Hello from Malawi-the warm heart of Africa

We arrived safelyHello from Malawi – the Warm Heart of Africa!

Sorry for the long delay in updates…power outages are very common and lack of internet is also common~ But things are great and everyone is healthy!
We arrived safely in Malawi in Monday morning, and I am so happy to be back! I just felt so much peace and less stress , when we got to Malawi. Tanzania, specifically Dar Es Salaam, has a more high paced, stressful atmosphere, which I don’t really enjoy all that much! There are many more people there as well, so I was thankful to come here where the atmosphere is way more laid back and definitely not as crowded! And the weather – I’m so thankful to not be sweating buckets everyday now! Dar Es Salaam was scorching hot, but here in Malawi, the weather is beautiful! I am sporting some lobster-esque skin at the moment as a result of loving the sun!

It was been absolutely wonderful to see people from last year. After meeting them last year, I wondered if I would ever see them again. So to have the opportunity to once again be here and see them, and serve alongside them, is amazing and something that I am so grateful for! The look of surprise and happiness on their face when they see me, makes me realize why I am here. Many of them have said to me “I thought that I would never see you again, but it makes me glad that you have come back.’ That alone, solidifies why I am back – for the students. It’s to serve them and encourage them. To see people like Gerald and vitu, and Danny, gills, Ginford, Patrick, William – everyone, it’s amazing! Yesterday I got to spend time with my friend Aisha, which was amazing. She is the Muslim friend that I met last year and spend a lot of time with. It was great to see her again and I am excited to spend more time with her over the next two weeks!
Everyone misses the team from last year a lot! They have been asking about all of you and where you are, and why you aren’t back in Malawi this summer! So know that you are missed and thought of often by the Malawi students that you spend time with last summer.
Tim – I had to reveal to the team the secret of the amazing banana muffins and they are all in love with them now too! I have sent your greetings and love to everyone here, and they miss you a lot! They keep asking about you, so you are not forgotten, but often thought of and prayed for!
I also have come to see the fruits of our labour last year. I never really realized that affect that we had on the campus when we were here. But returning to Malawi has given me the opportunity to see the impact that the Canadian team made last summer. Your labour in the Lord was not in vain. The students are still talking about last summer and the Canadians that came. They are pulling out the Knowing God personally Booklets that we gave them, and asking for a new one, because their other one is falling apart from reading it. I wish that each person from the team last year could return and see the impact that they had on this campus. It made me realize why I came back. It gave me purpose and focus for this trip and encouraged me to keep going this summer, because God is using the Canadians in great ways. And I thank all my supporters from last year and this year, because it is through you that God changed lives here at Chancellor College.
The team this year is great! They are getting along wonderfully which is really great! They all have unique gifts that make this time great and really unifies them. I do miss the team from last year a lot, though. And I am trying really hard to not let memories from last year take over my mind. So often I will see something or hear something or talk to someone that triggers my mind to think of last year. Last year we had an amazing team and time – we were a family. So it is kind of strange to be back without them!
We have had a great first week so far! We had hit the campus hard, sharing our faith and God has been our strength, We have seen people come to faith, asking Jesus to be their Saviour, which is amazing! Praise the Lord!! I have been finding it a struggle this year on campus. The majority of the students on campus define themselves as Christians, but a lot of them do not have a full understanding of what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus, they are Christians, because they attend church on Sunday’s. But another struggle has been, that there are several clubs on campus that the students are a part of. So it’s really hard to get a movement going when students are already plugged into another club. And that is not our goal to create competition between the Christian clubs or to make the students switch clubs. We just desire to see students excited about their faith, understanding their faith and being active in their faith. And I have found that is a struggle this year, so far. So please pray that God would give us direction and understanding and discernment in knowing what to do and that God would stir the hearts of the African students to not be apathetic, but to be active in living out their faith.
I have also found it really hard to find my “place” this year. As an intern, I am not a student, but not quite a staff, so sometimes I feel lost in knowing what my role is. Throughout this week, God has been teaching me that disicipiling the Canadian girls is where I need to be focusing. And that excites me, to be able to build into the Canadian girls. But that has been hard for me – because that means that I am spending less time in the hostels sharing the gospel with girls. But, by discipling the Canadian girls, I am equipping them to share their faith. So I am excited for how God is going to use me, but at the same time, still a little confused! God has definitely been using the time here in Africa so far, to really teach me a lot – about Him and about myself. It has been such a personal growth time for me so far. And Jill (project director) has really been challenging me in my faith and challenging me to take steps of faith and step up in leadership. So I am so thankful for her guidance on this trip. So please pray for that – that I would be in God’s will and listening to His voice, and that I would have wisdom in leading the Canadian girls.
My friend Melissa is here in Malawi with me, and that has been such a blessing. She has spent the last year in Dar Es Salaam on Stint, working at the University. I am so glad that she came to Malawi, because I am so excited to serve alongside her here. She is such an encouragement, And the rest of the staff team is wonderful as well – we get along great and everyone is so much fun! And for all of those peeps back home, having Laura here is wonderful as well! She is doing great and loving it here in Africa! It’s so nice to have someone here from home. I know that God is going to use her in BIG ways in Malawi!
I know that this is a long update and even as I write it, I realize that there is so much more that I wish I could tell you. There are so many stories that I want to share, but unfortunately, I don’t have the time or the internet availability to do so! But know that God is at work and doing great things here in Malawi, and is really challenging me as well, and stretching me as a leader, which I am really happy for! I am excited to grow in my leadership ability and to learn more about myself and who God created me to be. So continue to be in prayer for the team here in Malawi and the other three teams back in Tanzania. God is using 50+ students to impact and change the continent of Africa – be excited about how He is using young adults to change the world!
Although I wish I could convey everything to you, I hope this gives you a glimpse into my adventure in Africa!

