Christmas Concert 2011

Wednesday night was the ABC Christmas Music Concert. I want to change our name to the ABC MASS Choir. We are now 120 members loud! The highlight of this semester has been working with Lackson and Linda. I believe they are two of the most naturally talented choral conductors in the country and both serve at ABC. We are blessed. We sang Silent Night, Use Me Lord by Daryl Logan, and an original, Chisomo Chake by Linda.

ABC Choral Department

Pre-concert photos

Crisis Nursery

The Lilongwe Crisis Nursery is a place where babies can transition from hunger to health. Many of the babies have been orphaned and their extended families cannot afford to feed or care for them during infancy. After a couple years of care at the nursery, they are transitioned back to their families and home villages, well fed and in better health.

As you may notice from the photos, our Georgia Mae loves visiting(as she calls it)"Cwisis Nurswee."

Special note: In Malawi for every 100, 000 births, approximately 877 mothers die.

Reading Day

Today was the ABCCA all school reading day.  JJ was handed down a really nice frog costume which was perfect as he and Georgia genuinely enjoy the "Frog and Toad" series. Georgia was less literary and joined in as Strawberry Shortcake!

 Teachers joined the fun.

 Cute campus kids

 Middle Schoolers making the effort!

 All school assembly

Out of Sequence

While looking through my photos, I realized I'd left out a few things here and there. Time to catch up.

 Georgia Mae turned 3 on July 30!

 New Freshmen arrived at the end of August

The leaders of Freshmen Orientation

 Chisomo's family moved in across the street.

 Both age 3 and sometimes inseparable.

 JJ is getting very successful at catching all sizes of lizards.

Yale!

My colleague, Kelly Dehnert won an $8,000 Yale alumni grant. The money was used to build practice rooms and a keyboard/guitar lab onto our current music building. Thank you Yale for supporting the growing music program at African Bible College!

 The Addition

Senior Chimwemwe Songelani in a new practice room.

First Day of School

Which child is not a morning person?

Off to Kindergarten

JJ with his teacher

One Year

Lots of laughing and tears. Missed home and enjoyed all things new. Prayed for the year to go faster and wanted time to stand still. Ah, transition. We are so thankful for the Lord's sustenance and for keeping us close to Him in the roller coaster which was our first year in Africa. We have learned that when we are weak He is very strong and great is His faithfulness to us. Looking forward to year number two.

Here are a million family photos we took this morning...for the grandparents whom we miss very much!

Academy Activity

 The end of the year was a busy time at African Bible College Christian Academy(ABCCA) I volunteer once a week teaching two academy choirs.  JJ had a wonderful year in Reception with Mr. Owen. Reception is a pre-kindergarten program 5 days a week and 5 hours a day. He had classmates from Portugal, Zimbabwe, India, Jordan, Malawi and the US. It was a great school year for JJ.

 Upper School Choir with Taritta conducting

 Ballerina /Choristers

 Mr Owen's and Miss Kiti's Reception Class

 JJ and Mr. Owen on awards day

 Brenda my wonderful accompanist

Taritta my very talented conducting assistant

Graduation

On June 4 the African Bible College Class of 2011 crossed the graduation stage. Parents were cheering, students were smiling, the faculty was proud. May the Lord bless them and keep them.

 Proud Parents...

 and Grandparents.

 Saying goodbye to the rising Sophomores

and future Seniors!