Pictures of our life!

This is my school.  ABC Christian Academy is a k-4 through 12th grade school with over 300 students from nearly 25 different countries around the world.  I'm blessed to teach one of the two 4th grade classes where I have 20 beautiful children from more than 6 different countries (Malawi, Lebanon, Portugal, South Africa, USA, Great Britain, etc.) The photo above is taken down the hall leading to my classroom.  My room is on the left in the first building you see.

These are the picnic tables and quiet area right outside my classroom.  I love to sit out here during break and visit with parents, teachers, and kids.

Here is the playground and my precious son running to the monkey bars.  He plays long and hard each day and that white shirt truly shows it by the end of the day!  He loves the new school and his friends and teacher!

Run, CJ!!!!  Run!!

This was taken just past the picnic tables that I mentioned before.  This is a view to the front of the school.  The parents drop the kids off here and pick them up.  Notice all of the international flags flying in front.

 Here is my door.  I have a Monkey theme this year and it truly fits my class.  They're all a bunch of monkeys!

Here is SM at ballet class.  The number one thing she was excited about when we talked of moving to Africa was being able to take ballet.  Oh, she couldn't wait.  She goes once a week and she loves it!  She's such a big girl!

And here is my little elephant after a day at "reception" (otherwise known as preschool).  They were studying the letter "e".  Cute, huh?!

Thanks to Gidgi for the wonderful pictures!!!!  She's the best!

Jill

Gidgi Arrives in Africa!

Here we are at the airport on the "viewing deck" watching for the arrival of Gidgi's plane.  Not many planes come into Lilongwe airport each day.  However, there were two arriving within 30 minutes this day.  Of course, there are no TV screens displaying the arrivals and departures.  Basically you just have to look at the tail of the plane to know which is the one you are waiting on.

And there it is!  Gidgi's on that plane.  At least we hope so!  We aren't really able to communicate with anyone once they leave London.  That's a good 15 hours and two airports away.  So it's sort of like the space shuttle when it gets behind the moon...you just wait until communications are back up before you know what's going on.

At this point we are sure this is the South African plane that she's "supposed" to be on.  However, there is always a chance she missed it.  How disappointing that would have been!

Gidgi's on the ground in Malawi, Africa!

Here is the Malawian flag...for those who are interested! ;)

And there she is!!!  We saw her as she came down the stairs and she found us immediately!  I guess we were pretty easy to pick out as the only Azungus (white people) with their kids in matching school uniforms on the viewing deck!  After many waves she makes her way to the waiting area for the bus that will drive them to the airport.  She is in pink shirt and black pants directly under the "o" in .com.

There she is right by the engine of the plane.  Yay!!!

The kids watching the bus drive from the plane to the airport.  Ok, it's not that big but apparently they don't want people walking on the runway for some odd reason. haha!

And there she is!  This is right as she leaves customs and enters the main area.

Big hugs!!!!!

Yay!!!!!

Welcome home, Gidgi!!!!!!

Tragic loss at ABCCA

We just never quite know when the Lord is going to place a person, event, or situation into our lives that can open the door to sharing the gospel.  Each day we should look for it and even expect it.  I must admit, I do not.  I was caught off guard this morning but thankfully my Savior wasn't!

I always get to school about 20 minutes early and so do a couple of my students.  I have learned that they are usually the ones with all of the information and it's usually correct.  How they know so much about the world I just will never know.  Anyway, two of my kids came in first thing this morning and told me that a 3rd grade girl died last night.  I was stunned.  My first instinct was to not believe them.  But I knew better.  I went to the hall and asked a group of teachers and none of us had heard anything.  About that time another teacher came up and confirmed the worst.  Alicia had died early this morning due to Malaria.

While I didn't have the chance to meet Alicia during the 2+ weeks we've been at school I knew that all of my children would know her and need comfort.  I was so shaken up and taken off guard that I almost lost it a few times.  But I wanted to remain strong for my children.  First thing this morning we shared.  We talked about Alisha and who knew her and how they were feeling.  We discussed times that they shared with her.  We then went around the room praying for her family and for God's hand over those who were mourning.  During the prayer 3 of my Malawian students started wailing loudly.  I knew this was a Malawian sign for grieving.  I wanted to let them grieve in their own way so I helped them get to the bathroom and wash their faces off.  They then were able to receive counseling and comfort from our school secretary who is a Malawian as well.

Back in the classroom I felt led to share Christ with the children.  I point blank asked them, "if you were to die today do you know for sure that you will go to heaven?"  Most of them raised their hands.  I asked how they knew.  From there I was able to share the ABC's of becoming a Christian and led them in the sinner's prayer.  Now, I'll never know if any of my children accepted Christ or even understand what I was trying to tell them.  But I knew the Lord was telling me to take this opportunity to tell them and to plant the seed.  I told them that THIS is why I am here!  I didn't move to Malawi, Africa to teach them Language Arts and History.  I moved here to share the gospel with them and grow them in their faith.  There is nothing else more important.  I told them to come and talk to me or any other teacher at the school if they need counseling or have any questions.  Another teacher (a Malawian teacher) came in later that morning and shared the plan of salvation as well.  So my kids heard it twice today.  I pray they heard and will follow through if the Lord is tugging on their hearts.

What a solemn day it has been!  We pulled through and prayed a few times today for our strength and comfort.  God is good!  The school is closed tomorrow for the funeral.  In Malawi there are few things more important than funerals or weddings.  Culturally, it was the appropriate thing to do to close school. Please pray for our school, our teachers, and students!  Pray that the Lord will do a mighty work through this tragedy.  To quote our headmaster with a phrase he makes the students repeat at chapel each Friday morning: "God is good all the time. All the time God is good."

Jill

Gusu Village Medical Clinic

The second week of August our family was blessed to travel with a medical team 2 hours outside of Lilongwe to a village named Gusu.  It was a long ride.  1 hour on regular paved roads and then 1 hour on very bumpy dirt roads that resembled the bumpiest rollercoaster ride ever!   But in the end we were able to receive this amazing reception as we arrived.

The team we were with (E3) is involved in an ongoing process of assisting this village to meet all needs they have including physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Here is a picture of how they are aiding in building a school room for the surrounding villages.  Each village is responsible for providing a certain number of bricks that will be used to build the school room.

The football (soccer) goal for the village soccer team.

The water system that was put in for the village.  CJ is looking on.

Results of the irrigation system!

  In the middle of the sugar cane fields!

Sugar cane!  My Pawpaw would be proud!

AJ and Kimmie helping with the mini VBS that a visiting group was doing alongside our medical group.

 The local football (soccer) team!

 Tocazani (my translator for the day!)

Jeremy and Tocazani!

What an amazing experience we had!  Over 300 patients were seen at the medical clinic and our prayer is that the village continues to grow in the Lord and all other needs will be met.