Ever so slightly overwhelmed

I assumed that as some point this would probably happen, and to be honest I am glad it is happening early as opposed to later when I am standing in front of a room full of 5 and 6 year olds. Nonetheless this past few days have proven to be quite an overwhelming adventure.
If you've been keeping up with Allison you are pretty up to date on what has happened, but here is a brief run down... Sunday we went to the church here on campus it was good, it felt a little like being at home. We were also able to meet a lot of people, honestly I don't remember many of their names. Hopefully that won't be as much of an issue in the near future. Later we slept... A LOT! Then we went and had dinner with the Carlisle family. They were amazing! They made pancakes! And since, neither of us had much of an appetite until this evening they graciously allowed us to eat them out of house and home.
Monday we went up to the school for the first time to see our classrooms and get acquainted with things there. That is where the fun begins. School starts in two weeks and there is so much to do. I have been incredibly blessed with a team teacher, Mrs. Jean Mpata. Basically, this means that I am not in charge of my entire class alone we will share all of the teaching responsibilities. What a blessing!! We were also able to meet Craig, who is also working at the school this year. We decided that it would be a good idea to have him over for dinner. This may or may not have been a good idea considering this was our first night cooking on our own. We managed, and actually didn't do to badly. Allison posted some pictures so you should go look at them.
Tuesday was another day up at the school, I was able to start going through cabinets and looking at the plethora of resources I have to work with. Everything I think I could ever dream of needing as a kindergarten teacher is already in my room. So I worked at looking this over and looking at old lesson plans activities that will prove to be very helpful.
Today has been a very good and crazy day. I woke up earlyish... really it was just not 11, and headed straight for school. I spent most of the morning continuing to go through the cabinets and look over lesson plans and really start thinking about what the first few weeks of school with look like. Later I attended a very informative meeting on actually making lesson plans, and running a classroom. Like I said, very informative, but at some point all of the information is just a bit much. Although most of our things are not here yet most of our ABCCA boxes were sent over on the first crate and today we were able to dig into those. There was so much stuff it was amazing! I was finally able to put up some decorations in my room. It is finally starting to look like a classroom. Allison came and helped me move things and put up decorations and mainly keep me from going insane. She may regret that now, but I was glad to did.
Tonight we cooked our second meal! Spaghetti. It was delicious. (yes, we did skip Tuesday, we opted for cereal) We have also been trying very hard to work on lesson plans and get things ready for when school actually starts.
Looking at this blog again, it doesn't seem like there is too much to be concerned with, but it really can be a bit terrifying at times. The amount of work that still has to be done feels like a daunting task at times, but I am excited to do it. I feel like this is finally starting to "be real" and maybe that is the most terrifying thought. For anywhere from 6 to 9 months we've been talking about "moving to Africa" and all that may or may not entail. And now we're here! The first wave of shock has worn off a bit and we're settling in to our home and now work is the next big step. Like I said, I am excited about all of the things in store, but I am still ever so slightly overwhelmed at what has to happen.

Day 2 in Malawi

So far so good. The only thing that has gone terribly wrong is the lock on the bathroom door. I am sure many of you have heard from Ogles, and it is true, I was locked in the bathroom. Not for long, but long enough to know not to lock the bathroom door any more. Good times. The container has not arrived yet, but there is rumor that it will be here Monday or Tuesday. That would be wonderful. It may also be terribly overwhelming, but we'll deal with that when it gets here.
It was wonderful to sleep in a real bed last night! Even if the mosquito net is a bit strange. With a little imagination everything was fine. (also be sure to read Allison's blog allisoninmalawi.blogspot.com) We didn't wake up until about 8:30 this morning which was amazing! We woke up just in time to head to the market with Becca and Carson. They were wonderful considering the three of us had no clue what was happening.
The market was fun, everyone wants to sell you things and help you carry your things... it was a little overwhelming but fun non the less. I am pretty sure we made it out with everything we needed without getting suckered too badly. Then we went to a little shop where we picked up most everything else we needed. It was a little overwhelming as well, but I think we'll figure it out quickly. Like I said Becca and Carson were helpful as we attempted to figure things out.
After a lovely time shopping we came home and cleaned our kitchen... kinda. We're still working on that. We finished unpacking things... mostly. We still have a bit to do. Really we're just hanging out and taking it all in. Everything is wonderful. There are always people around, and you can hear them talking or walking along. No one seems stressed out or worried. Just taking their time and enjoying life. Its wonderful, everywhere should be like this.
We had a visit today from some of the older girls on campus today, they were also able to provide us with some helpful information from a different perspective.
Tonight we had dinner with the amazing Kyser family! I love them all they're wonderful. Even though they have only been here for about six weeks they provide wonderful information. The feelings of being the new kid on the block are still fresh and they are still trying to figure things out so its nice to have someone to do that with. We enjoyed a lovely dinner during our first experience with no power. Luckily it was at the Kyser's house and they were prepared. I think we have three candles in our house at the moment... that could have been fun...
Tomorrow we'll head to the church here on campus which I'm sure will hold many adventures. We are getting settled in nicely and I hope we'll be able to adjust to everything else just as well.

