Guess what!? Because you are all amazing and faithful readers of our family blog you will be the first to know our exciting news! No...we aren't pregnant! ;) Our new friend, Paige at www.southerncreativedesign.com and the amazing people (Chad and Jenny) at www.digitizemymsg.com are currently working on a website for our ministry! It should be up and running in a couple of months! Yes, I will still have a blog and keep everyone up to date on the latest ministry news! I am so excited I can hardly stand it! God has truly blessed us and this ministry this year and we can't wait to see what He has in store for the new year. I will tell you that there are many "newsworthy" announcements to be made over the next few weeks. So make sure you check the blog frequently to keep up to date. For now, I'll leave you with a scripture message that the Lord showed me this morning: "Do not love the world or the things in the world...For all that is in the world...is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). Instead, pray and "seek things which are above...set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).
Monday, December 10, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Is God calling you to teach orphans in Malawi?
It's a bold question. It's right to the point. Is there a knot in your stomach, like the kind of knot that you get when you know the pastor's sermon that morning was directed straight at you? Is God calling you to teach at an orphanage in Malawi?
Rainbow is in need of a couple of teachers to teach younger elementary children at the school that they have started. These children were brought out of the government schools in an effort to provide them with a superior Christian education. The school they were attending had no supplies, no books, and one teacher for 200 children. It was laid upon the hearts of those at Rainbow to provide our own school for our children.
We now have a school. We have 50 beautiful students who want to learn so badly that they want to do school on Saturdays. We have only one teacher though. The children are only able to attend school for a couple of hours a day because Karen (the teacher) is trying to teach so many children at so many different levels. She is an amazing teacher and a joy to work with. But she needs help. The children need help. Are you the one He is calling to help Rainbow School?
If you can't give up your time to come and teach will you pray about helping in other ways? The orphanage really needs a playground. Will your church or group pray about providing a playground at Rainbow? The school needs curriculum, books, supplies, etc. Will you pray about raising money this Christmas to help the orphanage with some of these needs? We are working on a sponsorship possibility as well. The details are not worked out yet but please begin praying about sponsoring a child at Rainbow.
God is doing amazing things at Rainbow and we are very excited about some of the new things "in the works". Please pray about being a part of this ministry with us. If you feel led to help then contact us. Your money can be sent through us at this time. We already have had a couple of churches raise money for specific things at Rainbow. Those projects are currently being worked on to improved the lives of the children at Rainbow. Maybe God has laid something else on your heart that you want to help with. Please let us know. We know God is at work. We just want to make sure that you know how you can be a part if the Lord leads you.
During this Christmas season please remember these beautiful children whose sole Christmas gift last year was peanut butter cookies that Karen made for all of them. She said they couldn't have been happier! It really puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
God bless,
Jill
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving America!
Life continues as usual here in Malawi. We are now settled, over our horrible sickness that kept all of us down for nearly two weeks, and we're back to "work". Jeremy is at the clinic during the day while juggling the many different ministries that we are a part of during his off time. He is currently installing solar panels on top of one of the E3 structures at Gusu. In the next few days they will hopefully be able to get the electricity powered up and the solar panels running. These solar panels will power the water pump as well as provide electricity to the E3 training center.
Two nights ago we had some major rain here in Lilongwe. Malawians are very sensitive to changes in the weather and they feel that this rain was the official beginning of "rainy season". The very next morning we received a phone call at 5am from Pastor Nasson at Rainbow. They were ready to begin planting their fields. The gamble with the weather is that there is no irrigation for watering the crops here in Malawi. So the entire country is dependent upon the rains to water their crops. There is a saying here that is so true, "water is life". No water, no crops, no life. Pray for a rich and healthy rainy season and a bountiful harvest at Rainbow and all over Malawi.
Jill and the kids are hard at work homeschooling again. We're really enjoying being back on our schedule and having some good quality time together. AJ and CJ are really excelling in their schoolwork and SM is quickly learning her ABC's and 123's. We do a lot of subjects together as a family. We enjoy learning together and growing closer at the same time. We thank the Lord often for HIS mercy and grace in our lives and HIS call for us to return to homeschooling. What a blessing it is!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in America. Thanksgiving is not something that is celebrated here in Malawi (or any other country for that matter). But we, as a family, have taken strides to make sure that we don't let this day go unnoticed. We've been discussing the blessings that the Lord gives us daily, how to praise God for those blessings, and how to make sure we notice all of the gifts God gives us. We've done art projects each day this week that focus on Thanksgiving (thank you Pintrest). But still, tomorrow will come and we won't be with our loved ones sitting around a table carving a turkey.
