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Rambling through the Psalms, Nkhoma and Bible Study

This year we've had some solid visiting speakers at our staff Bible study Wednesday nights.  One is a church planter from Ohio, and close friend with some missionaries here.  He spoke to us on the practice/discipline of breath prayers.  They are short phrases that we can repeat in prayer throughout the day, to draw us back to the reality of our dependence on God.  First Thessalonians tells us to "pray continually" throughout our day, in order to be in constant communion with God.  A 17th century monk named Brother Lawrence practiced this prayer discipline, seeking the presence of God at all times.  During our Gospel Emphasis week at the academy, I presented to the students on the disciplines of prayer and solitude/silence.  Our culture not only makes it difficult to practice these, but sometimes, it seems like it actively seeks to destroy them in the lives of Christians.  There are people around, there is music to listen to, there is stuff to do.  Productive, with people, multi-tasking, busy.  These things are all great, in moderation.  But they quickly take the place of #1 when we don't spend time alone with God.  We run to activity and noise to fill the time.  So my breath prayer since that Wednesday night

The reason that I spoke on this topic was because I have really struggled with it the last few months.  Since Christmas break, things seem to be moving at warp speed.  It's like I can't get my feet under me, and my heart and mind are behind too.  With the busy schedule and the fatigue comes a weariness that we've probably all experienced.  My problem was that I hadn't treasured solitary time with God.  Time in the early morning hours each day, time in between classes when I find myself alone for just a few moments, time walking home from soccer; the scheduled time and the unscheduled times.  So I ask you, O patient reader, when is the last time that you spent quiet and alone with God?

Hopefully it's quite recent.  The weekend before presenting during Gospel Emphasis week, I was with a few teachers and 11 students on an overnight hike of Nkhoma Mountain.  It's a special place, and the kids have a great time.  This year we went to the peak for sunset, instead of our usual sunrise hike.  It was gorgeous.  The next morning, I was up for the sunrise just a few hundred yards from our hut.  In the 30 minutes I spent standing and listening and watching the sun rise on a quiet, green, majestic mountain, God met with me.  He reminded me of the sweetness of His presence and the quiet medium that he often chooses to speak to us in. 

Our talk that weekend was focused on Psalm 62 and 63, the topic of another guest speaker's Wednesday night study.  He was a missionary to Pakistan with his family for over 20 years and now serves as a missions pastor at a large church in San Diego.  He said that God brutally humbled him and restored him through Psalm 62 in the midst of severe illness.   He then made him grateful through Psalm 63.  Thank God for His living and active Word in the Bible.  He also shared a piece of advice from a veteran missionary in Pakistan who said: "You will either grow more grateful as you serve here, or you will grow more bitter." 

I feel that sometimes in Malawi, and had a battle with it yesterday.  Frustrations with fuel, our car, Road Traffic office, District commissioners offices in Lilongwe and Kasungu, Malawi time...  Will I grow more grateful or more bitter.  Ask Becca, I spent a good hour stewing over what a victim I'd been of these great inustices!  It's the worst part of my heart that wins out sometimes.  God used Yami, Becca, Nell Spencer, and a short night's sleep to help provide some perspective, and turn my heart back to the narrow, difficult, and good path of gratitude.

I come back to prayer: "Oh God, deepen my faith."  That's my breath prayer right now.  Since we started the adoption process, there have been quite a few ups and downs.  We got Yami November 30th, and we're supposed to leave Malawi on June 25th.  That's a quick seven months to get through a process that usually requires more than seven months in a country with very negotiable ideas of time.  I have found myself worrying quite often, and sometimes at a deep level.  "Oh God, grow my faith." Translated: Oh, I'm desperate, God, you are my God, grow, you alone can do the growing, my faith, in your promises and faithfulness.

I'm not sure what the point of this blog is really: spend time with God, say your breath prayers, choose gratitude over bitterness.  You choose, I just hope you're encouraged in your faith.

Thank you Evergreen, from Stanley

Here is Stanley's thank you message to Evergreen for a great Christmas celebration.

