My Face From Camp

*Last pic not from camp, I just need it for my profile. What a scam!

The Old Man Is Snoring

Yesterday Someone opened the storehouses of rain while I was working for a man, halting our progress in moving his possessions into his new apartment. The rain subsided but broke out again last night, harder and furiouser. It makes me glad that I wasn't in a boat out at sea, exposed to its fury, but safely asleep in my bed. And sleep was all the better for it.

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The View

This is the view out my back door.









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Electromagnetism

Light plays off the trees and bushes.
















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Very Pretty

Southern Seminary is prettier than you heard.







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Accomodations

This is my room before I unpacked. Outside of the picture to the left is my sink, and to the left is my closet. Their is lots of storage space.












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Clothes -o- Box

I took one of Thera's boxes with which to move with and when I dumped the clothes out of it they were shaped like the box.



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Southern Seminary

Final Malawi Update

Hello again,

I hope everyone is well. I think this is the last email I'll be sending from Africa. This week has had a lot of 'lasts.' We've begun saying goodbye to people.

We taught M,Tu, and W this past week. It was fun cause we had soccer games against each other. I'm not very good at it, but probably better at that than teaching ha. We told them goodbye. They gave a speech and sang goodbye. I started to get sad, but then we sang and danced. Who can be sad when you're singing and dancing?

Then that Wednesday night we went to the last get together at church. We had to stand up and 'air out' whatever we had to say. (that's what they say when they ask if you want to say anything-air out). So here I get up to give my heartfelt shpill. I started off pretty good, but then I got nervous and didn't know what to say at the end and so I said I'll miss you, but I'm sure you'll do just fine without us. good land. all the white people laughed. Thankfully the translator didn't really get that last part. They tell me I talk too fast. It doesn't sound that bad right now, but right after I said it I was so embarrassed.

Then on Thursday night, we went to the Chitipi Farm and had devotions and so they had a goodbye for us. We had cake and Sobo and then the girls gave us bracelets. I cried. I'll miss those kids so much. Then we ended with dancing again. ha yay! oh and it was a Mum's birthday so Rachel and I made a cake for her and it turned out really good. I was really surprised cause we kinda just made up the recipe for the icing. So we had cake twice that dayv

Friday morning we had the widow's ministry for the last time. We had devotions and mended/crocheted/knit and had tea and cookies. Then Mr. Lungu who always helps us in the village gave a goodbye speech and then a couple of the women.Then it was our turn again. It was really sad to leave some of them--well all of them, but some I had been to their houses and helped out there and sat with them in church and kept their kidsv

So I think we have goodbyes on Monday and then we have safari and then debriefing. Then saying goodbye to each other. that will be sad. We also said goodbye to some of the Malawian guys who help the short term teams out as far as translating. Monica and I got close to them so that was sad.

This isn't a very fun email is it? We were in the village a lot this week. I love it. Playing with the kids, having them all over you. I played jump rope and jingo with them. I feel so old when I do cause it kills my knees. ha. On the Mum Mada's birthday we took her and the girl's home and the preacher's kids to the nature center. A monkey almost pulled my skirt off. ha. it was so rough. I petted a hyena. It stunk.

Well, I'll be coming home soon. I'll leave the 15th and get to Atl on the 16th. I appreciate all of your emails and prayers. Please keep praying for the people here in Malawi. And youth group, thank you for your notes! That was so cool to read them! (thank you Sonya). I love you and God bless

Shawna

Malawi Update

Hi everyone!

It's email time once again. This past week we had a camp for the kids. On Sunday we went to Chiwengo and stayed until Wednesday afternoon. We left on Sunday after church which was a 3.5hour service but it was soo good. I really enjoyed it. All the different choirs sang and we were with the Amayi Mgwiro (the lady choir). And they totally didn't do the songs that we had practiced with them. But we caught on and it was fun. haha before church started we were just standing around outside so I told Monica let's go on in. So a man ushers us in and here we go prancing up the aisle talking and then we saw a couple of guys we know so we were like hey! and waved really big. then we sat down and talked. Then I looked up and saw a man standing in front talking to the audience who I then noticed were all men. I slowly realized that we had just walked into the Men's Sunday school class. hhaha it was so embarrassing. then we had an amazing malawian meal with the preacher and different people and then there is a group from Hawaii that's here. They are soo nice. And they brought us different American things to have while we are here which was really nice. One of the lady's mom died (in America) while she (the daughter) was here so you can pray for her and that group.