Holidays are hard. Being away from home is hard. Missing our loved ones is hard. But we will "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1) We have so very much to be thankful for this year. To list the many blessings would be impossible! Praise God for His gifts and blessings in our lives! And thank you, Lord for the miracle in Joshua's life as well! What a testimony to HIS grace and power and love and protection over us! "[We] will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness" (Psalm 145:7).
Happy Thanksgiving America!
Two nights ago we had some major rain here in Lilongwe. Malawians are very sensitive to changes in the weather and they feel that this rain was the official beginning of "rainy season". The very next morning we received a phone call at 5am from Pastor Nasson at Rainbow. They were ready to begin planting their fields. The gamble with the weather is that there is no irrigation for watering the crops here in Malawi. So the entire country is dependent upon the rains to water their crops. There is a saying here that is so true, "water is life". No water, no crops, no life. Pray for a rich and healthy rainy season and a bountiful harvest at Rainbow and all over Malawi.
Jill and the kids are hard at work homeschooling again. We're really enjoying being back on our schedule and having some good quality time together. AJ and CJ are really excelling in their schoolwork and SM is quickly learning her ABC's and 123's. We do a lot of subjects together as a family. We enjoy learning together and growing closer at the same time. We thank the Lord often for HIS mercy and grace in our lives and HIS call for us to return to homeschooling. What a blessing it is!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in America. Thanksgiving is not something that is celebrated here in Malawi (or any other country for that matter). But we, as a family, have taken strides to make sure that we don't let this day go unnoticed. We've been discussing the blessings that the Lord gives us daily, how to praise God for those blessings, and how to make sure we notice all of the gifts God gives us. We've done art projects each day this week that focus on Thanksgiving (thank you Pintrest). But still, tomorrow will come and we won't be with our loved ones sitting around a table carving a turkey.
Holidays are hard. Being away from home is hard. Missing our loved ones is hard. But we will "give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1) We have so very much to be thankful for this year. To list the many blessings would be impossible! Praise God for His gifts and blessings in our lives! And thank you, Lord for the miracle in Joshua's life as well! What a testimony to HIS grace and power and love and protection over us! "[We] will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness" (Psalm 145:7).
Happy Thanksgiving America!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Back in Malawi
We've made it safely back to Malawi after a very long few days of travel. A week ago today we left our home and flew out of New Orleans headed for Washington, D.C. We had to spend the night in D.C. so that meant that all 6 of us and our 3 carry-ons and 9 pieces of luggage had to catch a shuttle in the cold of D.C. and head to a hotel. We made it without any hiccups and were thankful for a nice bed to sleep in and a nice hot shower. Little did we know how long it would be until the next shower.
Friday morning we got up and headed to the airport very early. We had no problems and made it to our gate in plenty of time. The flight that morning was our big one. We flew from Washington, D.C. to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was a 14 hour flight. We were very blessed that the seat next to Jeremy and CJ was empty! So J had a seat that he could sleep in and sit in. God pays such amazing attention to details! The people sitting behind us even mentioned as we got off the plane that we had amazing children. I think they were surprised at how well our children did on the flights. But I wasn't surprised at all. We do have amazing children! And when you put a personal t.v. with videos, music, t.v., and movies in front of them they are happy for hours!!!
Poor AJ started feeling bad the morning we woke up in D.C. Her throat was hurting and she ran a fever off and on for the next couple of days. She was pitiful! Once we made it to Lilongwe (after more than 30 hours of travel) we quickly found out that the water in the city is non-existent. I'm not sure about anyone else, but for us after traveling for three days in airports the first thing you want to do is take a bath. That was not going to happen for us! The water never came on on Saturday. And Sunday it finally came on late that evening for less than 1 hour. It was just enough time for the kids to take baths and Jeremy to get a shower. But just as mom got in the shower....no more water. It would be another two days before I got a shower. Yes, gross. But we do live in Africa. This entire week we have gotten water for only one hour a day (and that's usually around bedtime, thankfully). Power is one thing that I have learned that I can live without. We barely even flinch when our power goes off anymore (and it goes off at least once a day....today it's been off more than it's been on). But water....that's not something that I can ever get used to not having. Remember that bug that AJ had on the plane? Well it's now been through every member of our family. It's very hard when your babies are sick and you can't cool their temp down with a cool bath. Or when one of your babies throws up and you can't bathe her to get her clean.
