Tuesday, March 09, 2010


This week I am going to share with you one of my favorite stories from our trip. Every year, I am always amazed at how all of the kids grow. In particular, it is always fun to see how the once cute little boys have grown into young men that are now head and shoulders taller than me. This year was no different, Jorry Mwase, Muleya Mwale, Khalidwe Banda, and Brino Phiri all towered over me and it was really fun to get the “hi auntie” in a much deeper voice this year!

During our time in the village and at the lake not only was it great to marvel at how these little boys were maturing into young men, but it was really awesome to witness the close knit community that they have forged together. Not only do they have a great time just being boys together, but during their time together with Nick, Timothy, and Lawrence they asked some thought-provoking questions related to their future – they had really been pondering life stuff together!

But what touched my heart more than anything was the story about Brino. Over the course of this past year, Brino contracted Tuberculosis. Lawrence took him immediately to the clinic at African Bible College, where he immediately received treatment and is still continuing treatment. Somehow, Brino’s guardian and the rest of his family were convinced that the TB was related to HIV, and became incredibly fearful of getting HIV. So much so that they kicked him out of their house. After Brino was kicked out, Lawrence told us that Jorry asked his mother if Brino could live with them. She agreed, in spite of what the rest of the village thought, she still agreed.

When we were visiting the Mwase family, the true gift that she is giving Brino in taking him in became more evident. I wish I could take each of you to her home - it’s a meager sun-dried brick home that would fit into our living room, grass thatched roof, and already before Brino’s arrival was home to five people all the time and some cousins who were there sometimes. Not only is she giving him the gift of a home, she is giving him the gift of a home where people know how to share even when it is hard and uncomfortable.

Please join me in praying for Brino as he continues to recover and pray that God would abundantly bless Jorry’s mother for giving out of her “widow’s mite”.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Back in the States

It’s been a little over a week now and our family is now pretty much adjusted to being back from Malawi. Although when Jana Kay says her prayers she is still praying to “have a beautiful day in Malawi”. As we have settled back in to our routine here, our thoughts and are hearts continue to be in Malawi. We have been continuing to evaluate and re-evaluate our approach to ministry. As I walked through the village this year, even though our orphans and widows are doing well, I felt oppression in a way that I had never sensed it before. Maybe it’s always been there, but this year I was keenly aware of it in a way that I had not been before. Given that we have focused our efforts on caring for the orphans and widows within the community, even though our programs benefit the entire community in a variety of ways (i.e. the repaired hand pumps, pit latrines, donations of maize to families in dire need, etc.) jealousy and envy is evident amongst the families whose children are not in our programs. The reality is that even though both parents are living they are generally not employed, so we are finding that the children of those families are just as bad off as the orphans when we first started working in Makalani village. Those feelings and observations of dissension in the village really spurned me on to pray even more fervently for the people in the village and for the way we approach ministry. I would like to share with you these prayer requests:

1. Please pray that the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) jealousies and envy in particular along with adultery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and contentions would be bound.
2. Pray that the people would walk in the Spirit and that the fruit of the Spirit would overcome the dissension in the village.
3. Pray for Lawrence who has to walk and work on a daily basis amongst the people in the village – pray for endurance and joy.
4. Pray for Nick and I as we seek to find new ways to minister that would bring about increased unity and further point toward Christ.


On a personal note, we got word last week that Nick’s naturalization interview will be either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Over the past three years we have been waiting for Nick to obtain his citizenship so that we can to work in Malawi on more of a full-time basis. As the time is nearing to begin itinerating, please pray with us that God will begin to work in the hearts of church families and individuals who will partner with us as our prayer covering and as vessels offering financial support for us.

This week I want to tell you about Nacy Mwase. In years past she has been so standoffish, always painfully quiet, and almost hardened from the responsibility of handling the younger sisters like she was their mother. Her sisters are Tiyamike and Tamandani, and her older brother is Jorry. This year, for the first time, she played volleyball, and not only did she play she could serve better than most of the boys. I was so proud of her, and I loved being on her team! As our time at camp progressed, I got to see a new side of Nacy, she offered a gentleness with her friend, Zione, that I had never seen before while being determined and spunky, she was a great deal more open, and she would always catch my eye and smile. I must say I developed a new adoration of her, knowing the weight of her responsibilities at home, her struggles at school, I was thrilled to see a glimmer of gentleness, joy, and drive that previously had been tightly locked up somewhere within her. As we left camp, she came up and gave me the biggest, tightest hug that I have ever received from any of our kids. I was and am again in tears as I recall it.

