing at "Soul Care Day"

Friday tea time with the moms

Sydney and Sam and some of their friends

Since school finishes at 12:30, we always have to plan events for the entire afternoon with the kids. Usually the time gets filled with homework, lunch, driving to and from school, swimming lessons or playdates. The other Friday, one of the moms invited a group of us over for tea and a big play afternoon with the kids.

As many of you know, I am a coffee drinker through and through, and tea is not my favorite. I am trying to adjust to the tea-drinking, British-influenced culture, but it's difficult. =) So thankfully, coffee was also served. (Although, I think it was actually unbearably hot that day and I chose to drink a cold glass of water instead. )


I am thankful for these moms who have become my friends over the few years we have been here. They are a wonderful bunch of people with interesting stories of either growing up in Malawi, or being transplanted here like us. There is a common bond among moms whose kids are in the same school and the same classes. And I am thankful for all I have learned from them about life: from tips about parenting, to living in Malawi, to cooking . God has been so good.