The camp went well. We had devotions in the morning and evenings and activities inbetween. I taught Esther on Tuesday-and that's funny cause they chose me to teach it because when we were talking about different stories to do they were explaining Esther to a girl who was unfamiliar with it, but they left out parts-mainly about Haman-so I told that part and for some reason I was cracking up because he thought that he was going to be honored but it was Mordecai so here he goes parading him around. it was really funny to me. (and still is). So they chose me-but that wasn't why I mentioned that- That was neat because I got to help with the youth group during vbs at eastanallee and I had taught Esther on one of the nights and I had mentioned how that's preparing me for Africa and here I told that story. I thought that was neat.

The activities withthe kids were fun. We played capture the flag almost every day. And one day I had a kid on my back and then a kid holding my hand and I just walked down the field and got the flag. They of course tagged me right after but it was funny. These kids are so athletic. One day I was with a group of really young girls during our free time. I was the only one who spoke English and I played games, sang, and danced with them for 3 hours. It was so cool. I taught them the only Chichewa songs I really know which were all abuot Jesus so that's cool. There was one kid-Toko who really took up with me. He's supposedly one of the bad kids and he's on medicine, but he was really good with me. He clung to me when we were leaving and then one of the Malawian Interns had to pry him off so I could leave. It was so sad. And it was sad leaving the Malawian interns because we won't see them again. They were so fun. One night we stayed up and learned how to do the dances for Malawian weddings. It was so fun. We stayed up until after 2 then woke up after 5 to watch the sunset. So between that and all the activities with the kids, it's been a kind of tiring week. We had camp on Thursday and Friday withthe Chitipi kids. The younger girls are going to spend the night with us tonight and then the older ones will stay with us next week. There's just so much going on and I'm just randomly mentioning some stories. Sorry if that's frustrating! But everything's still going well! This up coming week is our last ministry week then next week is safari and debriefing. I get really sad thinking about it, so I don't. Thank you all and I'll see/talk to you soon.

Shawna

Shawna's Malawi Update

Hi everyone,

I can't believe I only have 3 weeks left! Next week we're going to Chiwengo where the other interns are. It's about 2 hours away. We're going to hold a camp for COTN's kids as well as the village kids. We were supposed to take them to the lake for a week, but COTN doesn't have enough money. But they are going to rebudget and take them in December which almost works out better because it's warmer and all the kids will be on break from school.

This past week we taught again. I taught Standard 2 on Monday and Wednesday and Standard 4 on Tuesday. In General Studies in Std 2 I taught about cleaning your teeth. I found some toothbrushes and toothpaste that were donations so I was able to hand those out. THey were so excited-especially the teachers. The lesson talked about not sharing because of diseases so when I told them that they shouldn't share them and that they were their own they all cheered. During breaks the kids asked me to play jingo-a Chinese jump rope game where you jump over two ropes that are raised higher and higher--and in a skirt. It was fun. The funnest part of course is the singing and dancing. And they can do both so well. This Sunday we're singing with the women's choir in church. We bought matching wraps. We went to practice today. ha it's funny.

We've also been going to Chitipi Farm where there's a house with the thirty kids. We help tutor with their reading and do devotions at night. I led devotions this past Thursday night. I loved it. I could see living there with them. While we were at the farm, we helped with sponsorship-some of the kids are sponsored by people elsewhere so we got Christmas cards that they wrote a note on and then took their picture. We did that in our village Mtsiliza too. That was so overwhelming. With 400 kids and then I had to write they're names in order that they got their picture made to make sure we get the right picture and card together. And the kids are just all over you while you are doing it. But how can you tell them to go away? I love having them sit next to me/ on top of me. We had to go back and get a few more another day so it was slower so I sang and danced with some of the kids who were out there and I got so tired ha. They could have probably went on and on. There was a little girl who had a baby on her back and she gave him to me. He was scared of all the other white people but me. He was so cute but so little from malnutrition. It was so bittersweet holding him.

This past Wednesday we went to church like we always do to the 'get together.' It's my favorite. We eat potluck (which is the best food we've had here) and sing and dance and people speak. We were outside the church before it started withthe preacher's wifeand girls from teh girl's home. We were in a circle doing some African dances and the preacher walked by and said I hope you're practising for church tonight. We just laughed. But, then at the end of church he called us up to do the dances. We all hesitated, but then the other girls got up and went. And it's only a couple of people dancing at a time while everyone else is in the circle. So I was in front but when it started comingn to my turn, I kinda backed away slowly, really unnoticeably (is that a word?) but then one Malawian woman grabbed me and pulled me in. ha it was fun though. Tom, the preacher, also said that we are Malawians now-we are no longer visitors. (I think he said that a while ago though. I can't remember)

Thank you again for your emails and prayers.
love
Shawna