More pictures

Getting read to cook the chickens
we just purchased in the market!












Love this picture, one of the interns in Mtsiliza












Tidziwengi and Agness who I have been able
to keep up with since last year. They have finished
third grade and begun to learn English.












Home visits 2x a week in Mgwayi Village, it
was walking distance from where we stayed.

More pictures from our time in Malawi

Dorlika, a total little ham!!












Doing home visits with the widows and learning
to use a chitingi with a baby on the back!







Reading the bibles they just received from a
faithful COTN supporter! We gave out 60
bibles that day!









Rhoda proud of her new bible!
Below is Dorlika and who knows what
she is doing!!!

Re-entry

Everyone is slowing adjusting to being back home. Though we all appreciate a hot shower and our own beds, we miss the comforts of the Malawian people. There are struggles like going to the grocery store and having so many choices or even having to spend money on gasoline! It is a readjustment but we are adjusting. Interns are starting classes, moving into their dorms and trying to put words to their experiences this summer. Please pray for all of us as we readjust and for the Malawians that we fell in love with. Pray that God would continue to provide for them as He has done since the beginning of time.
Thank you for being interested in the journey!

A Few more Fun pictures

The little girl, Rhoda, behind the sink was watching us
so intently as we were doing the dishes. She
was from Mgwayi and had probably never
seen anything like it before!
















Passing out bibles in Mgwayi Village, they were
so excited to receive brand new bibles. The funds
were provided by a friend in Orlando.





















After eating a big meal for them,
probably for the first time! They
snuck into our staff party and we
gladly fed them! It was a blast for us!




















Leslie showing us how to eat sugar
cane as we road home from Mtsiliza
in the back of the 3 ton truck.

Interns Make Lunch for the Widows

On Tuesday we had all the widows bring their children
so that we could take family pictures for them. 
We asked for them to bring a plate with them on
Thursday because we wanted to serve them lunch.
They were sooooo excited (what’s new? Haha) and
the afternoon was finished off with usual singing and
dancing!

Our normal schedule for Thursday is to spend the
morning with the widows and then come back for lunch
and a siesta before we go back in the afternoon. This
Thursday, however, we stayed behind in the morning to
prepare lunch for all the women. We purchased rice,
beans, and greens from the market in order to feed
over 45 women. It was quite a process since the beans
have to soak overnight and the rice has to be sifted
for rocks, but luckily the cooks helped us with the
quantities. We arrived at noon and as we walked in
with our 3 pots the women surrounded us with singing
and dancing because they were so excited and thankful.
After about 8 songs or so, I had prepared an
encouraging word and blessing to share since it was
my week to lead Bible study. I thanked them for
allowing us to serve them in this way because they
always serve us. I shared my love for long meals with
friends because of the fellowship that goes along
with it, along with Jesus’ love for community that
they exemplify so well. I read Romans 15:5-6 which
says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement
give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow
Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
I reminded them that the most important thing we have
in common is our love for Christ and thanked them for
showing us a deeper sense of His love in the way they
serve us and each other. As we were serving food we
were worried that we wouldn'’t have enough for everyone,
but we just kept praying for God to provide and make
it stretch. Everyone was served a substantial helping
and about half of the women were able to come back
for more!!! We enjoyed an amazing time of fellowship
and eating (with our hands of course! Malawian style….)
and I can’t even describe the presence of God that
I felt in that room. The most amazing thing to me as
I reflect on the day is the women’s response to it.
Up until that point all we have “done” is sit with
them and fail at knitting, most of the time not being
able to communicate. Yet, this was the first time
we “did” something by bringing them food, and their
graciousness and joy was exactly the same as every
other time we have spent with them. Their hearts
are amazing and I have learned so much from
them!

Posted by Karin Holmgren

Mgwayi Home Visits Twice A Week

“New Skills” has in deed been an appropriate title for this piece of our ministry here in Malawi. We have learned new skills in a spiritual and in a physical manner. Various groups have done tasks alongside of the families in Mgwayi such as cutting plant stocks for roofing, mudding walls and floors in their homes, and sharing Nsema together. Nsema is a Malawi food staple here simply made of corn flower and water which does not offer much nutritional value for their diets. As we draw water and crush maize (corn) into flour we vicariously step into life here but only for a short time.

As the interns arrived at their families it was hard to determine who belong with whom and what children were from our host families. The community here is awe inspiring and accepted us with open arms. There are children, grandchildren, cousins and friends who all gather around each time the interns arrive for their home visits. Conversations have ranged from stories of David and Goliath, Jesus’ miracles, and the Guli won Kulu (The Big Dance) which is tied in with witch craft and voodoo doctors. There have been celebrations of new life being born of children who have recently passed away. Through all of this working and talking with the host families we have truly seen God move. It has been fun to watch the kids respond to the biblical stories and to then fold their hands as we close in prayer before leaving. It has been a blessing to watch God move in our hearts as we wonder what life would have been like for us had we been born in Mgwayi instead of the land of the home and the free. To see their limited opportunities for any kind of economic advancement is overwhelming and yet they have greater joy and contentment than we have ever seen in the states. Last week we had the opportunity to assist one of the mothers get her daughter to the hospital simply by providing funds for the bus ride. It is the simple things that we take for granted. The bus ride cost about $3.50 round trip but it was money they did not have. Our hearts continue to be burdened for the people of Malawi and more specifically for the people of Mgwayi. Mgwayi is located directly behind COTN’s Njewa Mission Center where we are staying. Thank you for joining us in this journey and praying with us for this country known as, “The Warm Heart of Africa.”

One Widow's Story

Greetings from Malawi!

I am writing to you with news about a widow,
Elita, and her home.   I was just made aware
of her situation this past week.  
Elita's home has been destroyed by her
deceased husbands family  and it
will cost 150,000K, (approx $1071) to rebuild.  
I have attached some pictures from Thursday
when they took me to her home.  In Malawi, the
custom is that if a widow were to get remarried
then all  of her possessions would go back to her
deceased husband's family. Well, the other custom
is for one of the brothers to marry the widow.   
Elita lost her husband 5 years ago and 4 1/2 yrs
later her deceased husband's  brother decided
he would marry her.  Elita refused due to possible
AIDs etc...  and that is when trouble came.  
This past April her husband's family came  and took
everything she owned and destroyed the house.  
She was literally  left with nothing and is now
living in a temporary single room house for free.
She cannot stay there much longer and COTN does
not 'officially' build houses etc.  But within
a few short days,  God has provided the funds
needed for Elita  to have a new home.  
After hearing the news she could not stop
smiling all day. It has been a blessing to be
here serving alongside all of the interns.  
They have worked really hard, they have grown
personally in their walks with the Lord, 
and they have seen God work for hand. 

To God be the glory for
the things that HE has done! 

Thank you for being the journey with us
through your prayers and support.