It's been a hard week of adjustments and sickness. But we are thankful that we're on the mend and getting better "pongono pongono" (little by little). We miss our friends and family. We miss the easy life in America. We miss running water and electricity. But we know that the Lord has a plan and we pray that each trial we face will produce in us a result that is pleasing and glorifying to the Lord. Hopefully tomorrow we'll all feel well enough to get out to Rainbow. We miss those kids!
Friday morning we got up and headed to the airport very early. We had no problems and made it to our gate in plenty of time. The flight that morning was our big one. We flew from Washington, D.C. to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was a 14 hour flight. We were very blessed that the seat next to Jeremy and CJ was empty! So J had a seat that he could sleep in and sit in. God pays such amazing attention to details! The people sitting behind us even mentioned as we got off the plane that we had amazing children. I think they were surprised at how well our children did on the flights. But I wasn't surprised at all. We do have amazing children! And when you put a personal t.v. with videos, music, t.v., and movies in front of them they are happy for hours!!!
Poor AJ started feeling bad the morning we woke up in D.C. Her throat was hurting and she ran a fever off and on for the next couple of days. She was pitiful! Once we made it to Lilongwe (after more than 30 hours of travel) we quickly found out that the water in the city is non-existent. I'm not sure about anyone else, but for us after traveling for three days in airports the first thing you want to do is take a bath. That was not going to happen for us! The water never came on on Saturday. And Sunday it finally came on late that evening for less than 1 hour. It was just enough time for the kids to take baths and Jeremy to get a shower. But just as mom got in the shower....no more water. It would be another two days before I got a shower. Yes, gross. But we do live in Africa. This entire week we have gotten water for only one hour a day (and that's usually around bedtime, thankfully). Power is one thing that I have learned that I can live without. We barely even flinch when our power goes off anymore (and it goes off at least once a day....today it's been off more than it's been on). But water....that's not something that I can ever get used to not having. Remember that bug that AJ had on the plane? Well it's now been through every member of our family. It's very hard when your babies are sick and you can't cool their temp down with a cool bath. Or when one of your babies throws up and you can't bathe her to get her clean.
It's been a hard week of adjustments and sickness. But we are thankful that we're on the mend and getting better "pongono pongono" (little by little). We miss our friends and family. We miss the easy life in America. We miss running water and electricity. But we know that the Lord has a plan and we pray that each trial we face will produce in us a result that is pleasing and glorifying to the Lord. Hopefully tomorrow we'll all feel well enough to get out to Rainbow. We miss those kids!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Update on J and our current plans
Well, the Lord is certainly good to us and we are so thankful for all of your prayers and support. J's procedure went perfect and he was out of the hospital in record time. He had no problems with anesthesia and Dr. Magit was very happy with the way he looked. He said that J does have a small lower airway but that he should outgrow that. He told us to watch extra closely for respiratory infections and treat them more aggressively than we would our other children because he could develop complications related to them. Other than that he was very pleased and had no other concerns.
So, after a very very busy day of flying on Sunday we arrived in Picayune at 4pm. We spoke at Pinegrove Baptist that night and what a blessing that was! We love that church and are so thankful for the family and friends that we have there. They truly love and support (and spoil) us! We are so grateful to them! But more than that, this church knows missions! They are begging for opportunities to plug into the ministries that we shared with them. They want to make sure the Word is preached and needs are met in way that glorifies Christ. They are on fire and they want to make sure that we are equipped to spread the News in Malawi. They understand that we are all ONE BODY of Christ and that it takes all of us to achieve HIS work!
One Body, One Gospel, One Savior!!!!!
Thank you Pinegrove for being such an important part of the Body!
We are now in Montgomery one last time to spend a little quality time with Jeremy's family before we head to Clinton. We arrive in Clinton on Saturday. God has provided that our church's mission house is available for us to live in for the two weeks that we are there. This is such a blessing. This is the last home we lived in before we left Clinton. It is also the place we will stay next year when we are home on our scheduled furlough. This is stability for our family. The last 6 weeks we have been living out of suitcases and our precious SM (5) is constantly asking where we are going to sleep tonight. It's so hard on the kids (and us). J isn't sleeping at all. Pray for a little rest and stability for us as we spend our last few weeks here in our home. We speak at Morrison Heights, our home church, on Sunday night the 21st.