I do not think I like traveling...

Hello again!
I am certain you have all been wondering what happened over the past several days, and to be perfectly honest I am wondering the same thing. The following is what I do know about what happened...
Tuesday morning I loaded myself up into my car and drove to Jackson to meet up with Allison, Liz, and Amber. We had planned to just hang out and enjoy the weekend sense Ammie was back from Peru finally. That was all very lovely. We hung out with lots of wonderful friends from school and we got to see Ashley and Tim and of course sweet baby Isaac. (Sweet baby Isaac is definitely not a baby anymore. :( ) We had so much fun doing nothing really, but it was fun.
Wednesday, the BIG day. The combination anxiety and excitement made for a horribly long day. We survived though. We headed to the airport around 3pm, and with the help from the amazing Mrs. Jan we were checked in by 5pm. Yes, all of that is correct a speedy 2 hour check in process. We said goodbye to our parents and headed off, no turning back! We left out of Jackson, so naturally our flight was delayed causing some stress (not much though) over whether we would make our connection in Dallas. We did. Praise the Lord. We didn't have much time, but we made it and thats all that matters.
At some point on our way from Dallas to London it turned into Thursday. This would have been much less unfortunate if we had been able to sleep well. But, we didn't which made our lovely 7 hour layover in London... not so lovely. We did strange things and slept in airport chairs and blinked stupidly at people until it was finally time for our flight. London to Jo-Burg 10 hours...
Once again at some point in turned into Friday this was a little bit better, but we were still incredibly sleepy. In Jo-Burg we met up with Katie who is another teacher at ABC this year. I felt bad because Allsion and I weren't much for conversation during our layover there... we eventually woke up a bit, but not really. Once we boarded our FINAL FLIGHT from Jo-Burg to Lilongwe... i don't really remember I slept from before take-off almost until we landed, it was lovely. We made it through immigration and customs and baggage claiming and everything else without any problems and were met at the airport by lovely people from ABC who bought us to our house!
All we have really done is make a mess... Most of my stuff still needs to be unpacked a put away, we had dinner with a family here at ABC and now I have spent most of the night trying to update everyone on our progress thus far.
So here I am very sleepy, but very excited in Malawi.

8 DAYS!

Well it has been a while since I have posted and updated everyone. In some ways things have been crazy, but at the same time not a whole lot has happened. I did have the opportunity to spend a week in Louisville, KY at a youth convention a few weeks ago. While many aspects of this were tough (I was in charge of planning the event for the Mississippi District) and there were a several negative attitudes, including my own, and a lot of stress in planning the event as well as dealing with things on the Africa side of life. BUT despite all of that it was a really excellent week, I was able to get past a lot of the mermermer parts of the event and really seek God and hear from Him in a way that really filled me spiritually at a time when I really need it. I also had the opportunity to realize how much I have grown and learned to rely on God for His peace and timing in my life. All in all a successful week. Once that was all over I really just had a few weeks of down time to hang out with my family are start seriously thinking about packing... Well I may not have started yet, but I am getting there. I was able to share my "Africa Testimony" with my church last week. That was such a huge blessing. I think it was also a bit of a reality check in regards to what a big decision this really is.
We have found out so much information in the last few days it is almost overwhelming. I will definitely be teaching kindergarten which is excellent! Who doesn't love kindergartners? I will also be teaching a ballet class which will be fun as well! Allison and I will be living in a house with two other girls, Chris and Katie, and that is just the start of the information! All of it is wonderful! Now it's all about packing! mmm that'll be fun, and by fun I mean CRAZY! Well, that's the update for now please continue to pray for peace in Malawi, a stress free packing and preparing experience, and faith and peace as for Allison and I as well as our families as we continue on this great adventure!

