FINALLLYYYY!!!!

Technology!!! So sorry for the delay!! I'm afraid that my hopes for blogging everyday are not possible :(
The village we are staying at does not have internet access and the closest place is in town... a 20 minute bike taxi. Yes bike taxi, which is just like it sounds; someone rode the bike while I sat on the back in a seat thing. It was quite the experience! Because of this and limited time off, we will only being going into town once a week. But don't worry, I'm writing everthing down as it goes along so I can post as much info as possible.

Our plane ride here was extremely longggg and we all arrived safe with no problems. I was very blessed to be able to hang out with 2 friends from back home who were also on a mission trip with the same organization; they were on a 10 day trip (Shout out Ashley and Keltner lol. I miss u guys SO much!!). Seeing them was extremely comforting and made my transition to Africa much easier. Saying goodbye was hard; much harder than I though it would be in fact. I wish they could have stayed and been there the whole two months :(

Two weeks. I've officially been in Africa for 2 weeks. I'm seriously not exaggerating when I say it feels like I've been here for 2 months already! Time moves so slowly here, mostly because no one is very punctual. When something starts at 2 PM, it really won't get started till 2:30-3:00. It's definitely a change but kind of nice to not have to be so time oriented like back at home. Another reason why days feel so long is because of our conditions. We are living in a house.... but we have no running water. Anywhere. We have to fetch water from the boar hole, an outdoor water pump, about a thousand times a day (not really but it sure does feel like it). It's amazing how much water you use and I didn't realize it until having to physically retrieve it lol! Flushing toilets, washing dishes, cooking, washing hands, cleaning, laundry, and bucket baths (Yes, BUCKET baths.... remember no running water) for 16 people is a TON of water per day. Needless to say I've officially become a Malawian woman... I carry all of my water on my head and have worked my way up from a 5 gallon bucket to a 30 gallon bucket (just wait for the pics lol). We carry water about 300 ft. to the house and store it in multiple bins around the house. To add to our water problems, the electricity fluctuates often. And I mean often! Last week the power went out everyday except on 2 days. It wouldn't be so bad if it meant that lights out didn't happen during cooking meals (we rotate cooking meals for everyone weekly so I am definitely hoaning my cooking skills). Lights out when cooking means that you have to start a fire in the back and cook on an open flame, which delays dinner at least 30 minutes maybe longer. Our cooking group has had to do this once... not really that fun haha! And sanitation/hygine is a whole other issue which I might devote an entire blog section too hahaha! Even though it is difficult having irregular electricity, no running water, limited food, no access to technology regularly (no cellphones, TV, ipods, computers, etc.), I am literally LOVING every second because I am able to experience the life of a typical Malawian; something that not many people get to do. I feel so blessed to be able to experience conditions that I am not accustom to and it makes me appreciate my living situations at home SO much!!! It is only week 2 so I'm curious to see how I feel at week 8 jkjk :)

To recap for those of you that don't know, I am staying in the village of Chiwango, located 2 hours north of the capital Lilongewe. Our main purpose is to work, interact, and play with children at the COTN orphanage. A typical day =
* 5:30-7:30.... working in the children's homes getting them read for school and doing chores
* 7:30- 8... breakfast
* 8:30... devotions with interns
* 9-12 PM.... this is when I get to teach nutrition and hygine classes with the kids and house parents!!
* 12:30... lunch
* 1-2... free time aka nap time or playing with the kids
* 2-4... tutoring with the kids; I help with 8th grade
* 4-5:30... play time with the kids
* 6.... dinner
* 7... house devotions at the children's homes.... I led my first one last night :)
* 8... bedtime stories and tucking in children
* 9.... lights out!

** On Thursday and Fri, instead of tutoring, we go into surrounding villages to do outreach and minister

So as you can see our days are relatively full; however, for me, it hasn't been that overwhelming yet. I think it is bc I am literally taking one day at a time. If I think too far in advance, I start to freak out so I'm trying not to do that! In terms of prayer....
* a lot of people have been getting sick and we're not exactly sure why. We think it's bc of the food. Our intern leader got so sick that she had to go to the hospital! Continue to pray for this issue because it seems to be plaguing our group.
* Children. Tomorrow our 8th graders are taking their major exams to continue on in their education. If they do not pass, they must retake 8th grade. Their test covers a lot of information so pray for their studying, confidence, and test-taking skills.
* Team realations. We have been fortunate to have no real issues but that doesn't mean that there won't be. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone especially those from Malawi (we have 6 national interns aka those from Malawi and 10 from the states). Please, please pray for a peaceful home and environment.
* My dreams. I know this is a really weird prayer request but I have been having the worst nightmare/ night terrors. I've had issues with this in the past and supposively our malaria medicine can highten dreams, which it definitely is. They are definitely frightening and are starting to become quite distracting; I have 2 yesterday... one during my nap and one during the night. Please be praying that these diminish. I need to stop watching so much CSI haha.

Now to the best part... THE KIDS!! Happy to report that I got to see Edina, my sponsored child!! I pretty much hassled every leader I could, hinting around a lot about how much I wanted to see her! And I got to on my second day there and once more before I left. Unfortunately I don't have the time to go into detail but it was awesome! She is 2 hours from where I am staying so I won't be able to see her that much more; I should have 2 more weekends with her before I leave. It was SO amazing to see her again after 2 years and I feel incredibly greatful that God has answered my prayers to see her again. She is so precious to me. Gah, I love her!

I have so much more to tell but I have to get off the internet now :( We have 16 people and only 4 computers so I have to share lol. Next time I will tell more of the children in Chiwango and what God is doing both in their lives and mine as well. Because of the limited internet time, this is pretty much going to be my outlet. Emailing everyone will take FOREVER so forgive me!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

One more day. OMG.

I can't believe this is it! I'm leaving for Africa tomorrow morning!! I just took my first malaria pill!! haha! It's crazy how fast the trip has come and I am so ready to go! God has totally provided for me in preparation for this trip; taken care of everything! Provided closure in areas that, looking back, could have distracted from my focus. Now that the time has finally come, I'm not gonna lie when I say that I'm nervous. Two months in your lifetime is nothing; practically just a memory. But when you're in the moment,  living it out, it feels like an eternity.

What I think I'm most nervous about is the change about to take place. I'm very excited don't get me wrong! I am honored to have the opportunity to help others, show them who God is, and tell them about Jesus! There is great responsibility in this and I think that is what is making me nervous. What I'm about to do on this trip has eternal outcomes... that is HUGE! And by change I mean in myself. Typically when we change, we don't realize it until it has already happened. In my case, I know a change is about to happen and it's weird to know ahead of time and also weird because I have no idea how being in a developing country for 2 months is about to impact my future. For all I know, I might stay there (just kidding Mom & Dad lol)!! 

Whatever the outcome, I know it is all in God's plan and I have to find peace in that. I'm excited for the vulnerability and uncomfortableness I am about to experience... I have to be reliant on God because I will have no one else. And as crazy as it sounds, I'm so ready. 

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
 I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Passport

Hey guys! Quick prayer request.... my passport is still not here! And communication with the passport agency has been the biggest pain! They say it should get here by Monday (after paying an extra $15 for overnight shipping) so please be praying that it does!! Thanks and only 11 more days!!!!!!