Bright Vision Christmas Celebration

On Christmas Eve, we headed out to Bright Vision Orphan Care for our annual Christmas Celebration.  We started doing this a few years ago, because Stanley thought it would be a great idea to have the people of the village, and kids from all around, come to share a special meal, enjoy entertainment, and hear the Word of God preached.  This year was special, as Evergreen Baptist Church provided the funding for the whole day.  We were able to buy 220 lbs of rice, 10 liters of oil, 8 liters of drink concentrate, 10kgs of salt, and lots of veggies.  Their Sunday school kids donated over $500 so we could have 10 goats.  This is a big deal, as most people in the village do not have rice or goat throughout the year.  It's too expensive!  So needless to say, it was quite a feast.

When we (Christy ABCCA Teacher, Tio and Clifford ABC students, my mom and dad, Becca, Yami and me) got there, we were met with singing from the ladies, welcoming us.  This has become somewhat of a tradition over the last year, to welcome visitors.  Stanley led us on a quick tour, and we me the volunteers who make everything at Bright Vision run smoothly.  Then we had the program.  This year we wanted just singing (in the past there have been dramas and dances also) from the two choirs at Ngala CCAP, the church we visit when we're in Chamadenga on Sundays.  The kids choir performed first, and then the women's choir.  They both did a great job.  It was kinda' wierd to have the women's choir sing a song dedicated to Becca and men, likening us to Jonah or Moses who God sent to "save" the village.  It was extremely humbling when Stanley leaned over to tell me what they were singing about.  I got a little teary, realizing that God was doing a good work in Chamadenga through Bright Vision and Stanley's leadership.  Praise Him for His great love for us.  After the singing, Clifford got up to speak from Luke, about Christmas.  He did a wonderful job, and spoke passionately for about 15 minutes on the necessity of Christ's coming to eventually save us from our sin.  He shared the full Gospel clearly, in Chichewa.  That's what we'd been hoping for.  Well, God decided that Clifford's speaking was enough, because after that, just as I got up to speak, it started raining.  In about 15 seconds, almost every one of the several hundred people there was running for cover.  It's okay, I probably would have just detracted from what was already said! 

After the rain stopped, the meal was served.  That took quite a while, because there isn't really an efficient way to cook for over a thousand people.  Nor is there a really great way to order the kids and serve the food, especially when you don't have over a thousand plates/bowls either.  But the volunteers and adults made due very well.  After a couple of hours, everyone had fed, and enjoyed it immensely.  The guests were invited inside to "take" their food in the office.  It was my parents' second encounter with nsima but their first encounter with goat.  They were good sports and took some nibbles.  Nothing too extreme.  The food was tasty and we all had our fill. 

After that, we walked up the hill behind Bright Vision, or atleast a small part of it.  The view from up there is really spectacular, and gives a 180 degree panorama of the surrounding area from about 300 feet up.  My mom and dad both made it up the hill, nice work mom and dad! 

We came back down and hung out for a while.  There was a lot of good time to spend with the kids, with the adults there, and the volunteers who work so hard.  Yami had a really good time playing with the kids, and he also loved crawling around in the dirt (that's my boy!). 

We ended up departing around 4pm.  The day was really special for everyone there.  We only hold two of these special celebrations a year, at Christmas and at Easter.  Because the greatest gifts ever given, within the greatest story ever told, have their highlights at those two places.  The human advent of God's redemption plan at Christmas, one that was waited for since Adam and Eve in the garden.  Then Christ's crucifixion and resurrection at Easter that was the completion of God's redemptive plan for mankind (well, the story isn't exactly over :).  We hope that people in attendance understood fully why all this effort went into the giving, the planning, the purchasing, the cooking, the singing, the waiting, the visiting, the preaching.  It's all about Christ, and His story that we celebrate.

A day out at Bright Vision

Our old kitchen, a thatched covered 4x8 foot structure

This past Saturday, the 17th, Stanley and I took a trip out to Bright Vision for a meeting with Morias, the foreman who we've hired to build the kitchen that is being sponsored by Evergreen Baptist Church San Gabriel Valley. On the way, we made several stops to purchase food for the Christmas celebration that Evergreen is also sponsoring on Christmas Eve. We bought a couple hundred pounds of rice, a bunch of SOBO drink concentrate, a lot of salt and cooking oil, and a new pot to help cook for so many people. It was good time to spend with Stanley in the car picking things up and driving out to Chamadenga. We got there, unloaded the stuff, and went into our meeting with Morias. The meeting was very good. We put together a plan that has us starting in mid-March and ending in mid April. He seems like a really good guy, competent and honest.

