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