Lake Malawi!

Grocery shopping in Malawi: Prices

When we first arrived I took a few pictures of some of the items in the grocery stores that would show you how different the prices are.  We haven't eaten grapes since we left the States.  Above you'll see why.  Now, our family usually goes through an entire bag of grapes a week.  We just love grapes.  I think it's one of the major things AJ misses about America.  However the package above is about 1/4 the size of a bag of grapes.  The container is a little bigger than my hand.  And the price of K2000 is approx $12.  So you see why we haven't been eating grapes at all!  :(

Ok here are some tiny little cherry tomatoes.  Evidently they are imported from Europe or something.  We can get fabulous tomatoes here (the regular ones are very cheap) but these imported little baby ones are about $39.  I mean seriously??  Do people actually pay these prices?

This is a little pencil case in the school supply section.  The price is $8.  

Here are some colored pencils that cost $12 per pack.

This one is for my mother in law:  Cake confetti (or sprinkles to us) cost  over $9 for a little shaker.

This is a refill pack of baby wipes (72 in the pkg).  The price on this little gem is approx. $15!  Yes, that's right, $15 for a refill pack of baby wipes.  So we had mom bring us some on the airplane when she arrived last month.  Of course, we'll also be sending some on the container next year.  Baby wipes is one thing that is a MUST when you have a baby!

And finally, this regular sized bottle of Pantene costs over $19.  Thankfully our amazing supporters and church provided us with most of the above items before we ever left the States.  We were able to pack them onto the container and ship them over.  Of course, we still pay for the space on the container, but it's worth it to not have to pay some of the prices over here.  Thank you so much for all you did for us last Spring!  We are SET for the year!!!!  I jokingly say, when I walk into Mom's room/the storage room, that I'm going to Wal-Mart.  It's true, we are very blessed with amazing friends and family.

Now, I'm not trying to be a downer about all of this.  We are VERY blessed to have amazing prices in other areas of the grocery realm.  Fruits and veggies are very inexpensive.  So we've been trying to eat more and more healthy.  It's good!  We are so very thankful to be here and thankful that we have the prayers and support of our family and friends back home to get us through.  Thank you for all you do for us!

In His Service,
Jill

Reading Day at ABCCA

 Yesterday was Reading Day at ABCCA!  How much fun!  Reading Day is a day where the students and teachers are asked to dress up like a character from a book.  They carry the book around with them throughout the day.  Gidgi and I dressed up like Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Who from "A Wrinkle in Time". AJ was Laura (of course) from "Little House on the Prairie", CJ was a pirate from Peter Pan, and SM was Cinderella.

Miss "O" and CJ on reading day....my two pirates!

Mommy's beautiful princess!

My 4th grade class getting ready for the parade. The parade starts at the Reception end of the school (preschool) and as they pass through the next class joins in on the parade!

More of my class ready for the parade.

After the parade each class goes to the pavilion for Chapel services.  This is one of the few times that all grades R-12 are together for Chapel!  We had a poet come and read a poem to the students, we learned a new song in Chichewa, the teachers put on a skit about a "Mixed up Fairy Tale", and then we had class costume awards!  Above is SM sitting with some of her classmates for Chapel.

CJ sitting in Chapel with the amazing Mrs. Blake (his teacher)!  We love her!!

All of our students during the Chapel service.  We have over 300 students!

Here are the teachers handing out awards for "Best Dressed", "Most Original", and "Best Handmade Costume".

After Chapel the kids had recess and then returned to their classrooms for Reading Day Activities.  In our class we pushed the desks aside and laid down the pillows and blankets that the kids brought.  They all spread out and began reading a book of their choice either aloud to a friend or quietly.

AJ deep in a book.  This is usually how I find her even at home!

We are blessed with a beautiful (and large) flower garden on our campus so our class spent the last hour of the school day reading in the garden.

Two of our mom's came towards the end of the day to read aloud to the children.  It was so very peaceful and perfect! Above is Mrs. Pumpelly reading books that Anya's aunt wrote.

Finally, Mrs. Stocker read from Shel Silverstein (one of my favs)!

Leanne (aka...Willy Wonka) and Gidgi holding books that they read to Sarah Rose's and SM's classes.  Gidgi was able to read to all three of her grandchildren's classes!  I think she's really enjoying being a GRAND in Africa!

Mrs. Kyser's 4th grade class!  It is thanks to you (our family, friends, and supporters) that we are able to serve the Lord in such an amazing and fabulous way!  We love being here and are so thankful for this opportunity.  We truly see why we are here and why we are needed!  The harvest is plentiful and ready....but the workers are few!

Please pray about coming to ABCCA to serve.  We are looking for someone to take over my class from January to Easter so that I can go on maternity leave.  Also, there will be many Academy openings for the 2012-2013 school year!  Is God calling you to serve Him in Malawi, Africa??

In His Service,
Jill

A Saturday- Malawian style

 This past Saturday was a fun-filled day full of new adventures and sights.  We were able to go to a breakfast organized by other missionaries as a sort of support group.  It's nice to see missionaries from other organizations in Lilongwe and be able to share stories with them.  The pic above is just a view right outside the gate of our home.  It's lovely!

 On the way to Kumbali Lodge/Cultural Center we pass through a village.  This village lies just on the other side of a wall that surrounds the vast properties of the President of Malawi and one of his palaces.  The separation between wealth and poverty is vast in this country.

 Here are some of my favorite people!  Igna is one of the 3rd grade teachers at the academy and Ali and Allison (our adopted daughters) teach Kindergarten and Middle School English respectively.

 Me and the kids at our table.  Notice the Malawian band behind us.  They performed while we had our breakfast.

 Becky Epperson and the Trumbles!  I love those two families!!!

 Christian showing Chisomo how to pull the straw out of the thatched roof.  No, Christian....don't tear the roof up son!!!

 Jeremy and Micheal (Igna's husband) looking goofy for the pic!

 Mom took all of the photos in this blog post.  I loved the lighting in this one.  There are more on her blog as well...check it out!  It's listed in my blog roll to the right.

 Wonderful Malawian cooks preparing our meal!

 We are waiting for our drinks!  Waiting is something that you do A LOT of in Malawi!  I'm learning patience....although I don't remember ever asking for that lesson!

 Another view of the band!

 They had areas of the cultural center where pottery was made.  This is a hut used for creating and showcasing potter made on site.  Mom decided to snap a preggo pic...