Currently we are set to leave the USA on November 9th. We arrive back in Malawi on the 10th.
So, after a very very busy day of flying on Sunday we arrived in Picayune at 4pm. We spoke at Pinegrove Baptist that night and what a blessing that was! We love that church and are so thankful for the family and friends that we have there. They truly love and support (and spoil) us! We are so grateful to them! But more than that, this church knows missions! They are begging for opportunities to plug into the ministries that we shared with them. They want to make sure the Word is preached and needs are met in way that glorifies Christ. They are on fire and they want to make sure that we are equipped to spread the News in Malawi. They understand that we are all ONE BODY of Christ and that it takes all of us to achieve HIS work!
One Body, One Gospel, One Savior!!!!!
Thank you Pinegrove for being such an important part of the Body!
We are now in Montgomery one last time to spend a little quality time with Jeremy's family before we head to Clinton. We arrive in Clinton on Saturday. God has provided that our church's mission house is available for us to live in for the two weeks that we are there. This is such a blessing. This is the last home we lived in before we left Clinton. It is also the place we will stay next year when we are home on our scheduled furlough. This is stability for our family. The last 6 weeks we have been living out of suitcases and our precious SM (5) is constantly asking where we are going to sleep tonight. It's so hard on the kids (and us). J isn't sleeping at all. Pray for a little rest and stability for us as we spend our last few weeks here in our home. We speak at Morrison Heights, our home church, on Sunday night the 21st.
Currently we are set to leave the USA on November 9th. We arrive back in Malawi on the 10th.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Bronchoscopy
Jeremy, Jill, and J have been back in San Diego this week for more tests and follow-up procedures from his cleft palate surgery last month. He saw Dr. Jones, a geneticist, on Wednesday. She was very impressed with his cognitive and social development. She said that he appears to be just fine except for a small skeletal build. We will have a test done next year when we return for a check up. But for now he is fine and we shouldn't worry.
He also met yesterday with Dr. Gosman who said he was healing perfectly. She was impressed with his progress and gave us the go ahead to start him on baby foods. Yay for J and his parents (who are having to get up in the middle of the night again b/c our baby boy is just so hungry)!
Today we ask for prayers for J and Dr. Magit. Dr. Magit is our fabulous ENT who placed J's tubes at the beginning of his surgery last month. As a result of J's respiratory problems following his surgery Dr. Magit and Dr. Gosman recommended he receive a bronchoscopy to see what might be going on. In order to do this J has to be put under anesthesia again which is a bit of a concern. Ultimately we know that the Lord is in control and that He will be the hands in the operating room. Please join us in covering Dr. Magit and J (and the anesthesiologist) in prayer at 12:30pm Pacific--2:30pm Central--9:30pm Malawi. The procedure should only take about 30 minutes.
We will update you later tonight. To God be the Glory!
Jill
He also met yesterday with Dr. Gosman who said he was healing perfectly. She was impressed with his progress and gave us the go ahead to start him on baby foods. Yay for J and his parents (who are having to get up in the middle of the night again b/c our baby boy is just so hungry)!
Today we ask for prayers for J and Dr. Magit. Dr. Magit is our fabulous ENT who placed J's tubes at the beginning of his surgery last month. As a result of J's respiratory problems following his surgery Dr. Magit and Dr. Gosman recommended he receive a bronchoscopy to see what might be going on. In order to do this J has to be put under anesthesia again which is a bit of a concern. Ultimately we know that the Lord is in control and that He will be the hands in the operating room. Please join us in covering Dr. Magit and J (and the anesthesiologist) in prayer at 12:30pm Pacific--2:30pm Central--9:30pm Malawi. The procedure should only take about 30 minutes.
We will update you later tonight. To God be the Glory!
Jill
Monday, October 1, 2012
J and Dr. Gosman
Anyway, she called us two days after our discharge from the hospital and wanted to drop in between her surgeries for the day to check on J. So we rushed to the lobby to see our friend Dr. Gosman!
This lady does amazing work for kids all around the world! She has touched the lives of so many, including us, and we are forever grateful!
For info on ConnectMed (Dr. Gosman's nonprofit): http://www.connectmed.org/
For info on Dr. Gosman: http://drgosman.ucsd.edu/
Thank you, Dr. Gosman, for all you have done for baby J and for all you continue to do for God's precious children around the world. You are such a blessing to so many! God bless you and your work!
We love you!
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