jambo!

i've arrived safe in Tanzania! our flight came in on Tuesday morning and we were greeted with a wall of heat! it's as hot as i remembered last time! Everyone has a nice shine to them! It is the rainy season here, so we have been watching the rain pour down today. We have been doing prep work in anticipation of the students arriving on Friday morning, which i am really excited about! They are leaving this evening, from Toronto, so they will begin their adventure soon!
I sometimes forget that there is a 7 hour time differene, so i hope that eveyone is having a great morning as i write this in the afternoon!
I haven't came across any gross or rather large bugs yet, which is nice. although i know that soon enough i will find them!
It's great to be back in africa and to be preparing for this trip. i am really struggling this year with getting over jet lag and used to the culture, so please pray for that, that i would quickly become accustomed to being here! I need to find some physical strength and energy, to help them team get things ready!
Please continue to pray that we, as the staff team, would have wisdom in leading the students this summer. I want to be an effective leader, and be used by God, so please pray for that! i am doing a couple of seminars during orientation, so i am excited and nervous for that, as well!
The staff team has been bonding really well, so please continue to rpay for unity and health amongst us. So far we have all stayed healthy, so lets hope it stays that way!
I am running out of minutes, so that my update for now. i will try and update again as soon as i can!
blessings from Africa!

safe and sound

i've arrvied safe and sound in london, and it's been a fabulous couple of days! I fly to Tanzania on Monday evening, and then am there for the next 6 weeks. we have had some great staff team building time here, and have been blessed by a teammates aunt, where we are staying. it's been relaxing to get away from the books and have some time to relax! I'm excited for africa though and really want to just get there. continue to pray that i would be focused and continue to focus on the vision of the project. i eagerly await the students arrival on friday and can't wait to see laura!
This mornign we attended the Hillsongs UK church and it was amazing and refreshing! greg and andrea, it made me think of you guys!
this is a short update i will try to update more once i arrive in Africa!!
Continue to be in prayer that God would change lives in Africa!

Bon Voyage!

And just a few hours before I hit the road on my adventure! It's going to be an amazing time of faith stretching, faith building and life changing experience!
Continue to be in prayer..
Pray for safe travels, both for the staff leaving today and the students leaving on Wed.
For overall health, that we would remain healthy in the next 6 weeks (and to remember to take our meds!)
For the hearts of the African students we are going to minister to, that they would be open and ready for the Canadian students
For spiritual refreshing of the Canadians, that we would get our strength from God and rely on His Holy Spirit

I can't wait to see all of you when I return in June!
Until then, BON VOYAGE!

