A day in the life of...

Not much has happened since my last post... last was a busy week, but it was pretty routine... kinda. I don't really know everything is mushing together, but I'll do my best to tell you about a day in the life of... well me and the many roles I seem to have found myself in here.
Sunday was actually not typical, since Ogles and I were both free of any duties at IBF on Sunday we decided to visit Flood which is a church popular with the singles and college students here on campus. It was good, it is a bit more contemporary, a bit more like church back home, but I think O and I both realized that IBF is where we need to be right now and we're happy there. It was fun to visit though, I'm sure we'll go back.
Mmmmonday, was back to school after our week off, it was a long day. The fabulous routine we had finally fallen into was nonexistent, and the day was just challenging, but we made it! Later that night we went to the basketball game (GO LIONS!) here on campus it was a really great game, the guys played hard and won! It was a very different atmosphere instead of yelling and screaming everyone sings and dances, and just enjoys the game for what it is.
Tuesday was a much better day at school. I was so glad that it didn't take the kids long to get back in the swing of things. Tuesday night Ogles and I ran off and had dinner. Its always nice to escape campus for a while and just sit and be normal and not have to think about and analyze everything I say. Afterward we came back and just hung out around campus we went to the caf and spent some time there and then we just walked around and were lazy. At some point Tuesday night there was NO ONE at my house except me and it was wonderful and peaceful... I'm praying it happens more often. :D
Wednesday was another day of getting up early and heading out off to school. I really enjoy being greeted by my students every morning. They are always so excited and full of love. Wednesday is staff Bible Study on campus. This week we had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Kamadan (Not sure how to spell that) He is know around campus as Uncle Krabby. He brought a message about being joyful even in the trials. It was such a refreshing and MUCH needed reminder. Life here is special there are rules and regulations for everything and sometimes that is suffocating... other times is frustrating and sometime its just obnoxious. However I realize rule are good... I like rules... but sometimes I am not sure what the rules are that's hard. Also, its November... waking up in to the heat is just a little bit sad. Everyone back home is enjoying the nice fall weather and carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating... don't get me wrong I love it here we're doing fun things its just not the same traditions that we're used to and love. Not to worry though I have already started decorating for Christmas and since there is no Thanksgiving in Malawi I see no reason to put off the rest of the decorating. SO all of that to say a message on joy was just what we needed right now. Praise the Lord he always provides.
Thursday was back to school... haha this is fun (you should at least pretend) Thursday I had my computer at school and my current background is a picture of Ogles (Miss O), Owen (Mista Owen), and myself. (Miss O comes into my room every Tuesday to help with reading centers so my kids know her well) So a bunch of my kids were standing and looking at the picture when one of the says, "Miss Weimer, I didn't know you knew Mista Owen..." Confused I look at them I said, "Guys, Mr. Owen works across the hall, we see him all the time, he come into our classroom EVERYDAY." They returned my confused expression and said, "Yes but we didn't know you KNEW Mista Owen." Okay okay fair enough I really enjoy this age and their mindset. Later that day they were looking at the picture again and one of them asked me. "Where was that picture at?" So, I said, "that picture is at Mr. Owen's house." to which the replied wide eyed... "MISTA OWEN HAS A HOUSE!" at this point I just had to laugh they are so cute I didn't even know what to do. Thursday was also shopping day so Ogles and I mustered up all of our courage and went shopping... okay not really we asked Owen to come and since Owen is a wonderful person he toted us around town and even led us on our first adventure to the clothes market. In order to get to the clothes market you have to cross, what I am sure is the most unsafe bridge in the entire world. I was scared, fortunately Ogles is awesome and didn't rat me out she just let me walk in front of her slowly slowly slowly until we got to the other side. Oh! such good times. 
Friday was a lovely day the weather was a bit cooler and everyone was looking forward to the weekend. Ogles and I decided to skip pot luck and enjoy a quiet evening at our house, and then we went and watched the girls basketball game (AHHH THERE IS A HUGE SPIDER) AHHHHHHH!
Saturday of course was sleep in late and do nothing day later that day we made  p(that spider is really close  to me this is no good) pancakes for dinner and then watched despicable me. what a good way to end the day! (EISH! Its a chop chop! Allison is my HERO! She is trying kill it! there is much screaming, don't judge!) Okay I cna't even think right now. I have tortured you enough with my life. Much love keep the prayers coming we need all we can get!!
 Until next time,
"Count it pure joy, my brothers, when you meet trial of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1: 2-3


also pray that this spider dies!

