August Update

Well another month has skipped away and I'm not sure where it went. Other than work I can't really think of anything we have done but we always seem to be busy.
David's mowing is still going well. He has had to change his days and move things around a few times due to rain but because he only goes 1 or 2 days a week during the winter this is no big deal.
I have had pretty good hours at Coles the last few weeks averaging about 11 hours. Last week I did some extra shifts for a case clean out. We worked from 9pm to 6am taking all the products out of the bottom shelf of the dairy, freezer, meat, fruit and vege and deli, cleaning all the shelves while contractors cleaned out all underneath and checked all the fans and motors. It was hard work but not difficult but apparently once people do it once they don't want to do it again. I just don't think people want to work (you get time and a half after midnight and I get $20.90 an hour normally - which is a criminal amount of money when you look at it compared to what teachers, child care workers etc get).
The boys are both coasting along at school not really achieving much. Starting to look at options for Nicholas next year as he heads into high school.
Had contact last week from a family who used to be in Gympie {Rainald and Jenny and their 4 children Daniel (17), Jessica (15), Dean (12), and Emily (11)} who now live in Karonga, Malawi, Africa. Reinald is the building superviser for a group Lusubilo Orphan Care. The following is some of an email sent to me by Jessica describing life there.

Here in Karonga, English is not spoken by most people. And if they can speak English, it's the adult generation. There is enough spoken English though that we don't have to desperately learn the language. I know the basic words and greetings. The language is called Tumbuka. This situation makes it hard for Daniel and I to make friends. For Emily, her age group don't communicate by talking but playing. Dean had 2 good friends that speak great English so he is blessed. But for Daniel and me to communicate to people our age is very difficult because they don't play anymore. Anyways, another factor on top is Malawi has the largest percent of stunted growth. So the people here think I look 21 or so and I get quite a few marriage proposals. I spend most of my time in the orphanage though. Because with the young kids love is an universal language. It is a bit difficult with Mum being out teacher. We let all our frustration out on her. Which isn't good of us. We are looking at possibly getting a tutor but no decisions are made. I would say schooling would be the worst part of the life here.(sorry to say). But in myself I love it here because I am more content with myself and what I have here. I love not having the pressures of the western world. The Malawi Lake which is the 2ndlargest fresh water lake in the world. When you go there its almost like being on the ocean just fresh water. And its 1 km from our home.I also am looking at going into high school and teaching an abstinence program called 'why wait' but I am really scared and also am procrastinating on the idea.
The orphanage is an independent orphanage from a organisation but it is ran by a Nun. But the orphanage in itself isn't at all connected to the catholic church because the Nun who started it rebelled against the church to go and help in Northern Malawi. The staff are from all different Christian/religious backgrounds too.
The organisation does a lot more than just run a children's village (orphanage). Its projects involve:
• Infant Care
• Community Base Childcare Centres (Dad is manager of building)
• Community Feeding Centres
• Orphan Headed Households
• Home based Care
• Village Nutrition Centres
• Food Production
• Nyungwe Technical Tafe
• Youth Awareness ( Mum is involved in this)
• Displaced Children
• Busary Programme
They also have a irrigation system in progress. So all things are a part of the organisation and 'Lusubilo/Hope Orphan Care' is working in over 60 villages in the local community.In the orphanage itself there is 40-50 children plus a Nursery for infants. This is out of the 9000 orphans they deal with. Their aim is to get the displaced child back into homes even if they are not directly related to the child. So out of the 9000 only 50 children homes can not be found for or their nutrition state is not well.
Because English isn't spoken well, there are only 2 churches in town that speak English, the Prespatarian and the Catholic. Neither at which we feel the holy spirit moving upon. So in Karonga we don't as such have a church to go to. Though in Lilongwe the capital city we have found an amazing church which we visit every time we go there.its called 'city capital Baptist church' and it is incredible.
So hopefully that gives you more an insight into our mission here.Its all volunteer work from our behalf. Also coming here we have all come as a family decision not just Mum and Dad. We have all committed to come for a year, and after that we will again as a family reassess what we will then do, whether we stay longer or come home etc.
And I can see you have been doing great things for Him andfollowing his heart of Love. James 1:27.
Let your light shine for Christ,Love Jess.

Lusubilo Orphan Care, PO Box 42, Karonga, Malawi, Afrika.
They send out a monthly newsletter so if you would like to hear about what they are dong let me know and I will send it out to you. I'll have a hunt around for some photos of them so you can put a face to the names.

For those of you who saw my blog about our other friends overseas, they have decided to stay for another year. They also have a monthly newsletter if you want to read it. They are busy at the moment setting up the bottom floor of the new place they have moved into for the Home Schooling Coop they are helping set up for Ex Pat kids.

Your prayers for both these groups would be appreciated.

We are off to the DOULOS this afternoon. She is the oldest ocean going passenger ship in the world, built 2 years after the Titanic. It also has the world's largest floating bookstore inside. They are running several onboard programs and tours and have an international cafe with crew speaking their throughout the day. The ship has c. 300 christian volunteers from c. 50 countries. Will try and take heaps of photos and post them for you next week. They have a website and are visiting several ports around Australia. This is their last tour here as it will retire in 2010. Australian website is www.doulosdownunder.org.au not sure where it is off to after Australia but I am sure that it is on the website.

Anyway better go and get some work done. Am starting to catch up on some phone calls to people that I haven't spoken to in a while so please don't think I am ignoring you if you haven't heard from me in a while.

God Bless!!!