In less the 24 hours...

In less then 24 hours I will be on the plane on my way to London, England, and then off to Africa. WOW! I can't believe that the time is here already to leave -- it's been a whirlwind the past couple of days.
I know am just getting the last preparations for my trip together. I always find that I can not sleep on the night before I have to go somewhere. My mind is going in a million different directions as I think of a bunch of little things that I want to get done before leaving...eventually I just need to tell myself to stop, and just let things be the way they are!
My excitment and anticipation are increasing as the time draws closer to leave. I have experienced moments of doubt, as to why I am going again, but God has worked through those moments with me. I know that they have been more emotional then rational. I have had to come to understand that this year will not be the same as last year. There won't be the same people, the same jokes, but that doens't mean that it's not going to be as much fun! My mom and I had a great conversation about how my role is changing this year. Last year I had the time of my life in Africa, and created some of my most treasured memories and met some of my closest friends there. And now this year, I have the opportunity to create that same experience for the students who are going for the first time. They will be looking to me for leadership and guidance, and I want to make this experience as a great of one, as it was for me last year. And when I let that sink in, my excitment began to grow! I am excited for the leadership oppurtunity. I know that I will learn valuable skills that will benefit me in the future.
Tomorrow when I leave, I am meeting a bunch of people that I don't know. And frankly, that scares me! But at the same time, I know that God put this team together perfectly, and that we will all mesh together and build eachother up. But please be in prayer for that, that I would guard myself against loneliness and just let myself be open to new people and new friendships!
I hope that when I am gone, I will get the chance to update you. I will try and do that as often as I can...but I can't promise that it will be often!
May you all be blessed each day, and look for the little things in life that make you smile and be thankful for those!

time flies

I'm writing to you today, as a recent graduate of the University of Western Ontario! As of Monday afternoon, I am officially graduated from university!! hard to believe! I am super thrilled to have my exams over with, the last round of exams ever! That is one aspect of university that I am not sad to leave!
I moved home yesterday, which is a big transition. I already miss my roommates! It's strange to be living out of suitcases and boxes, which will be the case most likely, until I return from Africa! But being home with my family has been great so far. I am really looking forward to spending a few quality days with them, before taking off.
My to-do list for Africa just keeps getting bigger and I just keep adding things to it, but they are all important things to get done! I've been working on the training seminar that I am doing for the students during orientation and am really looking forward to that oppurtunity to step out in leadership. It puts me in a somewhat uncomfortable spot, but that is where God is strongest -- in my weakness! But I have such an encouraging team that surrounds me, so I am so thankful for that!
I am still working on my support raising. I have $1500 to raise, to reach my goal. So please continue to be in prayer for that, that God would provide the last $1500. I know that He can, and I know that God is teaching me lessons through support raising, so I am thankful. I just need to have bigger faith, to not doubt. That was my mindset, when I commited this summer to God, that I would not doubt His ability to fund this trip. And now, with 2 days to go, I find myself having seeds of doubt planted. But I didn't come this far, to let that happen! So join with me in asking God...
When i think back to last summer and how God united our team, I look to the next coming months with great anticipation, as God forms new teams, and unites them as family. To be on the outside looking in this year, I am excited to watch students form friendships, and watch them stand in awe of how great God is. I am looking forward to meeting each student, when they arrive in Tanzania on the 4th. The look of shock on their faces, as they face the African heat for the first time, and the look of sheer excitment of what lies ahead.
may God be honoured --> this is what I want for the summer

counting down...

Wow, just a few more days before the plane takes off! I'm getting excited to be used by God this summer. It's a crazy time of the year right now, with trying to finish off exams and pack, but I know that the end result will be amazing!
I've been working on the training seminar that I will be leading for the students in their orientation, and trying to get that finished. I will be talking on the Spirit Filled Life -- which is such an important topic!
I've been in contact with some of the guys and gals that I met last summer, and they are anticipated my arrival as well. I am so pumped to see them again and talk with them and do ministry alongside them.
I'm also able to bring a second suitcase full of items to give away (ie Bibles, clothes, medical supplies) so if this is something that interests you, let me know!
Continue to be in prayer for myself, the entire team and Africa!