Muli Bwanji...from Malawi

Muli Bwanji!!!! It's been so LONG. I miss you all SOOO MUCH! I can't believe that I am actually on the internet in Kasungu, Malawi. It has been more impossible to get on a computer than I thought it would be. Just so everyone knows I am doing great! God has been doing so many cool things in and through the team that I have been on.

First off, we started with orientation in Lilongwe and me and my team of 13 girls took off for Chiwengo about two weeks ago. (I feel like I have lost all track of time). At first it was not all that I thought it would be. Everything is alot slower here and us Americans are used to things going, going, and going. The team that I am on is great, we all get along well. We have all been living in one house in Chiwengo Village. We are surrounded by villages with many, many children. Our days our full of just spending good quality time with the orphans here and even the village children. We have done tutoring, outreachs, devotions at the homes, and just building relationships with all those around us. Our group is not one to just sit back and do just what we have been asked. We all have really tried our hardest to reach the village children along with the children with COTN.

Right now I am with a good friend from the group Mackenzie, we went into town to shop around a little and were very fortunate to find an internet cafe that we knew nothing about. We have been hosting short term teams this week and are leaving next week for Lake Malawi. It sounds like it will be amazing. We will then come back to Kasungu and finish our time here, we will climb Mount Kasungu, then leave after 2 weeks to spend more time in Lilongwe and then take off for the Safari. I feel like the days go by slow but the weeks fly by. It's hard to explain.

I have made so many great friendships especially with the Malawian people here. I am looking forward to getting my camera next week (my first one broke when I got here...uck) so I can post pictures of these wonderful people.

Thank you all for your prayers and LETTERS! I have loved it everyday. It has gotten me through some tough times. Just so you all know God is teaching me more than I ever thought he would. I thought it would be mostly in my time with doing outreaches and things like that but it has been in my quiet time and my individual time with the children. I try and pray for any of them I have my hands on. God is really going to do wonderful things with these children.

Well, I am sorry I don't have time to e-mail, or call you all individually. We don't get much time when we are able to go out to town. (The last time we were here we did a scavengar hunt, I wanted my Mom to be here because all of you that know her know that she would LOVE something like that). So I ask that you continue to pray not only for me but for the people of Malawi. There are times I look at people and think "Lord they must feel so hopeless" and other times I look at them and think "We have all we want and still they are far happier than any of us". But there is definetely a lack of food and money here and it is hard not to give all of your money away especially when you go into town. I feel like I have so much to say just not enough time to say it so I will end here so Mackenzie can update as well. I love you all and miss you so very much! I will be home soon, but I am very excited about the rest of my time here. God is and is going to do even greater things in all of us. I'm stinking in AFRICA! It's so hard to believe sometimes. Anyway, please comment back and I will be able to use the internet again for a full day in about a week. So that is exciting.

Alright, well thanks again for all your support and prayers! May God truly bless you.

Love you,
Kara Joy