Progress

I've decided to use the title 'Progress' to describe this blog post, because in so many ways it describes the last few months here. While this blog has been an attempt to carry all of you along with us on the journey we've been on this past year, it has been impossible to fully describe what has been happening in our minds and our hearts.

We came to Malawi ready to take over the world. It didn't take long for us to take a deep breath, look around, and realize that we don't have everything figured out after all. While we still feel that way, I can say that the lights are slowly turning on and real, wonderful things are happening around us.

We've been focusing our efforts in the city of Blantyre, which is the second largest city and considered the business capital of Malawi. In the township of Chilomoni you'll find the 'Mother Church' of the Cross Life network of churches. This is the church that we've been helping to pastor, along with working diligently to develop strong ministries to youth, children, home visitation, and small groups. Basically we've been doing our best to create a healthy body that can in turn develop other healthy bodies in villages and towns across Malawi and Mozambique. This time I wanted to start by highlighting the children's ministry. In the past year they've grown from a handful of kids meeting under a tree to a vibrant, well organized ministry that is reaching hundreds of kids each week with outreach programs on Fridays and a dynamic Sunday morning program. Best of all - they are now self-sustaining!

Kids ready to go on a field trip to Michiru Mountain to catch a glimpse of Hyenas

Our rockin' cool new children's pastor, Lilian Phiri

Needless to say, we scared the Hyenas away!

One of our goals this year in working with the 'mother church' in Chilomoni was to build a proper sanctuary that could also house the many conferences and training meetings that happen with Cross Life throughout the year. It has been a long process, but there is great progress! Check it out!



In future posts I'll fill you in on the other activities that are happening with youth and other ministries. Along with Cross Life, Rachel and I are also working with a small community based organization which is chaired by a member of Cross Life and also supported by Palm Valley Church. It is called WOFAD - or Women for fair development. We've written about this before, but it is a highlight of our week to spend hours trekking long distances with the ladies in WOFAD's Home Based Care program, caring for the sick and dying in our area.

This is Dyson, his grandmother, and his new mosquito net! He's HIV+, and one day we found him covered in mosquito bites - a dangerous thing for a boy with HIV in a malaria area. The next week we were able to provide him with a much needed net!

This is a video about Elifa - a beautiful little girl we visit often who is very sick and loves to sing!

Over Easter we joined up with hundreds of other Cross Lifers from all over Malawi and Mozambique in a conference held in the city of Luchenza. Can you spot Rachel?!


Ok - many of you heard about Aisha's hand. She was playing in a closet and got her hand slammed in the door. She almost lost the tip of her right ring finger, but thank God it was able to be stitched up. She may never have a fingernail there, but that is better than no finger at all! It is healing well and she will be just fine. Here's a picture and video:

Ok - so here are some fun pictures and video we took recently - Aisha had her best friend Martha over for some fun!

Trying to take a nap -- of course they never fell asleep!




Aisha, Martha, and their buddies outside the church





Aisha being a mommy and loving on Emanuel

Ok guys - that's it! Thanks so much for all of your prayers - God is doing so much here...especially in us. We love you, and are looking forward to seeing you soon. We will be returning to the US on July 9th. I (Jeremy) will still actively be involved with Malawi following up regularly from the US on the projects we've started and probably making a return trip in October or so. Regardless of what God does with us in the future, Malawi will always be a part of our lives!