The Best Thing That Could Be Happening

Where do I even start? The past week was quite possibly the best week I've had here! I wish there were words enough to describe the fun we had and the joy that last week brought. I am so glad that my God is faithful even when I am not. The blessing that have been poured out on me are far more than I deserve and I am so thankful! Okay, so let me just tell you all about last week.
For starters it was mid-term break, so we had the week off! Praise the Lord! It was definitely a much needed break for students and teachers alike.  We started our break by going to pot luck and then a movie night with some of the other teachers and some college students as well. We just had a really good time after the movie we were standing around the kitchen drinking coffee and talking when suddenly all eyes in the room were open wide staring at something behind Allison and myself. Needless to say we quickly made our way to the other side of the kitchen and were told that a rat and scampered out from under the fridge and in the laundry room. (NOT COOL! If you remember from my last post I am not really a fan of rats.)
Saturday, we slept late and then stayed in our beds even later, I think it was 2 or so before we ever left our room, that is the best way to spend the first day of a vacation in my opinion. I don't think we did much else on Saturday maybe watched another movie or just hung out I don't know. Sunday was another relativity lazy day we went to church and had lunch with the Carlisles. We came home and there was an excellent rain storm, perfect for Sunday afternoon nap, and doing nothing.
At some point Allison and I had decided that we were going to try and stay out of our house as much as possible this week. We haven't done a whole lot since we've been here and so we thought it would be a good idea simply to get out and see other people and do different things. In an effort to fulfill this goal we decided we would get up early and go to chapel at the college every morning. So that's what we did early Monday morning we walked up to the chapel... little did we know it was a public holiday so there was no chapel, no class it was very quiet on campus, mainly because we were the only people awake I'm pretty sure. OH well, it was nice we just walked and sat and enjoyed the quiet early morning.
The second part of our plan was to attend some classes at the college that week (yes, we realize that's lame and we're okay with it). But it was also mid-terms on campus which works more like finals in the states so everyone was out and about studying and just taking a break from the everyday routine. This also meant that Mista Owen (Owen is from Zimbabwe, but has been working at the academy for about 8 years or so teaching reception) opened up his house (because his other housemates were out of town for the week) as a place for some of the college guys to come and find a (mostly) quiet place to study, or just some where to get away from the stress of mid-terms and the madness that entails.  Because Owen is awesome, he also allowed Allison and I to come and crash his house whenever we felt necessary this week. So we spent a good amount of time there hanging out, watching movies, helping some of the college guys study, and most importantly gaining some really great friends in the process.
Other adventures from this week included: much swimming (because it is hot here, and we can swim in October.), laughing, drinking coke, reading in the garden, making doctors appointments for people, walking around, watching football (soccer), ending up at the one place we have been told never to go, making cinnamon rolls, swinging, "playing" basketball, and just having fun.
I must include the end of a story we started a long time ago... Remember the rat from Friday night? Okay good. SO I think it was Tuesday or Wednesday and Owen was making French Fries (because he's awesome) and Allison and I were rearranging the magnet letters to remind Owen he needed to take his friend to the doctor.  Several other people were just standing around talking and laughing at us... it was good time. So while were standing the rat crawled out from underneath the fridge and got on mY FOOT! AHHH! I screamed quite loudly and ran out of the room, I almost ran out of the house, but I managed to control myself... you'll have to read Ogles' blog to see what happened after that...I do know that everyone was laughing even Allison laughed at me. Zack was the first one to come and make sure I was still alive. I shook for about 10 minutes after that. Zack kept saying, "let me see your hands." It was all really excellent.
This week was excellent I really feel like I am finding my place here, thanks to some really great friends, Andrew, Ndaba, Owen, and  Zack this is finally starting to feel like a home. As I said before God is so good and has showered blessing upon blessing on me this week that I simply did not deserve. I can't wait to see what happens next.
 Once again thank you all for your prayers keep them coming they mean more than I could every express. We also really appreciate your notes and encouragement it's hard to be away from home and just knowing that people are thinking about you makes life that much easier!
Until next time...
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his fact to shine upon you
           and be gracious to you;
the Lord life up his countenance upon
           you and give you peace."
 - Numbers 6:24-26