The reason for this blog entry is actually some thoughts from after our meeting. I was sitting outside waiting for Stanley to finish meeting with some of the village heads (Stanley's very diplomatic with these guys even when they are frustrating to deal with). The Saturday feeding program was going on and I was watching hundreds of kids waiting in line for their turn to get food. They let them go to get their hands washed in groups of 20, and from there they head to the line to pick up their bowl of nsima and beans. Well, head to the line is an understatement...they are sprinting to the line! These kids are desperately excited to get food.

They're so excited, that one girl had her food knocked out of her hands onto the ground, twice. I escorted her to the front of the line after the second mishap for a third bowl of food. I resumed my post watching the kids line up to get food. Two small kids of about 5 years old went to the site of spilled-food-#1, and started picking the beans up from the ground and eating them, dirt and all. They were that hungry.

Other kids were eating part of their food, then putting some of it into a container that they could take home. At first I was thinking: "Who's going to eat this food when they leave? They shouldn't be taking it home with them." About two seconds later, I'm thinking "Who cares!? There is no way that we are going to restrict these kids from taking their extra food home with them when they are so hungry." We are getting to that time of year in which families in the village are eating one meal a day, and are fortunate to have something to eat with their nsima (the corn-based mashed-potato-looking stuff that has almost no taste).

My next thought as I surveyed the hundreds of kids there: "Are we doing anything to help this place? These kids are getting meals that will tide them over for several hours, maybe even a day. But this hunger is just going to continue." Stanley said on the way out "We grow maize every year, but the hunger is still with us." I was thinking then, these four hundred or so kids are going to have kids of their own in 15 or twenty years, and there will be more mouths to feed growing up in the same poverty that is existing now.

So needless to say, I was standing there watching these kids, feeling quite helpless. These hundreds of meals are being provided twice a week in the feeding programs, and hundreds more in the nursery school each weekday. I will not allow myself to sink into pessimism or negativity, because with God there is always hope and joy. But it was sobering to watch and think, and then pray about what to do.

I don't have any answers yet, but would appreciate your prayers for wisdom as we go forward. What do we do to meet this massive need? Thanks

He has a great laugh

Becca has a couple of girls over on Mondays for discipleship/hanging out. Kristen, on the right is a missionary kid whose parents are with the Assemblies of God in Malawi. They're from Nor Cal. Nell is of the Spencer clan, ABC missionaries the past 22 years. This video is from two weeks ago, and Yamikani is a real ham when it comes to the camera. Enjoy

10 Days in with Yamikani

What we can tell so farHe might be a bit of a mama's boy

He's going to be an animal-lover

He's gonna' be a baller

He'll help with chores

He will be a scholar

KID CAN EAT!!!!!!

Top three issues we have with Yamikani:

1) He has bad morning breath

2) He has blown poop out of his diaper 4 times now, resulting in: laundry, gagging, spraying with hose, and "ewwww."

3) Waking up at very random times in the night. No pattern. He's on his own clock.

But these are dwarfed by the joy and excitement we have. Some highlights:

1) Rocking him to sleep on my chest.

2) Playing ball with him: soccer ball, basketball, tennis ball, whiffle ball so far.

3) His happy moods after eating when he laughs and plays and entertains.

It's been exhausting, but the good kind; when you know that you're tired for a good reason. It's definitely a new step in God's sanctification of my heart away from selfishness, impatience, and pride. Thanks for your prayers for Becca and me.

An abridged case for Christian Rap

If you don't know who this is, then you probably aren't into the Christian Rap scene. This is Lecrae, one of the most popular and influential Christian Rap artists in the world. He and four other members of Clique 116*(see note at bottom) from Reach Records (Atlanta) were in Lilongwe yesterday on one of their stops in the "Unashamed" Africa Tour. In short, it was a great night!

So some of you are reading this thinking: "Christan rap? Is that some kind of paradox? I thought all rappers were uneducated gangsters whose songs not only sound the same, but all talk about the same thing: sex, drugs, money, power. I don't like how they dress, how they act, and that whole culture of hip hop." For those of us ignorant enough to think that this line of reasoning holds any water, this post will not be for you. You've probably already started to get defensive or you've already navigated away from this URL. Maybe not...read on!

