Thoughts about going home... And some pictures

So in a little less than 2 months O and I will end out Malawian journey and head home to start new adventures. As you might imagine after spending two years here this place certainly holds a piece of my heart. Possibly a larger piece than I even realize now. As my time here grows shorter and shorter thoughts of home and people and what happens next become more and more present in my mind. Any time you talk with anyone they ask some form of question about something to do with all of that (confused? yeah me too). Here's the true answer.... I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what's next. Isn't that exciting? No? Yes!! Honesty I have no idea about that either. But I've accepted that. I know that God has plans for my life and He will reveal them to me in His own time. I was thinking the other day back to when we were just deciding to move to Malawi... That was scary, but God provided... God provides. It seems like it should be easier to go back than it was to leave, but in some respects it's a little harder. I have fallen in love with this place with these people. They have helped to learn and grow, they have challenged me in ways that only moving across the world and falling into a completely new culture can. It's been hard and messy and beautiful and one of the greatest experiences of my life. It's going to be tough to say good bye. But O and I were talking about all of the exciting opportunities we'll have when we get home. And about taking the things we have learned here and putting them to practice in the rest of our lives. Continuing to live a good story. Seeking out opportunities to serve and minister in our own communities. It seems like such a "duh" concept, but the temptation to go home and just be comfortable is HUGE! Even in the small things... In Malawi we are noticed everywhere we go. We're riding in the car and we here people shouting "AZUGU!!" Which basically means white person... And people staaaaare. It perfectly acceptable. The thought of being able to walk around the store and blend in is quite nice. Or knowing... or at least have a good idea of what to expect in a social situation. Will these people speak English? Probably. Will we be wearing the proper clothing? Probably.  (Here the answer to this is generally.. Probably not.) But we were saying basically now that we have these experiences will we be satisfied with just being comfortable? I honestly don't think we will. At least not at first, but I'm human, a human who thoroughly enjoys her comfort,  and generally unless pushed to do things I won't. But just because we don't live in Africa doesn't mean we can serve. Yes, we may have to look harder for opportunities. And yes they may actually require more of us than a lot of the things we do here, but isn't it worth it? Isn't going home at the end of the day spent for the glory of God worth all of the sacrifice? Of course it is! This is something I desperately hope to remember upon my return home. so no I have no idea what I'm going to do. I don't even know what I want to do, but I know what I hope my life will look like and I know that my God will provide for me and knowing that is perfect. 



Here are a few snap shots of my life recently....

This crazy huge moth was outside my classroom one morning and every stopped to start at it for a long time.... my class was amused. 

We had a reception- 1st grade pizza party to celebrate the end of Gospel Emphasis week and the beginning of Spring Break! Here is there lovely pizza box tower! 

Our tour of Malawi was EXCELLENT and BEAUTIFUL and only involved one flat tire. 

Everyone that passed us was intrigued by our tire changing adventure. 

God's beautiful creation. 

Tea and Scones at Dedza. Yeah, we're sophisticated. 

Posing? on the mountain. :)

The guys were in charge of breakfast... clearly I  was just in the way. 

We stopped to take lots of pictures in front of this waterfall.  Malawi is a gorgeous country. We were so happy to have seen so much of it. 

Isn't it Gorgeous! 

More pictures on the mountain! 

After our tour we had some fun with Hair dye! 

I bought O a cat!!! She is so happy, so no comments on that please. 

This view....

This ones for you Mom! 

I love this girl so much! I'm so glad we got to experience this together, everything is better with friends.

Birthday cards from the 1st graders at ABC. (sorry they're upside down)

Birthday cookies!!!!!!! 

UNO!!! 

When left alone for too long.... well I had fun at least. :D

Sometimes kindergarten is just too much. 

:)

Laughing! 

These are the precious babies at the Crisis nursery in town. Its so much fun to go and love on them. I pray that we're a blessing to their nannies during the time we have to spend there. 

EEETCHY CATAPILLA!!! That kinder speak for Itchy Caterpillar...  these little guys are evil. If you touch them they give you a rash and make you... ITCHY! obviously kinder kids can't resist their fuzzy appearance...

