It was a good morning

Thankful for new friends who share our love for donuts.

Old School and other things

 Merry go rounds. Pop in glass bottles. It's old school.

Georgia has made friends with everyone on campus. She speaks better Chichewa than all of us.

Her little voice saying "muli bwanji" is hilarious.

We've been reading a lot too (no tv)

Classes at the college begin tomorrow.

Looking forward to our first semester.

Miss you all.

Thanks for your prayers.

Milk on tap

One luxury we're enjoying in Malawi is milk on tap.  Connie Dehnert introduced me to the milk store, jugs in hand, where they have a huge vat and will fill any container you bring-prices are per liter.  The young man behind us was waiting to have his coke bottle filled. Environmentally sound-and so good. On the other hand we're finding that staples from home are very pricey. I saw a bottle of bertoli olive oil for 45000 kwacha which is about 30 US dollars.

JJ had a good first week of school with his teacher,  Mr. Owen. He is from Zimbabwe and a natural with the kids.

WELCOME FRESHMEN!

I volunteered to take photos of the freshmen as they arrived for orientation yesterday. Pray for them as they transition to campus. They are thrilled to be at ABC.  Jonathan and I can't wait to work with these wonderful kids. J is currently the college chaplain and has a full course load. I'll teach freshmen music theory/ear-training next week and college choir begins the following week.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and encouragement.

First Day of School

Today was JJ's first day of school at ABCCA. We're so thankful to have a great place for him-right on campus. Georgia and I will walk him to his reception class (pre-k) everyday. He's particularly thrilled about the uniform.

Thank you

Thanks for your prayers and support. We arrived in Malawi safe and sound (and only missing one bag)

We had quite an adventure in Johannesburg. Imagine 2 kids, 5 carry-ons, retrieving 8 massive bags and 2 car seats. Now imagine pushing that  around the airport, paying someone to wrap, lock, and guard the luggage overnight (unsafe to recheck luggage) convert dollars to rand, then stand outside at night hoping that our hotel shuttle really will come and take us somewhere safe to sleep . Then imagine 2 kids wide awake from midnight to 3am. and then waking at 5:30am to hop back on the shuttle retrieve all baggage and recheck it, and finally board our final flight to Lilongwe, Malawi. Nothing has been even close to that difficult since arriving. We're so thankful for your prayers for patience and safety! JJ and Georgia Mae did amazingly well.

We are enjoying our first week of orientation and trying many new things that we'll eventually share.

We miss you all and are thankful for your continued prayers and support. with care, Jess and family

Here we Go

Please pray for us.  Here is a favorite from the Heidelberg Catechism.

 Question #1

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own, but belong body and soul in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. 

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Goodbye Columbus, Walnut Creek Presbyterian, sweet friends and family and wonderful supporting churches.