Malawi Day 3 (Tuesday)

Hi Friends and Family! 

This is Julia here. Today was our second day at MCM and we started the computer and reading classes today. From when we arrived until lunch time, the reading team worked with our groups to pick a book to act out (for grades 1-4) or rewrite from a different perspective (for grades 5-6). The computer team got to know the teachers and older MCM kids and taught them basic computer skills. In the afternoon there were two stations, watercolor painting and bracelet/necklace/lanyard making, both of which all the kids had lots of fun with. We also got to just hang out and play soccer, basketball, jump rope, and whatever else the kids wanted to play. It was so much fun to get to know the kids more and find out lots about them. As we left MCM for the day the kids surrounded the bus to say good-bye, and after lots of high fives and “see you tomorrow” ’s the bus pulled away.

On our way back to Annie’s, it began raining. The rain fell lightly at first, but became heavy shortly thereafter. Before we knew it the dirt paths on either side of the road had turned to mud. Upon arriving at Annie’s, we all hopped off the bus and made a run for cover. Before dinner, the tailor came and most all of us picked fabric to have made into a skirt, pants, shorts, a shirt, or a dress. Tonight we had dinner at the Hostaria and it was delicious.

All in all it was another amazing day in the warm heart of Africa.

-Julia

Malawi Day 2 ( Monday)

Hey friends and family,

This is Abby and Ollie here! Today, we headed to MCM for our first day, and we were really excited to meet the kids. The second we got there, all the kids rushed to our bus and gave us a super warm welcome. Since we didn’t have any of our luggage, we were really short-supplied so we spent the whole day making up games and improvising activities with the kids. The kids are all so precious and fun to be around and it was a great first day at MCM. 

When we got back to the hotel, ALL OUR LUGGAGE WAS THERE!! We were sooooo happy and we went straight to our rooms to shower and change into fresh clean clothes!

These past few days have been tiring but also really fulfilling, and we are both looking forward to the rest of the trip -with clean clothes. :)

Love you parentals and everyone else reading this.

See ya!!
-Ollie and Abby

Malawi Day 1 (Sunday)

Hi Fans!

After a long twenty-two hours of traveling, we finally got the rest we needed! Most of us were struggling to keep our eyes open past 7 o'clock, so we hit the hay early and felt energized by the 10+ hours of sleep. 

Sunday morning started off with a delicious breakfast outside on the patio area in the superb weather and was followed by a fulfilling church service. Ken, one of our hosts, also the pastor of the church delivered a riveting sermon in which he commented on the significance of Palm Sunday.

We followed Church up with a trip to the nearest Superrite, an outdoor style market with ample food options. While most of the options were similar to American food, each had a dash of Malawian flavor that provided us with a glimpse into their unique culture. We then preceded onto the most challenging, but impactfing, part of our day: Queen Victoria's Pediatric Hospital. 

The hospital was a really tough place to be. For most of us, we had never experienced the kind of sounds, smells, and sights seen at Queen Victoria's. Nevertheless, we ALL managed to step out of comfort zone and interact, and even pray, for the children within the hospital. Some children were conscious of our being there and others were too sick to notice, but what remained so constant throughout the hospital was the response from the caregivers. All were thankful for our gifts (an assortment of Vaseline, soap bars, and stuffed animals) and even more thankful for our prayers. It was such a blessing to see prayer so well received and the impact it made on the caregivers knowing that their children were loved and priortized among others. Sarah and I were greatly struck by the level of joy these caregivers, primarily mothers, were able to uphold throughout these unpredicatble trials and tribulations of their child's health. Little glimpses of God's greatness shined everywhere as mothers flashed smiles, laughed, and held our hands in prayer despite the anxiety-filled and worried lives that clearly and constantl lived.

-Sarah Caylor and Sarah French

Today, we give God praise for so many things!

• All of us had a good night's sleep and no one is sick.
• The warm, welcoming people of Malawi who often smile and wave as we pass.
• Our hosts, Ken and Avisha, who shepherd us and take care of critical details for our group. Their ministry in Malawi is expansive as they direct MCM ( the feeding center), have a dairy farm, own and manage a restaurant, serve at Blantyre Baptist Church (Ken is one of the pastor's and gave the sermon today), and parent 3 young children!!! We are humbled by their energy and passion to help wherever they can.
• We were blessed to participate in spirit - filled worship this morning, Palm Sunday.
• We experienced firsthand the power of God's love and how God translates for us as we prayed with the mothers and their children at the hospital. We are reminded how much we all rely on God's strength and provision, but in different ways. The love of a mom and determination to provide for her children needs no translation.

We feel your support and prayers. Parents
I shared your posts with the students tonight.

-Kriss

There is a tree with hundreds of spiders....some very big!

Blantyre Baptist Church on Palm Sunday

Relaxing at Annie's

Singing Happy Birthday to Sarah Caylor on her 18th!

Dinner at Avisha ' Restaurant Hosteria

Arrived Happily (& Finally!) in Blantyre!

We made it! Our flight was late out of NYC so it was a sprint through Jo' burg airport to get through customs, board a bus, and get to our plane for Blantyre. They held the plane for us but the agents had us literally running through airport to the furthest gate possible...an " Amazing Race."

But, our luggage didn't make it. So, we are making due and truly just glad to be here. The luggage may arrive Monday but possibly Wednesday. We still all showered and had a wonderful meal prepared for us by the gracious and lovely staff at Annie's Lodge.

Lights out early tonight. We are all very tired as you can imagine. Tomorrow, we go to church and on a hospital visit.

Malawi is beautiful and green as they have had rain this year. Temps this week in low 70s and cooler at night than usual they tell us.  We are all looking forward to interacting more with the people of Malawi tomorrow.

Devotions tonight focused on being selfless and honoring those we will come in contact with whom work daily here in Malawi to help others.

Running out of power and adapters are in luggage so more later this week....

Road to Blantyre from airport

Home sweet home for next few weeks

TKA Malawi Team Now in New York

TKA Malawi Team at SFO

Time for a game of spoons!!

Absorption Study Method!

Thank you parents, family, and friends for your prayers.  God is faithful and has shown up in multiple ways already. First, there was a ticket issue at SFO. Prayed. One hour later - resolved.  Another ticket issue cropped up at JFK. A big prayer circle near ticket counter. This one got trickier..more prayer...1.5 hours later resolved!

We are all at the gate waiting for our flight which is one hour delayed. We do covet your prayers that our connection in Johannesburg to Blantyre goes smoothly.

We are together and grateful. Praises to our strong leaders and for strong faith!

Malawi Team 2017: Looking Forward to What God Has Planned!

2017 TKA Service Trip Verse:  

1 John 4:19: “We love because He first loved us.”

Please pray for the team as we prepare for this amazing journey.  In anticipation, we seek your prayers for:

• Deepened relationships between staff and students, TKA, and Malawi Children’s Mission
• Transformation in our own lives that goes far beyond the two weeks we spend in Malawi
• For safety/travel/logistics, as we have the farthest to go and some of the most variables

We look forward to sharing the journey with you on this blogsite.