I got turned on to Christian Rap by one of my best friends in college, Robert Neighbours. In those days it was Cross Movement, a group of guys in Philadelphia. I was attracted to their witty, poetic, Biblically solid, and passionate lyrics talking about Christ's gospel.

It was extremely refreshing to see (and hear) these guys reclaiming a genre of music that is so often used to express what was listed above (sin), for the glory of God. Some people argue that the urban culture which includes rap music is just all wrong, usually because of what we see on TV or the news. But the urban culture does exist, and it is not going anywhere. Thus, rap music is a God-given means by which artists can reach the culture for Christ, and transform it to be conformed to Christ's image. It's not a whole lot different than artists using the "rock" genre to reach people who like rock. Remember that rock used to be seen as "of the devil" about 50 years ago (this still persists among some super-conservative corners of Christendom, ie ABEKA publishers). But now countless bands use this music to not only express the gospel in their lyrics, but share the gospel at their concerts (Third Day, Kutless, Switchfoot). Or like using sports (which can be the course of idolatry, celebrity worship, greed, and unrestrained competition) to provide a platform to share Christ with people who would otherwise be closed to even hearing about Jesus (Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, short term mission trips from Flood in 2004!).

A year ago, I got a Lecrae record, "Rebel", which is one of my favorite albums across any genre of music. I was so impressed with their unflinching faithfulness to Scripture. Album highlights for me:

Don't Waste Your Life- I'm thinking a play on John Piper's great book with the same title. Don't waste your life on all the stuff our world tells us to, but give it for God's glory

Go Hard- Living hard for Christ's sake and not backing down in timidity from the challenge of the world.

Identity- Speaking against our identity being found in external things, and instead, finding it in Jesus.

The Bride- Talking about the church, in its imperfections, still being God's chosen vessel.

So when Lecrae was coming to Lilongwe, I figured I should go. I'm not a big concert-goer, so I was most interested in finding out how these guys would articulate their Christian faith through the concert. Would the emotion and energy and "culture" get in the way? I went with Becca, some colleagues, several students from the academy and a bunch of college students. I kinda' hung out in the back, reserving my limited dancing skills (all based on goofy white-guy interpretation of good dancing) for the few people behind us. The show was high energy, and the guys were very entertaining. They did several songs that people knew which sent the crowd into hysterics.

So how'd the group do with keeping Christ at the forefront?

-They prayed at least five times in the two hours they were on stage.

-They had interludes between pretty much every song, preaching about Christ in their lives. Some of these interludes centered on: "You may think we're superstars, but we're not. Jesus is the one you are looking for." "We challenge you to be unashamed of the gospel even if it's going to cost you a lot." "Many of you need to stop doing some things that you're doing now, like sleeping with your girlfriend and getting drunk." "Going to church, reading your Bible, coming to this concert does not make you a Christian. You have to believe, and follow Jesus as your Lord."

- Lecrae stayed on stage at the end and shared the gospel, faithfully and with personal transparency, for 15 minutes straight. He walked straight through the first chapters of Romans and recited Scriptures that condemn all of us as unrighteous. Then he offered the Hope that is found in Christ, His death and resurrection. He repeatedly asked for silence, and for people to realize that this was the most important thing that would happen during the concert. I was so stoked! At the end, he asked people to head to the back if they wanted to pray with someone (organized by Flood church in Malawi). I'd say at least 80-100 people went to the back to pray with someone.

So I was a Lecrae fan before, but am now a Lecrae supporter as well. He and the guys in Clique 116* are being faithful with their considerable gifts, to the preaching of the gospel around our world, and most recently in Africa. Isn't that the call placed on all of us? Praise God for saving us, and then sending us to lost people. We would do well to be challenged and encouraged by these guys, however different they may be from us, who are living out the gospel.

*Clique 116- The name comes from Romans 1:16 which says: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." 

Alison's baptism at Youth Camp

So this blog isn't about me getting caught sleeping midday at our last youth camp in April. I am only slightly embarrassed about the fact that Pastor Matt took about 8 of these pictures with several of my students from school posing next to a napping me. This post is actually about the most recent youth camp, and the baptism that involved the young lady in the blue shirt.

