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

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

It's Christmas time!!! And no secret that this is my favorite time of year. Everything about Christmas is filled with magic and wonder. Starting with the reason for all of it... The birth of a  tiny baby who would grow up to save the world!
Christmas in Malawi is a very different experience. For starters it's hot. There are no crazy sweaters and boots. No one is wrapped up i scarves and gloves rushing from place to place. If  anything life is slower. Everyone is taking their time trying to stay cool and out of the sun. There are not lights on every house, and I have yet to see a Santa running around lilongwe.  Its just a different experience. One I am greatful to have had.
 Yesterday Ogles hosted a Christmas party for some of her students. They spent most of the day at the pool. They came back and ate burgers and hotdogs from the grill and finished the evening with caramel corn and sodas. None of these things say Christmas to me. There was no hot chocolate or gingerbread houses. But as I was thinking on all of those things it brought me back to the real reason we had all gathered to celebrate, and I was grateful for the reminder. We don't need any of those things to celebrate Christmas. That's not what it is about. Its about two young people being brave and willing to answer the greatest call of all time and bring to the world a much needed savior. I realize that this sentiment is not new, but the reality of it is fresh and very tangible for me
this year, but please don't misunderstand. I am not saying any of those things are bad. I hope to someday have a house full of Christmas decorations and maybe a few too many lights and cookies and hot chocolate for anyone that comes. I still get excited at the anticipation of Santa coming, and ithinkyou can have allow that and still hold at the enter Christ.

One last thought for you this morning on a differnet note, but still the same kinda. This is from the Countdown to Christmas devotional I've been reading (countdown haters don't judge) 
Luke 1.8-23 and Matthew 7.7-11 after reading these this is what it has to say. Something I was in desperate need of. 

 "Zacharias was chosen to be the priest who would enter the holy place in the Temple to offer incense to God on behalf of the people. However, as Zacharias was standing beside the altar of incense, he received a surprise visitor! The angel Gabriel had been sent from heaven to bring an exciting message from heaven to Zacharias and Elizabeth. “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard,” were the words of the angel at this history-breaking moment. God had been silent for 400 years and at this instant, Zacharias heard the audible answer for which he and his wife had been praying since the day of their marriage many, many years ago. After all of the years of waiting and praying and believing, heaven’s intervention was about to be experienced in the life and marriage of Elizabeth and Zacharias. Could it be true? Was it even possible after decades of marriage to conceive and bear a son? Would Elizabeth’s elderly frame be able to withstand 9 months of pregnancy and then the pain of giving birth? God, are You really this good?! It is true: God absolutely hears your prayers. He is listening intently to your requests and loves it when a believer comes to Him boldly and unashamedly. The Bible instructs Christians from every generation to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep right on seeking, knock and keep on knocking! (Matthew 7:7) For what have you been praying? Perhaps an unsaved spouse ... a rebellious child ... a breakthrough in finances ... or health concerns have dominated your prayers for years and years. You need to follow the example of Elizabeth and Zacharias and continue to pray with expectation and with hope! Christmas is a time when we should all expect heaven’s entrance into our dusty, dirty worlds. Christmas is a time that reminds us all that miracles really do happen, prayers are actually answered and that heaven is just one response away. You honor God when you ask of Him the impossible! Impossible is what the God of Christmas does best!

1. 2. 3.--------17,000....

Have you ever had one of those days where, every time you accomplish one thing 5 more pop up? Well, this has been one of those WEEKS! I long ago gave up on my to-do list and am trying very hard to just take it one thing at a time.     There was a time in my life when this would have caused me infinitely more stress and anxiety than it does now. I can remember being half way... somewhere, remembering my planner was still at my house and turning around to go back for it. Now... Well I left my plan-book at home the other day, but no fear! Miss Weimer is resourceful and we made it through the day with only one major misstep. I'm not sure why I feel compelled to tell you all this, but I think I just realized how far I've come.
This has been a crazy term for me, Nothing has gone as I thought it should. It seems like... If it can go wrong it will, If its the most inconvenient time for someone to be sick then they probably are... OH and the break you thought you were getting today.. no, not gonna happen. But its okay. My God is good and that's that.
SO.... Today as I was waiting for a parent to come in I finally committed myself to going back to list to see what I had accomplished and to write the rest down so that some day it might actually get accomplished... It's long and a little bit stressful to look at, but you know what? I am only one person and so long as I am doing my best, giving my students my best, and glorifying God in everything I do than I should not ask anything else from myself.

So there I am....

Until next time

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!" Psalm 98:4

every day

So I know that I've done something similar to this before but that's okay. It'll still be fun and exciting. I realize that while I know what I do here every single day and O knows what I do here and folks here with me know... people back home are probably wondering... So I'm going to try very hard to walk you through most of a week here. We'll see what happens.