Until next time
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here." John 14:25-31

AUGUST 3rd

It is always amusing to see how things play out... at some point when you tell people you are moving it seems the only thing they can ask from then on is when you will be going. However, if you don't know when you're leaving you just have to smile and say " I dunno..." then there is a moment of freaking out because you have been reminded that you don't really know anything about your life. So clearly the logical solution is to pick a random date and start telling everyone that is when you're leaving. That is what Allison and I decided to do anyway. We pick August 3rd, doesn't that sound like a lovely day? Every times someone would ask "when are you leaving" we would say August 3rd despite that fact that we had not even contacted a travel agent yet.
About a month later we finally managed to remember that we needed to get plane tickets and have a date that we were actually going to leave. So Allison, because she is awesome, e-mailed them and they returned her e-mail with the date August 3rd! around 6pm (I realize I have posted this date already, but the story is just too exciting) Yesterday we paid for our tickets, which means that now there is NO turning back we've begun getting our shots the tickets are paid for and most of our stuff is halfway to Malawi!!! Ahhh! we're going and it's going to be GREAT!!!

As always your prayers and support are appreciated.

T-shirts

This is what the design on the shirt will look like, and they will be printed on a shirt roughly this color. They are $12 for child sizes through adult XL ($2 more for larger sizes). If you would like one please feel free to call, text or e-mail me.

228.238.2137

aly.weimer@gmail.com

Thank you all so much for your prayer and support

To God be the glory!

It is becoming very difficult for me to remember that the summer is still young, so much has happened already this summer. What is on my mind right now, however, is the week that just past. I had the ever enjoyable (well mostly enjoyable :D) privilege of going with the youth group from our church to camp. Now, to be perfectly honest I was absolutely dreading the zillion hour road trip in a church bus full of stinky boys windy through the mountains. Some how I managed to survive, and what happened when we arrived at camp was absolutely worth every second of that insane ride up.
I never cease to be amazed and encouraged to see God working in the lives of teenagers. They are always so passionate about what is happening, and while I am not old it is extremely exciting to see kids that I have watched grow up becoming such incredible men and women of God. And while this week at camp had its struggles, I am certain that it was where I was supposed to be. I cannot even put into words how blessed I have been by the people from Crossroads and the things that are happening in their lives individually and as a church community.
I suppose how all of this really relates to my upcoming trip is this. Many of you may know that recent my life has been frequently plagued with anxiety and worry. This is something that I have had to turn over to God time and time again. I have no idea why, but this is one of the most difficult struggles I have, and with this calling and decision to move to Malawi those feelings have been even more apparent. One night at camp this week we concluded the evening in a time of prayer preparing ourselves for communion, and spending time in the presence of God. The moving of the Spirit that night was so apparent it was overwhelming, but as I sat and and prayed I was overcome by the presence knowledge that my God loved me more than I know and would never leave me. We had the option to write on a piece of paper whatever it was that we were turning over to God and then throw it into a fire pit as a symbol of the release. I walked over to the table and I wrote WORRY on a piece of paper. As I walked out to the fire pit I was terrified of what it might mean to truly turn over to God what seems to have become an almost comforting part of who I am, but I threw that paper into the fire I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace like I cannot even describe. I desperately wish that putting thoughts into written words was a gift of mine. I would love nothing more than to recount every aspect of what has happened since we pulled out of the parking lot last Sunday afternoon. The Lord moved while we were at camp and it is most definitely not stopping at the camp. The lives saved, stories told, and the spirit moving is something I hope everyone experiences.

"And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?"