Snails and Bugs

Christmas 2011

A week or so before Christmas, Jonathan's younger sister Julie and her husband Michael were in a terrible car accident. We had our Christmas early and then Jonathan spent three weeks in the US with his family. Julie is alive and for that we are grateful to God. Please continue to pray for her as this is a long and tedious recovery process.
Here are some pictures from this past month.

 The pre-opening presents shot. Georgia was still sleeping. JJ waiting patiently. : )

 Building a lego car

 Georgia making her "Christmas Snakes" (how contextual!)

Homemade Peppermint Patties. (Can't get them in Malawi)

 JJ's wire truck made and designed by a student

 Waiting for Daddy chain. A link came off each day.

Celebrating at Kamuzu Airport. Welcome home!

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.