ABC Pool and Guest Huts

While looking through some pictures I realized that I (like other missionaries before me) have been guilty of not showing the campus well enough.  I remember the year we spent in preparation for coming to Malawi and the countless hours I spent scouring the internet for any and all info on Malawi and ABC.  I promised that I'd try to do a better job of portraying life here and showing the facilities as well.  I hope to do better at this in the future (now that I'm not teaching anymore).  Well, here is a start.  Below are some pictures that Gidgi captured at the ABC pool followed by some pictures of the guest huts where short term teams can stay when they come here to minister (hint, hint).  Enjoy!

This is a photo of the kiddie pool and the big pool taken from the seating area.

SM about to take a plunge! Directly behind her is the pool house with changing area and rest rooms.

 The pool house

Another view of the pool.  The seating area is to the left and the pool house is to the right.  CJ is after the ball and SM is by the pool.

View from the pool house looking out towards the pool and seating area.

Inside the main entrance to the pool area.  Isn't our country beautiful!!??

Life guard stand with AJ and Jeremy drying off.

There is a huge swim team at ABC.  They practice all the time and even travel to other countries to compete.

Kiddie pool!

The guest huts at ABC!

Beware of the crazy locals!

Another view of the guest huts.

Allison O. behind the wheel....beware!!!!

So who's ready to come visit us in Malawi???

Jill

SM overheard sharing Christ!

     While I was sitting in the living room today I caught a snippet of a conversation that SM was having with her friend Mary.  Mary is a Malawian who lives next door and speaks broken English.  However, Mary and SM are GREAT friends.  I heard SM say the words "Jesus" and "sin" so I got up and went over to the window where I could hear better.  She was telling Mary that everyone sins and that because of our sin we are supposed to go to see Satan when we die. She continued saying that "Satan is where the bad people go.  But if we have Jesus in our heart then we don't have to go to Satan, we get to go to heaven with Jesus."  The conversation was short but direct.  I couldn't believe my little 4 year old was so freely sharing the Gospel with her close friend.  But isn't that what it's all about??  She loves Mary and wants her to be in heaven with her one day.  She's not waiting until Mary is all grown up or until she is all grown up herself.  She is taking any opportunity available to share with those she loves about the salvation available through Jesus. What a lesson we all need to learn from this!  Today is the best time!  Who are you going to share the gospel with today?  If a 4 year old can do it so can we!!!!

Jill

The Parliament Building of Malawi

International Day at ABCCA!

 This past Friday was International Day at ABCCA.  It's a day set aside to honor the more than 23 different countries that are represented in our school.  What an amazing day we all had!  The kids were able to dress up in a way representing their home.  Of course we had to sport both Red, White, and Blue AND Maroon and White!  Go DAWGS!

LeAnne and I both sporting our College banners!  Both 4th grade teachers are from the great State of Mississippi!

Here are all of the MISSISSIPPI GIRLS at ABCCA!  Clinton, Gulfport, Columbus, and Brookhaven are well represented here!

A few of our 4th grade students. Three from the US, one from South Africa (note: South Africa is it's own country....we are in Malawi and South Africa is south of us) and then one from Lebanon.

My class on International Day.  8 different countries are represented here!

Here are all 38 of the 4th graders plus me and LeAnne.  We team teach so all of these are our students!

We had a Parade of Nations where each child lined up behind their country's flag and marched to the Football Pitch (otherwise known as the soccer field in the States)

We sat in the bleachers under our flag to watch the performance.  A bunch of our Malawian girls and women performed a dance, a Burundi group of men performed, and then we were able to sing a few of the National Anthems represented at the school.

My very good friends, Becky and Sonja.  These are two of the ladies who will be delivering our sweet baby boy in less than 8 weeks.  Becky is a L&D nurse and Dr. Sonja is my OB.  *Not pictured: the amazing, wonderful, awesome, and very talented Carson White, RN.  She will be the BIGGEST part of the delivery....in that she will be taking care of the precious baby boy!!!!!  I love these ladies!!! I'm so thankful for them already.

The Burundi dance troupe.

The Americans singing the National Anthem.

The Malawians singing their National Anthem.

To top off the day each country had a table of food set up for the pot luck.  We all visited the tables and were able to partake of an amazing display of foods literally from around the world.  What a blessing to be serving the Lord in such a diverse environment.  We are truly touching the world for Christ!!!

Jill

ABC Missionary Kids

Here is an attempt at getting an MK picture with all of the ABC missionary kids.  There are over 45 children in this picture.  There are actually quite a few missing though making our MK's total more than 50.  Wow!  Plus, there are two more on the way (one to be born in January....ours.....and another to be born in June).  Also there are at least two more in the adoption process.  What a blessing all of these children are!  Please pray for them as they serve the Lord with their families in Malawi, Africa!

More on the Malawian crisis....

It's not getting any better here.  It actually seems to be getting worse.  We have an entire group of children from our school that won't be here this week (their teachers had to get their work ready for them) because they can't make the 1 hour drive into town each day due to the fuel crisis.  I say the word "crisis" now.  It's no longer a shortage.  We are having to deliver babies (normal deliveries and c-sections) without power.  People are getting angry.

I'm linking another blog here.  Please go and read this blog to get a better perspective (and better pictures) of exactly what's going on here.  This family lives directly behind us.  We share our back fence with them. They are a missionary family with another mission organization and their daughter is in my class at school. Please visit The Stocker Stories blog.  Please pray!!!!

Jill