Alison is a missionary kid whose parents work at Partners in Hope, a large HIV/AIDS clinic in town. They lived for seven years in Ecuador before coming to Malawi, at Shell (think End of the Spear, Elizabeth Elliott, Nate Saint). They're in their third year here in Malawi and Alison and her two siblings are in the high school at ABCCA. The reason why I am talking about her is that she got got baptized while we were at camp. She had been wanting to for a while, and met with our Pastor to see if she was ready to make this commitment. She was, and it was arranged that the youth worker who leads the Friday night youth group, would have the honor of baptizing Alison.

Her parents came out for the time on Saturday afternoon. We all gathered on the shore and Pastor Matt shared some words about baptism; mostly its Biblical basis and what it symbolizes. The youth worker then explained the three questions he would be asking Alison (he even had notes on his arm so as not to forget!). The two of them went out into the water, and after answering the questions in the affirmative, Alison was dipped below the water and brought back up to thunderous applause from all of us on shore.

I'll be honest, I don't cry very much. Last high school soccer game, last college soccer game, at the end of Rudy, when the dad's standing for his son during Facing the Giants(I know it's kinda' corny), oh and during my wedding when I was crying through most of it. Well, add the baptism of Alison to the short list too.

I think the significance was that we don't take vows all that often, nor do we see people do it. For the most part, it is during weddings. There is a certain amount of solemnity when we promise something to another in front of a group of people. There is a certain value to ceremony and formality, though it is not absolutely necessary to make something sacred. The importance is in the sincerity of the act, the Truth of the words, the joy that follows.

Alison's baptism was a public promise of her faith in Christ: a serious and ceremonial promise to follow Jesus as her Lord and Master forever. The reality of this profession was already solidified in her heart a long time ago, but this baptism did exactly what it was supposed to do: publicly proclaim that faith and encourage her brothers and sisters in Christ. It was special to see one of my students take this step, and also to know that the fruit in her life bears witness to her identity as a daughter of the Most High God.

Summer 2011, St Louis

If you scroll down the page a good ways, you'll see a picture of me (Kellen) with two handsome young guys in a blog post talking about discipleship. On the left is Jon Jon, and on the right is Joel. These guys graduated high school in 2009 and 2010, and are now college students in the states. This past summer I got to see them both.

I was a groomsman in Jon Jon and Lauren's wedding, and so was Joel. The Spencer family was kind enough to fly me out from Malawi to St Louis for 9 days to be in the wedding and with the family. The crazy thing is that David got married the day before. A weekend of weddings!

So the other guys in the wedding were Joel, Anthony (Jon's college roommate), TJ (a missionary kid from Canada/Malawi), Justin (Lauren's brother), Aaron (a friend from HS in St Louis), and David. TJ's brother Mitch was also there for the weekend. A family down the street from the Spencers offered their home for wedding guests to stay in, so it ended up all of us guys staying in a fully hooked up house.

What a rich time it was with these guys. It was my first time meeting Anthony and Aaron, but it's easy to see why they are some of Jon's closest friends. They are solid, fun guys. The other guys I knew well already, and it was a sort of reunion with many of them. TJ and Mitch's family, the MacLeans had returned to Canada from Malawi in 2009 so it had been a couple of years. Dustin Berger, a friend from Malawi who worked with Children of the Nations, was also there (which was nice, to have someone else in the house who is a few years removed from college).

Some highlights:

1) We had a day to float down the Meramec River in canoes, which was highlighted by a riverside lunch, swinging on a sketchy rope into the river, and a really good talk with Mitch, my canoe-mate. I was very encouraged by his growth as a young man, his plan for heading into the University of Toronto, and his desire to return to Malawi.

2) We watched the Cardinals lose to the Astros, my first trip to Busch stadium (it's okay though cause they're World Champs now). It was quite a group of us there, and I got to sit next to Jon the whole game. Frozen strawberry lemonade was worth the 7 dollars, considering it was about 90 degrees and humid at 8pm.

3) I had an early-morning breakfast with Jon at Einstein's bagels to talk about marriage, and figure out some ideas for a wedding-day present to Lauren. It was funny, I felt like this was the last time I would meet with Jon Jon in this capacity as a mentor. He was getting married a couple days later, joining the ranks of married men. What was so encouraging with Jon is that he is ready for this solemn and blessed responsibility of being a husband. His desire is to serve God and serve Lauren. Praise God!

