Our Journey

• all four of us sleeping through our first night until 6:00am, 9:00am for Carter
• Fina and Wilson’s delight with gifts – lotion and body spray and World Cup hat and t-shirt, respectively
• hearing Jeff and Wilson’s laughter echoing through the house
• visitors stopping by
• everything put away!
• Christina seeking Claire out, laughing and hiding behind her legs
• Carter “greeting” our Malawi friends – finally!
• Claire and Carter painting pictures
• hanging Jeff’s photos in the house
• the electricity coming on after 6 hours, in time for us to make dinner inside
• family dinner with “sads, glads and sorry’s”

and

• going to bed tired and happy

As the wheels touched down in Blantyre Carter yelled, “Home, sweet, home!” Jeff and I took a collective sigh after that.

I’ve been nervous about coming back. Was last year a fluke? Can we do this again? What do we have to offer the church this year? Are the kids up for it?

But as we waited in line in Johannesburg for the flight to Malawi one of Claire’s best friends from Phoenix walked up with her family. Both of them beamed and began talking about being back, the weirdness of missionary life, and who their teacher will be next week. We chatted with her parents who we hope to see more of this coming year. Carter’s pronouncement was followed by a lovely greeting at the airport and then prayers and speeches and song at our house. More deep breaths.

While Jeff went out to get internet and phone units and some food for breakfast I got all of our clothes put away and started sorting through the piles o’stuff we have brought with us.

The shower really is awful, relatively speaking. But dinner and laughter and prayers tonight at Daniel and Moty Mhone’s was fantastic.

I have no idea what this year will bring. But I’m tucked under my mosquito net, connected to the internet, texting with a dear friend and listening to Jeff’s deep breaths as he tries to sleep away the jet lag. Much more to come. Thanks for reading and praying.

You have probably heard me rave quite a bit about our home church, Belmont United Methodist Church. But I want to tell you another reason why this community continues to be vital to our family. As each child enters Kindergarten they are matched with a Prayer Friend. Over the years the way the Friends are chosen has been different but both of our children have had the privilege of choosing their Prayer Friend.

Six years ago Claire Marin chose our Music Minister, Gayle Sullivan. I’m embarrassed to say that I can’t remember her reasons. She and Gayle had spent time together by virtue of my position on staff and through participation in pre-school choir but they did not have an existing relationship of note. But when asked to choose a Friend from all of Belmont UMC, Claire Marin asked Gayle. I think she perceived, even at that young age, Gayle’s kindness, deep joy, easy laugh and love of life. And they have developed a beautiful friendship over the years. Gayle faithfully makes time for Claire, keeps her artwork in her office, follows our blog, listens deeply to Claire’s stories and prays for her.

And Claire has held tightly to the teddy bear that was given to her during worship as a reminder of their special relationship. She loves to hear from Gayle, remembers her, looks up to her, looks forward to each and every get together, and prays for her.

It’s such a gift for us as parents to know that Gayle is another adult in Claire Marin’s life who loves her, supports her, and delights in her! And it is no small feat to remain in such regular contact with anyone over five years, but especially for a busy woman like Gayle, a busy girl like Claire, and now, when one Friend lives on another continent. But they have done it and it’s beautiful to witness!

And now Carter has chosen his Prayer Friend, Allison Henry. While Claire and Gayle have become fast friends over time, Carter and Allison are already like family. Ned and Allison’s hospitality and love of our children is so deep that the kids consider Rainbow Place as much home as the Gray House. As so much in our life is in transition, I think Carter has chosen wisely. Even at four years old he know that Allison’s love for him will never change no matter where he lives or how often he gets to rummage through her pantry.

On Sunday, the church will pray with us and for us as we return to Malawi. And Gayle and Allison will stand with us. More than special people to our children they remind us and demonstrate the amazing love of our church family and the vital part they play in calling, challenging and sustaining us as disciples. Thank you, Belmont! And thank you thank you thank you to Gayle and Allison!

Yesterday we had the privilege of worshiping with the congregation at Glendale United Methodist Church. We are so thankful for their hospitality and warm welcome of our family.

When we left you last year we told you that we would be in Malawi for one year serving as Volunteers in Mission with the Malawi United Methodist Church. Just three months into our stay, Jeff and I began looking at each and whispering to one another, “do you think one year will be enough?” And by December we began telling friends and family that we would extend our commitment to Malawi for two more years.

So we came home this summer to rest, bear witness to the hand of God at work in the Malawi UMC and work, in order to support our stay for the next year. It has been an amazing summer filled with friends and family and church visits and presentations, including a group of lay people here at Glendale.

The temptation when we talk with friends and groups and churches is to talk about how this year has challenged us, changed us as a family. But I think our true responsibility and delight is to tell you about the pastors and lay people leading the church in Malawi. As they say in Malawi, living the gospel is “no joke”. Pastors follow the call to serve knowing that they will not receive their promised salaries, men and women start nursery schools without books, pencils, toys and crayons, congregations worship without buildings or hymn book or Bibles. They know the commitment they are making and they join together celebrating the abundance they find and the daily blessings of God.

And these people and their ministries, their love of God and their fervent worship are what call us back to Malawi. Going back this time is not nearly as romantic and adventuresome. We go back knowing what it means go hours or days without water or electricity. We go back knowing that our friends and neighbors and church members will get sick and not have the money or access to the health care that they need.

But we also go back knowing that God is performing miracles among the people. We go back knowing that prayer makes a difference. We go back to lively and challenging Bible Study. We go back to live and work and learn from faithful men and women who strive to live the gospel every day as best as they know how. And who will support us as we do the same.

But before we go back we are so thrilled to have the opportunity to thank you here at Glendale for your incredible generosity. The “gray house” as we’ve come to call it is peaceful, and welcoming and has been a refuge for our family during our stay. Thank you for those of you who have friended us on facebook, followed the blog, prayed for us and given money in support of projects in Malawi.

This congregation is forever tied to our mission and dear to us as a family. We will return next summer for six weeks and we look forward to telling you more about this incredible journey that God has called us on. Ambuye akudalitseni, God bless you.