A Christmas party that was thrown for kids who would otherwise never experience anything like this
Rachel doing a great job painting faces at the party!
What is a Christmas party without a great meal? We fed over 500 kids the meal of a lifetime!
Rachel and I have been working with a local organization called WOFAD. It is a support group for women who are HIV+. On this day we went with several HIV+ ladies to visit the woman you see seated against her home. She had been abandoned by her family and was often so hungry she was forced to eat grass. We washed her dishes, cleaned up her house, bathed her, and cooked her a great meal.
Rachel at a Christmas party that was thrown for HIV+ women at WOFAD
The government of Canada donated a small pig farm to help fund the activities of WOFAD as they breed and sell the piglets. Here's the latest batch!
The following week we traveled 2 hours south to a small village in desperate need. With crops months from being ready, the entire village is surviving off of mangoes and termites. We spent some time laughing and praying with them, as well as checking on a well we installed a few months ago.
A few of the children from the village - the village name is Matrousa
Aisha testing the water quality of the well...she approved.
One last group picture before we left the village
We were able to get away for a few days during the holidays - this is a picture Rachel took from the top of the Zomba Plateau where we stayed for a night.
The next morning at breakfast some baboons were trying to run off with the food - they succeeded a few times. Here Aisha is watching carefully. They actually came after here more than once - Rachel went into mother bear mode and fought them off - you should have seen it!
While we were in Zomba...I broke Rachel's nose...on Christmas Day. She was laying on the bed and I playfully tossed Aisha towards here. Aisha's head + Rachel's nose =ouch! (and big trouble for me!) This picture was taken after we had it snapped back into place at the doctors...wow I feel bad...I broke my wife's nose!! She is going to be OK - it is looking nice and straight and I think I'll be out of the dog house before you know it!
After our day in Zomba we headed back up to Liwonde to check out the wildlife. Here are Aisha and I in the pool. Note to Rachel's fam: Can you believe how much Aisha looks like Rachel's baby pictures?? Wow!
Posing with a hippo skull - we saw plenty of live ones too!
Wow!
One of the many zebras we saw in Liwonde
See those dots? Those are the eyes of a spotted hyena about 20 feet away! We found then just as the sun was going down, so we actually got to watch them in daylight for a while also.
With our great friends Israel and Cinthia Esquivel leaving Liwonde
Presents on Christmas morning!
Aisha and her best friend Martha
Aisha likes to carry her baby the Malawian way!
At the top of Nyambadwe mountain overlooking Blantyre with our friends
I found my own way downWe'll write again soon!
8 comments:
I just love reading your blogs and seeing all the pictures. I am so proud of you guys! Happy New Year to you all too.
Love,
Buffi
Thanks for the update and the new pics! The picture of Aisha carrying her baby doll on her back malawian style is the cutest thing I've ever seen!!!! :) Give her hugs & kisses for me! Love you guys lots!
Mindy
Hey guys.
I loved reading the blog. Way to go Jeremy. But I had a oops moment at Christmas too, I forgot Melissa's stocking in WI. OOPS. Well I thought she had it packed. Anyway, can't wait to see ya soon. Happy New Year...
Love ya
Mitch
I absolutely LOVE the pics you post. The country is amazing, the people are beautiful, the wildlife exciting - and the missionaries - they're the best!!
So proud of you!!
Teresa Colangelo
Im so glad you guys updated, We alwasys look forward to your updates!
hey Rach! (and Jeremy) I just wanted to say how awesome incredible I think the work is that you are doing over there. It truely is the message of christ to love those who the world has found "unloveable" (the women who are HIV+) you both are truely an inspiration! I know God will bless you both richly while you continue your work in Africa and when you come back home. :)
oh yeah, and Rach you look great! It looks like you have lost a bunch of weight. I bet their diet is alot different then ours in the states :) I'm sure you have a lot more on your plate then trying to stay in shape, but just thought i'd tell you, you look good! :)I'd love to hear from you! here is my email address: isawsparks3@gmail.com hope to hear from you soon!
Hey guys, I finally got around to reading your blog, enjoying pics and videos. The girls were around to enjoy too. Thanks for being an inspiration to them. I know it must be hard being far from family and friends. It looks like you have a great Christian family and your own is growing and happy. I loved your comment about how ministry is not aboutour strengths and talents but just Jesus....goes along with what I read today in Phil. 2:11.
Love and prayers, Janice
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