Leaving Malawi

24 hours from now our family will be on a plane headed back to the States.  The last few weeks, living in the city, have been such a blessing to us and have tremendously helped aid in our healing process.  The life we imagined was not to be. God had different plans for us.  When we arrived back here in April (after furlough) we thought we were here for the long haul.  We had so many dreams, plans, and goals about how we could serve here in Malawi.  But God's way is not always the way we think.  He has His own plans.  And we found out in September that His plan for our family was very very different from our plan.  Painful? Yes!  But we KNOW that ultimately it will be to HIS glory and HIS praise.  

So now, this will be my last post from Malawi for a while.  Will God move us back?  We're waiting to hear from Him.  What is next?  We're waiting to hear from Him. But we know that God has a plan and a purpose for our family and we rest assured that He will not leave us or forsake us.  

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy." Psalm 126:5

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."- Psalm 46:1

Here is what we've been doing the past few days:

Sleepovers!  SM, CJ, and AJ have been getting their "friend time" in!  Sleepovers, movies, play dates, and swimming.  Right now I'm currently the only one in my home because the others are out getting their last goodbyes!  (Well, baby J is sleeping which is why I'm stuck here).  We have amazing friends here!  For that we are thankful!

Rain!  The rains are on their way!  And while they're not quite here yet we did get a couple of afternoon showers to cool off the 90 degree weather we've been having! Remember, no AC!  IT IS HOT HERE!  AFRICA HOT!

Silly photo shoot!  We asked AJ to take a picture of us with our amazing friends Sam and Malla.  Sam (the all important Member of Parliament) got a phone call.  So we had fun with the camera while we waited!

I love this lady!  SO MUCH!  

Sam and Malla Kawale

We took Lennison and his family their photo album and gifts before we left.

We love them so!

Baby J checking out the house!

They loved their pictures

Right at home!

The flags you see there above the trees signal that a witch doctor lives there.  We decided not to visit. 

Ox cart

Malawian taxi

The hardest goodbyes ever!

Ida and Evelene wanted to come with us.  Oh how I love those children!

Triple sleepover!

And now we finish packing and hugging friends and crying and all of that fun stuff!  

Our hearts will forever be in Malawi.  We'll be back very soon....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in another country is sometimes difficult to celebrate.  If you're not with your family you know what you're missing back home, homesickness reaches a new high, and no one else seems to understand how important of a day it is.  Yesterday I saw kids walking to school, people going to work, and just going about their everyday life.  At first I was confused.  But then, I'm not in the States.  I have to remember that.  

Celebrating Thanksgiving in 90 degree plus weather is certainly something hard to wrap ones mind around. There are no decorations, no Christmas music (whether you think it's too early or not), and no turkey, cranberry sauce, or sweet potatoes to be found ANYWHERE!  

We've now celebrated three Thanksgivings in Malawi (last year we were home on furlough).  And each year we were so very blessed to be with amazing friends that we now consider family!  The McDonalds were our gracious hosts the first year! I'll never forget the amazing guidance, love, and support that my sweet sister LeAnne provided me that year.  God sent her here for me that year! I know it!  The second year we hosted some of our FAVORITE singles whom we still love and minister with!  We went all out that year with my Malawi china and everything!  And this year we became the seasoned veterans getting together with two amazing new families who have just arrived in Malawi!  The Joneses are our family now!  We love them so much and are heartbroken to leave them so soon.  But we know the Lord has amazing plans for them, and for us.  We can't wait to watch how fast they surpass our Chichewa knowledge!  

So here are a few phone photos of our Thanksgiving.  The girls and I made Gidgi's cornbread dressing and sweet potato casserole (our favorites)!  Although we didn't have turkey we're thankful that my amazing friend Tania brought us 6 cans of sweet potatoes this past summer just for our Thanksgiving meal!  Little did we know at the time that this would be such a bittersweet Thanksgiving.  

This is the beginning of the end of our life in Malawi for now. God has chosen to move us and we honestly aren't sure the direction He is leading yet.  WE just know that we need healing and prayer.  Please remember our family in prayer as we leave for the States on Monday morning.  We're all feeling a little numb and still in shock as to the events that have occurred over the past few months.  But as always we trust the Lord and His guidance and we're excited to see what's next for our family! 

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kyser Family!  

And HAILSTATE! (because really, what's Thanksgiving without the Egg Bowl?)