I just want it to be know that on this particular ice cream outing O was the one who asked for  the ice cream 

Things we find in our resource room at school.... 

Every time I looked at this little girl she would just stare at me with the biggest most beautiful smile! 

Working hard on some coloring pages... hoping to win a prize

After a lot of miscommunication I realized they wanted me to take their  pictures. so we had fun!

These kids have stolen my heart. 

The baby wasn't quite sure what to think of me, but his sister REALLY wanted her picture taken. :)

The laughter that these toys brought was absolutely beautiful

Pure joy.

This sweet baby actually laughed with me... I think his sister was just as excited as I was that he didn't cry. 

The end.

Until next time..... 

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you FRIENDS, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another." John 15.12-17

WOW! 

I'M BACK!

It's been a while... Things have been crazy! I'm honestly not even sure what the last thing I wrote was. Oh well :) lets just start with Christmas. I realize its February now, but we just took our decorations down yesterday so it's all good!
Most of you know by now that Ogles and I were able to go home for Christmas and SURPRISE our families. Neither of our families suspected a thing. It was brilliant!! Sometimes I still get excited when I think about it. For the full story you'll have to catch someone from Weimer World in person, because its just that good. Being home was the best thing! The holidays are for celebrating with family. Taking time out of busy chaotic lives and enjoying the blessing that God has given. I can not even express how grateful I am for friends and family who helped raise funds for airfare and travel expenses. Not only was I able to be home to celebrate Christmas, I got to help the beautiful Brittany Steer pick out her wedding dress, get in on a few plans happening for my brothers wedding, and be there (in person!) to find out that my sister is having a baby!! I'm not sure anyone could have kept me from the airport if I had found that out over Skype. Fortunately, my God is big. He knew everything that was happening and provided for all of us in the best possible way! I'm still excited. While it was a crazy couple of weeks and everything happened in, what is now, mostly a big blur I was able to come back refreshed and ready to face the rest of the year.
After some minor (read intense and terrifying) panic and confusion in the airport O and I made it back to Malawi in one piece with a smidgen of  sanity between the two of us, and no luggage. Let me just say, trying to figure out luggage in the Malawi airport after two+ days of travel coming off of and wonderfully emotional and exhausting trip home is not fun or easy or anything good really. Thankfully Ben and Blessings showed up to help sort everything out and we eventually (several days later) had all of our luggage.
The next few days were filled with lots and lots and lots of horrible jet lag. Woohoo we did have some fun nights staying up until 2ish doing crazy crazy things.
Once school started things really got crazy. This semester has been, by far, the hardest one yet. It has been easier in some ways, but mostly it's been really really hard. Being a teacher is big business. I think I will always have a lot more respect for teachers now that I have done it. My days are filled with smiling faces, giggles, lots of hugs, and occasionally some tears and I love it (well maybe not the tears). But with all of those things comes the phonics lesson that some kids just don't get, the math lesson that is so simple we've complicated it, and the reading book that's missing two pages and no one knows why. Those things are frustrating and tiring and draining and I really don't enjoy them. If I could sit and play and chat with those kiddos all day long I would probably have the best job in the world, but there is a bigger need and a bigger purpose which makes it the bestmosthorriblejobever. That's the only way to describe it. The good and the bad all rolled into one. It's early in the semester still and there is a lot left to do: difficult  decisions to be made, hard conversations to have, unfortunate things like counting books and inventorying craft supplies, but most importantly loving kids and helping them to learn, and to grow up to be great people.
In all of this I'm leaning on my great big God. Throwing all of my anxieties, fears, and worries at His
feet and asking for the strength and courage to get through it one day at a time. It will probably get hard and be ugly at times, but that's life and I am determined to leave this place knowing I did my best and trusted God to get me through.

Until next time...

                    

  "Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

² Great are the works of the Lord

    studied by all who delight in them.
³ Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
    he remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy;
⁸ they are established forever and ever,
    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name!
¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!" -Psalm 111