So the week starts off with a lovey day of rest and relaxation. I love SUNDAY. There is no pressure to do crazy stuff and I don''t know. I go to church and then spend the rest of the day not doing anything... Well sometimes some lesson plans, but when don't I have those?

Here is a lovely picture of O and Bule getting ready for Sunday morning worship!

So after a great day of resting and preparing... MONDAY IS HERE. Oh how unfortunate after such a wonderful day. 5 am comes very very early. Fortunately I get to go and greet all these adorable faces.

 We start out day with singing, counting and talking about how much fun we had over the weekend. Luckily for me these kiddos love coming to school on Monday. That makes things much easier. Our FAVORITE part of Monday is visiting the library and reading lots of new books! 

Kindergarten at ABC ends at 12 so somewhere between 12:30 and 1:00 I get to head home, and rest for a little while before starting preparation for the next day. School is exhausting and Monday is... well Monday. So, our evenings are pretty calm. We generally watch movies, have dinner, and sleep... EARLY! 

After all the excitement of Monday, Tuesday comes pretty quickly itself. 5 am. OH how I love it! (not really) 

Tuesday in Kindergarten is pretty much the same as Monday, we just like to have a lot of fun! We have, however, managed to celebrate quite a few birthdays already this year... and several of them have fallen on a Tuesday which is just fun!  

Here we are celebrating T.K. turning 6!!

After school on Tuesday O and I usually venture out and do our shopping. Shopping is always an adventure. It generally takes us about an hour or two and a visit to about 3 different shops to get everything we need/want off our shopping list.

Chipiku is one of our favorite places, we can get most things we need here.. . Plus the have CHOCOLATE and sometimes tortilla chips! Yuuum! 

This is our second favorite place. They have the bagels and yummy rolls

Here's a look inside foodworths. Believe it or not we do buy  veggies sometimes, but not usually from here. 

There are a few other places we frequent and we sometimes go to the market, but that's a post in itself. I don't really mind shopping its fun and there is always something exciting to see. It takes a long time and can be frustrating when you've visited 4 different places and still only have half of whats on your list, but we make it work.

WEDNESDAY!
Um Wednesday are the middle of the week, obviously. As far as Kindergarten goes they look pretty much like Monday and Tuesday except that we get to go to SPORTS! This is one of their favorite things running and playing new games and just enjoying some time out of the classroom. (its also a really nice break for the teacher!)

After school on Wednesday there is much that happens though we do go to Staff Bible study and spend some time in The Word. It's also a good time to see people that don't work at the academy, but are still missionaries to ABC.



Then there is Thursday. OH the fun we have on Thursdays! Everyone is tired and really excited that the week is almost over, but there is still work to be done. Every Thursday in Kindergarten we spend about an hour doing art! For some people this may not seem terribly exciting, but it really is. I try to give my kids minimal instructions... really just guidelines and let them be creative. Sometimes things turn out very interesting... and sometimes I just get 17 pictures of a dog, but its always fun.

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Here we are working with the other kindergarten class to make letter people! 

We painted.... WITH OUR FEET! 

THEN ITS FRIDAY! FRIDAY IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!!! You may think I'm wrong, but! I'm not. We start our Friday with chapel. Reception to 1st grade spend the first 45 minutes or so of our day worshiping together. We sing we hear from the Bible and we have a really good time. 

One week we even had some puppets!!! 

In Kinder 2 our favorite part of Friday is FUN CENTERS. We set aside 45 minutes or so at the end of Friday to play with all of the fun and wonderful things that we find in our classroom!

You wish you could have this much fun! 

After school of Fridays I generally go to Malika village with Bule and Ben and a bunch of students from the college. Basically all I do is hold hands with little kids and do whatever I'm told. It's really really fun!

                         

On this particular day we were putting on a carnival for the kids, so there were TONS of them there and we had a zillion and one bags of candy and lots of fun games to play. 

Then its Saturday! FINALLY!!! Saturdays include any number of things here in Malawi. Our personal favorite is doing nothing! But our friends think we spend too much time inside so they try really hard to make us get out and do things... So here we go... 

We were kidnapped!! (along with the camera) and went to lunch! It was goo times.

While we were at lunch Ogles spotted some really YUMMY rolls and we were all a little worried she was going to jump over the railing after them.

Wii tournament!!!.... eventually it got a little bit intense. It was good times! 

The guys came and made dinner one night!  OH man... hilarious! 

And, of course, everyone's favorite.... 

BASKETBALL!!!! 

And sometimes we just do really random things like... 

make chocolate peanut butter popcorn....

OR....

Watch T.V. ALLL day

 OR....

drink half a crate of coke... 

OR... 

Work really hard to publish a blog for our friends and family! 

 

So there you have it... a week in my life. It's good times I like it, I have fun, sometimes its stressful, sometimes I don't really like it, but that's okay. 

Until next time...

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 

1 Corinthians 15.58