Following our time at camp, Nick and I had time to sit down with the headmaster at Sankhani Primary School to pretty much do parent teacher conferences for all of our kids that attend there – let’s just say it was a long 3 hours! Anyway, as we worked our way through each one, when we came to Nacy, we noted that she is at the point where she is quite a bit older than the kids in her class as she was had to repeat some grades along the way, and we could tell from the headmaster’s comments that she is at a pretty high risk for dropping out. After spending the time that I had with her at the lake, this weighed heavy on my heart and I just sat there and prayed as I wanted so much to figure out something that would give her increased hope. I began to ask the headmaster if he had observed any other gifts or abilities in Nacy, since it was becoming evident that her aptitude for continuing her education at her age was not great. He said that he had recognized her ability to braid and fix the other girls hair – he said she was really good at it. This really got my wheels to turning. I then wondered if it would be possible to have her apprentice with a local hairdresser in Lilongwe, he said that was a good option. This idea of vocational training at the primary school level for the more non-traditional students really lifted the spirits of the headmaster and mine as well. After Nacy, we talked of others students who could apprentice with local tradesmen – I will share their stories as the program continues . . .

At this point Lawrence is following up with the headmaster as they work to find a salon in Lilongwe where Nacy can apprentice.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

It's been just a few days since the team has left and Nick and I and the kids have taken some time to get re-organized. Yesterday we met with Timothy Zimba, our country director, and Lawrence Benedicto, our village coordinator. We had a lengthy meeting discussing the progress over the year. As we met, it became clearer and clearer just how remarkable God's timing is. Timothy told us that because INVEST now has completed all of the required registration that Nick and I can apply for Temporary Employment Permits which will give us the ability to live in Malawi for at least three years without renewal. It was so cool to hear all of this just as we had submitted Nick's naturalization papers in the States which in about 4-5 months will grant him citizenship and the ability to live abroad as long as he likes and travel back to the US whenever we want. Just the thought of all of this coming together within the upcoming year is exciting!

Then Nick, Lawrence and I went out to the village to see the land Lawrence owns and where he hopes to build his home someday. Along the way they decided that they needed to stop at the local market stand that not only sells goat right there – cuts it right off the bone, weighs out whatever quantity you want, but also fries it up for you in the hottest grease that kills whatever could have gotten on it from hanging there all day. It was really fun to watch Lawrence and Nick bond over eating fried goat – on a toothpick, dipped in salt. It was definitely team-building at its best.

Once we toured Lawrence’s land, we headed back to the Resource Center to sort out the last of the clothes that needed to be given to the kids that didn’t go to camp. We also arranged for Tamandani to come into town and have a sleepover with Jana Kay on Friday night.

Following the camping trip to the lake, Irene has been staying with Nick and I and the kids. From a distance, Nick and I always noted that she was sharp, but having her with us day in and day out has really opened our eyes to just how clever and determined she really is. We’ve been working on conversational English, some book reports, and then she’s been working on the computer labeling all of the pictures of the kids from when they got their gifts and when we were at the lake. I showed her how to do it one time, and off she went. I just stood there in awe! Of course, she is also having fun watching season 3 of Friends.

The kids continue to bask in having so much freedom. When we were at the Baptist Flats, they pretty much had the run of the place inside the compound. And, now we are at the huts at African Bible College (the Baptist Flats now have a limit on how long you can stay) and they love being able to swim daily, play on the playground, and walk past the gym where “daddy played basketball in college”. It’s really fun to share the place that brought Nick and I together with them.

Nick is loving being in Africa as the African Cup of Nations is being played in Angola. Tonight is the semi-finals, and if I am not mistaken, Ghana, Egypt, Nigeria, and of course right now I can’t remember the other team, but I do know that it is a North African team. Malawi did pretty well early on in the tournament, as did Zambia. Needless to say, Nick and his college friends are having a great time together watching all of the games.