4) Spending time with friends and family of Jon Jon in the hospital two nights before the wedding. He had an allergic reaction to some food, then had a panic attack. So he was ambulanced to the hospital and we hung out there until the early hours of the morning. Gotta' admit, it was scary. We all did get to spend some good quality time together in the ER!

5) Staying up til about 3am the night before the wedding helping Nell Spencer finish off the wedding cake. It ended up slightly tilted, but it was beautifully decorated in handmade, edible flowers.

6) Spikeball in the midday heat. It's an awesome game that I'm really mediocre at.

7) Time with TJ and Mitch at the St Louis airport over Starbucks. They treated, and we were able to chat for about an hour before departing.

The weddings both went well, and without any hiccups. It was special for me to hear Jon and Lauren promise each other their love for the rest of their lives. There is something very serious about these public declarations and being there to hear it and see it myself was very special for me.

The week was one of the most special for me in a long time. There were so many meaningful conversations in such a short period of time. I don't know when the next time will be that I get to hand out with those guys from the wedding. We're pretty well spread out, in Georgia, Florida, Canada, Wyoming, and Malawi. I treasure their friendships and hope there will be another time soon.

Amao Orphanage

We've been sending updates about our adoption process, and several of them have included an orphanage called Amao located near Kasungu (the town of Mtunthama) about 1.5 hours north of Lilongwe. So here's a profile of Amao:

Reverend Frank and his wife Eunice were posted to Mtunthama trading center 15 years ago, for Frank to tak the pastorate there in the Anglican parish. In the past 15 years the church grounds has grown to hold a fully functionioning hospital, school (in partnership with the government of Malawi), and the orphanage. How we're connected with it is through Eunice (who graduated from ABC several years ago) and their adopted daughter Rosemary (who is an ABC grad and now works at the ABC Community Clinic). Becca first visited Amao with Rosemary in 2006, and we've been four times now in the past few months.

In our visit last week we got to hear more from Pastor Frank about how the hospital, school and orphanage began. What an encouragement it was! Frank and Eunice lost a child to malaria several years back, mostly because they could not find the medical care that they needed. There were no hospitals in the area that could adequately treat their daughter's advanced illness, and because of that, she passed away. They had known that there was a great need for medical care in the area, but it had now become incredibly personal. They decided to start building the hospital, without knowing where they would get the money to complete it. A church from the UK jumped into help them complete the building and it has been functioning now for about a decade. They are the only maternity care in a 60km radius, and have just completed surgical theaters. The orphanage began out of Frank and Eunice's home, with church members also taking kids in as needed. When the number of kids grew too great, they decided to build Amao, which now houses about 50 kids, ages 3 months to 17 years. The older kids help with the chores and cooking, as well as taking care of the younger kids. There are also several of the orphans who are taken in by church members in the area. The majority of the financial needs of the orphanage are taken up by the church, with just a small portion coming from outside donors. The school started because there were kids at the orphanage who needed a good school to go to. They started with Form 1 (9th grade) and went from there. Now they are producing some of the best students in the area, with Amao kids claiming the top spot in several of the grades.

I was blown away by the faith of the curch community under Pastor Frank's leadership. The challenging circumstances of life presented them opportunities to step out in faith to fill huge needs; medical, educational, social, and spiritual. It is very evident that God has blessed their faithfulness. I believe that what is going on at the Anglican parish in Mtunthama is a model of how the church should be taking an active part in ministering to the community. Pastor Frank has been adamant that the local church be actively and sacrifically invested in the financing, building, and sustenance of the various ministries. We do so appreciate what's going on tehre and look forward to a lasting relationship with their family and Amao.

The heights, and the depths, at Bright Vision: sorry it's a long one

(You'll understand the picture choice if you make it to the end)

So on Saturday, July 2nd, we headed out to Chamadenga with a large group. The Faith Baptist team from Texas had arrived the day before to spend time with Jeff and Carson White (fellow ABC missionaries) and see about local ministries that their church could be involved with in the future. Along with the team were several students from ABC who are acting as liaisons for short term teams this summer. As our coaster pulled up to the center, we were met with lots of handshakes, singing, and some dancing from the ladies. After a short tour we had an assembly of sorts, with all of us visitors up front and the kids doing performances: mostly of the musical sort. We started the feeding program just after that, and the 14 on the Faith team were super helpful with washing hands, preparing food, and serving. It was a nice to see them jump right into the controlled chaos that is a Saturday feeding program. There were a lot of kids, around 400 or so. It was a special meal since we got to serve goat and greens with the normal nsima and beans. After that, a couple of soccer balls came out, and an adventurous group headed up the hill to gain a better view of the surrounding area.

