Our Journey

To all friends, family, supporters and blog readers -

As early as three months into Our Journey here in Malawi, Jeff and I began to ask one another if we would be ready to leave in one year’s time.  As Christmas and the six-month mark arrived we had some of the lowest and most lonely moments of this mission experience.  But even through the holidays without family, we arrived on the other side still pulled to extend our commitment.

As we began to plan the second half of our year, our passion and excitement continued to grow.  Claire Marin has also turned a corner.  Instead of counting down the days to going home, she has begun to look forward to events and programs next year in Standard 6 at Phoenix International School.

So, with some trepidation and yet another plea for your prayers, we are posting the letter we sent to family and close friends announcing our discernment and decision to extend our commitment in Malawi for another two years!

We hope that you will celebrate with us and the Malawi United Methodist Church this extended partnership.  And that you will start saving your pennies and frequent flyer miles to come visit!

Blessings on the journey,

Kara, Jeff, Carter and Claire Marin

As many of you know Jeff and I have been wondering and struggling with whether or not to extend our time here.  Not only is the ministry fulfilling, but we are also increasingly aware of how long it took to build a foundation and we would love to have the opportunity to build on that foundation.  Rev. Mhone has recently expressed his conviction that our coming was definitely within God’s timing and he can see many benefits to our coming, and an extension of our service.

As all of this stirs in us, Jeff has also discovered some serious logistical problems with our plane tickets.  I don’t need to go into all of it, but airline fine print and the World Cup in South Africa make it too expensive ($3,000+) to fly home any time after April.  So…

We feel called/prompted/persuaded to come home on our scheduled flights, arriving in Nashville on April 15.  Then we will return to Malawi in late August for another 2 years.  deep breath…

At first we were disappointed to be cutting our one year commitment short by over 3 months.  But as plans develop and opportunities arise, we are realizing the gift and opportunity in this plan.  We have a responsibility and desire to share the witness of the Malawi United Methodist Church with each of the congregations, groups and individuals who are supporting us.  We need to plan and develop a sustainable income base that will allow us to follow this call.  And the time at home may allow us to go on the traditional Oliver beach trip, as well as spend quality time with friends and family in Tennessee and Indiana.

Claire Marin is actually supportive of the idea as well, looking forward to Standard 6 at Phoenix, a class trip to Mt. Mulanje, and another year with her new friends.  Jeff will be home schooling her for a few months while in Nashville because she will miss one full term at her school here.  Carter’s flexibility, energy and persistent joy are one of our biggest blessings through each and every adjustment.

We plan to continue paying rent on our house here in Malawi while we are gone, paying Wilson and Fina’s salaries as they maintain the house for us so that we do not have to move AGAIN.

So that’s where we are.  After Christmas we made an intentional effort to release much of the fear that had been controlling our thoughts, fear about what people would think, fear of letting people down, fear of not accomplishing all that we want to.  I think it helped us to see and hear more clearly.  As when we made the decision the first time, our hearts breaks to think about being away from each of you longer.  I pray that you will forgive us, pray with us and love us through yet another transition.