Oh, the things that have happened here since my last post.... really aren't all that exciting. Sorry, just having a dramatic moment! :) But really last week was an okay week, it was pretty routine go to school come home the usual. I did receive my first marriage proposal from the guy we buy our vegetables from... It was funny. I didn't really know what to do so I just said we needed a mop... which we did and now don't.
Friday, however, was a big day. It was reading day at ABCCA! Possibly the craziest day thus far.  Friday morning everyone showed up to school dressed as their favorite character from a book (kinda) I had four spidermans in my class, but that's okay.  The entire day is about reading! We started the day in chapel with singing, poetry reading, and a little readers theater put on by some of the ABCCA staff. It was pretty funny, everyone did a really excellent job. Afterward we went back to our classroom and we read all day. We had some wonderful parents come in and read to us, as well as, one of the third grade classes who came and read to the students one on one. It was a fun day but definitely exhausting. Hopefully soon I'll be able to get the pictures up...
Saturday... OH SATURDAY I ALMOST FORGOT! Well first off we slept until like 10:30 which is almost unheard of here... but we did. So later Allison and i were standing in the kitchen and she said. "by the way there is a dead rat in the toilet of the spare bathroom." Are you serious! How does that even happen? I don't wanna know that's gross. I hate rats!!! Bugs, spiders, ants, whatever I can handle that... even the occasional roach (though Katie usually has to come kill them) But not rats! UGH! Well, Allison took a picture of it (you can find it on facebook if you would like) and posted that some of the campus men should come and rescue us from it. Thankfully a couple of the college guys that we've become friends with here came rather quickly to the rescue. They made fun of me for refusing to go in the bathroom and not wanting to see the rat. UGH!!! I still haven't gone in that bathroom.
Later that evening we had a bunch of the singles over for homemade pizza night which was fun. We were proud of ourselves for being so social. haha
This week has been pretty normal... the coming week is a holiday and we are all ready for the break! I can't wait! It's going to be excellent.
Well, please pray. Pray for Malawi, for all the people here, pray that we would have strength and peace to make it through the long weeks and that we would take advantage of the really good ones, pray that we can continue to live in peace with each other, and that we will not forget the reason we are here. Thank you all so much!!

Until next time...
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another is showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." Romans 12:9-13

In Christ Alone My Hope is Found

This past week was a particularly long one. Possibly one of the longest I've had since arriving here. Sometimes I think long is just a nicerish way of saying horribly awful, but last week was both it was a long horribly awful week.  I don't think that there was any one incident that made it so bad it was just everything. Homesickness hit hard last week, and since we're in Africa things happen. So our Internet only worked 1/2 the week and the other 1/2 the power was off. If things were going right it was a bad time to talk with family,  we ran out of doom (ant killer) so the fact that our house wasn't carried away is a miracle, despite my best efforts I never felt prepared for class and was just stressed out...and so it just all piled up. Basically, Monday around 9am we were praying for Friday in a very serious manner.  But we survived! Praise the Lord!! Some folks somewhere must have been praying very hard for us last week, and we are so grateful!
 Saturday was a fun day. We were invited to a breakfast for missionaries at the Kumbali Cultural center. This was basically the furthest out I have been since being here. We drove through a village to get there which was a true taste of the culture and where we are. After breakfast we headed to the IWAM fair.... or something along those lines IWAM is the International Women's Association of Malawi, or something along those line. And I guess every year they set up a big crafts type fair with lots of fun things to buy and yummy food to eat. They even had ice cream and cotton candy!  Later we went for a swim in the still freezing pool, but it was so worth it. It was excellent!! We owe all the fun we had to the wonderful Kyser family for inviting us to join them! We ended the day having dinner with a bunch of the other "singles" on campus, it was fun we enjoyed the company. The whole day was really a excellent cure for a horribly awful long week.
Sunday we went to church, and Allison and I worked the Creche or Nursery. We had fun. It just felt normal... with the exception of at least 3 different languages being spoken by the kids. But, it was good.
I think that things are starting to get better. We're meeting more people and finding our place here. School, while still difficult, is getting better we're figuring it all out. This Friday is reading day! Its a fun day when everyone gets dressed up and we do fun things! So, look forward to that!
Several of you have asked about sending packages and such... I gave my mom some more info on all that so just look her up and she'll help you out there. We're also putting in a t-shirt order soon, so let me know, or just my mom,  if you want in on that too.
And so... until next time please continue to pray it means  so much!

"In Christ alone"


In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.