The heights: During the morning assembly, the kids were sharing songs with us. I had requested that the children's choir from Ngala CCAP church would come and minister to us. They did, in a big way. There was a young girl, about ten years old, who sang a song that was, for me, the most meaningful part of the day. It was a solo, in Chichewa, which at first just repeated the same phrase over and over again. As she was singing, she moved into the group and brought one of our college students, Clifford, to the front, singing all the time. Once he was there, she shooed him away, and Clifford went back to his chair. She went and got another student, Patricia, brought her to the front, and then shooed her away. Then she did the same with Becca, and finally with me. She kept singing this same prhase that she had been repeating throughout, for the few minutes that it took to get us four up and back to our seats. Then, the phrase suddenly changed, and she grabbed a Bible, and held it above her head and was singing a new phrase. I finally understood the message of the song and was brought to tears.

A student got up to translate for as "mzungus" and said this: the first phrase she was repeating was saying that she was looking for someone to help her, thus she brought the four of us up to see if we would be able. She found that we were not enough. Finally, she had found Jesus in the Bible and He was enough. What made it even more significant for me was who she chose: The college students will be educated Malawians who will be able to help their own people with their lives. Becca and I as foreign missionaries and the primary financial supporters of BVOC. None of us are enough, no matter how much we give of our time, energy, resources, or love. Jesus is the only one who can fill our deepest needs.

It was a wonderful, yet brutal, reminder of the fact that I cannot save people. Becca and I will continue to minister to the needs of people in Chamadenga through Bright Vision, but we must know that Jesus is the only all-sufficient Savior. This is the heights of BVOC, as we strive to offer hope in Christ.

The depths: I share this story with you because it's funny, and it's very humbling. If you get squeamish with bathroom humor, then avert your eyes.

Before our hike up the hill, various folks were visiting the toilet (which is not a toilet but a hole in the ground over a pit of nastiness). So I took my turn, and walked into the guys side. I should have taken time to let my eyes adjust to the much darker interior of the bathroom, but instead I decided to step directly into the hole with my left leg. So Iwent down, but thankfully the hole is just about 8 inces square, so I stopped about mid thigh. It all happened pretty quick, and I pulled my leg out really fast, but there was no hiding what I'd just done. The guys outside said "Are you okay in there?...Did you just fall into the hole!?" I thought about telling a serious fib, but decided truth would be best, and admitted to the blunder. As I took care of my #1 business, I noticed that there was a smallish pile of feces on the front of the hole: apparently a mis-aimed drop. As I gathered myself to face the questions outside, I noticed a few marks on my pants. I came out to assess the damage. The guys were laughing pretty hard as I looked down to find greener-than-normal poop on my pants. A couple of minutes later I had drenched the area with water and tried to scrub it out a bit with some grass. The story quickly got around and there were some good laughs shared with my new friends from Texas. The hike proceeded as normal (just me being a bit self-conscious about the big wet spot on my pants and the still visible "tread marks").

Upon reflection, there is much to be grateful for: 1) I was wearing pants, 2) I escaped the fall without serious injury (just a jammed pointer finger and scrapes on my leg), 3) I learned a valuable lesson on moving from bright to dark lighting situations, 4) There wasn't more nastiness on the edges of the hole, 5) The pit was not full, 6) I was knocked down at least a rung or two on the pride ladder which is always good (here I thought I was semi-athletic and coordinated enough not to do something totally embarrassing like stepping into a poop-hole).

All good things to be grateful for, but still a visit to the literal lowest point at Bright Vision.