I spent much of this afternoon in town getting groceries – four stores and still I didn’t find everything on my list, but after the traffic and the heat – I had had enough and headed for home.

I must say I have been a little apprehensive – as I watch Nick spend time with all of his friends, I find that most of mine have moved on from Malawi. So I’ve really been praying about this – Lord show me some of the people that will be in my life when we do come here. And, faithfully as ever, I am meeting the dearest, sweetest women – sometimes at the pool, actually a lot at the pool with the kids, sometimes in the store, and often at the park with the kids. Thankful again at how God longs to meet our needs.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Here we are at the airport!!! And, we are excited!!!! The kids are bounding around as we speak!!

Linda Karl, a member of this year's group that is going to Malawi, has started a blog about the trip and is doing a great job! So rather than re-invent the wheel, I want to direct you to her blog for the details of the trip.

http://malawitrip2010.blogspot.com


Then Nick and I and the kids will continue to update each of you after the team leaves as we will be in Malawi until Feb. 15.

Saturday, January 02, 2010


Here we are and we are a week from leaving for Malawi again. We spent the morning packing the bins of clothes and shoes for all of the kids from Makalani and Kasiyafumbi villages. It is always so fun to pack all of the clothes - it is so fun to see the great outfits that everyone shopped for and think of the kiddos face when they will be wearing those outfits - I just love it!!!!

Nick will leave on Monday (1/4) and then the kids and I will be leaving on Sunday (1/10) with a group of four others - Linda Karl, Debbie Waggoner, Sherry Moore, and Caleb Moore. Jana Kay and Nathan are more excited this year - Jana Kay is talking more and more about Lake Malawi and her friends.

Our plan is much like that of last year. Our focus is to take all of the kids camping at Lake Malawi. They have such a great time. And, of course, so do we. Our time at the lake gives us time to really check in with each of the kids and see how they are really doing and encourage them.

I just learned yesterday that Irene Makwenda has taken her MSC exam - which is the exam all Malawian secondary students take to determine if they graduate from secondary school. It is a national exam, so she will get results in a few months. Please keep her in your prayers as she waits to get the results.

Stay tuned . . . I will try to post a little snippet each day as we are in Malawi and it is my goal to diligently keep this blog current throughout the year!!!

Monday, January 26, 2009

January 22, 2009...Bethany writing from Malawi reported the missions team did an amazing job with the kiddos at Lake Malawi.  The kids made salvation bracelets and learned about Jesus.  They played kickball, swam until their hearts were content, and had time to  talk with the members of the team as they walked up and down the beach.  They made braided bracelets, played cards, volleyball and had a great time.  They got their gifts of clothes, goodie bags from the Lee Elementary School kids, and the bible bags that the women and children of Columbia made for them.  The added blessing of God is that each child received in their bag a new NIV New Testament bible in Chichewa.  The team spent every waking minute they could with the children and everyone was so tired by the end of each day that they just about fell asleep in their plate of food.  A wonderful tired.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009



It is Tuesday, January 13, 2009.  The 2009 Malawi Mission Team has loaded and boarded the Woodcrest bus, which had a hard time starting, but thanks to jumper cables and prayer it finally came to life.  So at 8:48 a.m. the team of ten adults and two babies set out for the Kansas City Airport.  Travel time will be long, and they are prepared.  They were divided into teams, checks for passports, luggage, kisses and hugs to family and friends were in order, the babies were strapped into car seats on the bus and their hearts are ready and willing to serve the Lord.  Pastor Piet led them in prayer and asked for the Lord to find favor with this team, that each one would come to know His purpose for going on this trip, and that He would keep them safe from harm as they travel and serve Him.    Nick is ready and waiting in Malawi, and will meet them with the Malawi team when they arrive on Thursday, January 15.  Bethany will be sending pictures and updates every couple of days, so please check back to learn how you can pray for them, see what great things are happening and enjoy the pictures we will be posting to the web page.     May God bless you richly and may you seek the plans God has for you.