ABC Lions: End of the Year

On a Friday back in June, the night before college graduation, we had the soccer team over to our house for a movie and time to honor the seniors. So I had gotten a soccer jersey for our seniors and had written a charge to them as they were graduating. I read the charge which was really a prayer of commission and blessing for the guys, and I hope that it's something that they can reference in the future. Then we did a surprise unveiling of the jerseys, and the guys really went crazy. I'm not sure if it was the fact that it was for their favorite EPL club team, or if it was just the emotion of the night, but it was really funny. Everyone ran up front for a picture. I was laughing so hard and enjoying their excitement. Then we said some encouraging words to our outgoing athletic director, Derek Breuninger, who had done a great job over the last couple years getting the athletic program really moving in the right direction. We gave him a Malawi flag, and once again, it was picture time with the whole team! I am very grateful that it was a good way to send the guys off to the holiday.

Other good news with the ABC Lions: 1) Our new athletic director, Jeff White, worked with some folks from his church and college soccer team back home to raise money for new jerseys and a team set of soccer balls. We joke that we could quite possibly be the best outfitted team in Malawi (besides maybe the national team). Now we just have to make sure our game measures up. 2) Jeff has also been doing a lot of thinking on philosophy of our sports department and I'm excited to see how it gets implemented this next year. His hope is that we really push the teams into more outreachto the community, and make sure we keep our priorities straight while playing sports: Honoring God with our athletic endeavors.

Chifundo and Chisomo at Ngala CCAP church

A few weeks ago my Auntie Reine came to visit us for a week. She was in South Africa at the Cape Town 2010 conference for world evangelization. A perk of her trip was that she'd also be able to visit us in Malawi after the conference. The Sunday school classes that she works with at Evergreen Baptist Church (where her husband/my Uncle Cory pastors) have been collecting offerings over the past few years to send to the kids at Bright Vision. So while she was here, her biggest desire was to head out to Bright Vision for an overnight stay. We would attend the feeding program in the morning, then hang around BVOC for the afternoon and evening. In the morning we would be attending Ngala CCAP church (Church of Central Africa- Presbyterian).

A few weeks before, we had attended Ngala with Ian Nagata (worship pastor from Evergreen), and as the visiting pastor from the USA he was asked to preach the sermon that morning. He did a great job, and seemed totally unfazed by having to stop after each phrase for the head elder to translate into Chichewa. So, for this visit it was my turn to fill the pulpit.

The church service starts at 10am-ish. The -ish means that it starts at about 10:30, or whenever the people have gathered, the visitors have arrived, and the elders actually walk into the room (a small primary school assembly hall). There is a side for women and a side for men, and the women's side is obviously more packed than the men's side. The pulpit up front is decorated with a hand-sewn piece of fabric and some funny-looking purple flower things in cups. The church elders sit up front along with the guests (us).

For this Sunday, since they knew that visitors were coming, there were two different choirs who performed during the service. The first was a choir of children, from ages 8-16 who sang one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in Malawi. When we get back to the States this Christmas, I'm going to try and upload it on here so you can listen to it. A young girl of about 10 led the song with a piercing, high-pitched (in the best way) voice that left us floored. The women's choir was also very good, and added lots of movement and modest dancing to their songs. I think that all of us would agree that the most special time of the service was the singing from these choirs. It was tough to get up and preach after these brothers and sisters had sung so richly.

So I preached on Ephesians 2:1-10, a passage that I have been going back to over and over again for the last several months. I've used it in a devotional talk with the Northstar kids on our retreat back in May, and taught through it a few weeks ago with our youth Sunday school class at church. Besides presenting it, just thinking about it a lot. If you can, grab a Bible and take a look at the passage. It's one of the best "Gospel in 10 verses" that I've found in scripture. It draws such a stark and appropriate contrast between 1) what we deserve as a result of our sinfulness, VS. 2)the undeserved love and grace that God lavishes on us through Jesus. The Lord led me to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 to try and express the concepts of mercy and grace portrayed in Ephesians. God witholds judgment in his mercy (Chifundo in Chichewa). But he then, also, expresses his grace (Chisomo) by making us sons and daughters who have eternal life through faith in Christ.

Please, take some time to read and reflect on this passage from Ephesians.

We hope to visit with the people of Ngala CCAP church every couple months, and maybe I'll be preaching again. It is a privilege to share fellowship with Malawian Christians in such a small, rural setting. It must have been an especially profound for my Auntie. She had just spent the last two weeks in Cape Town with over 4,000 Christians from every part of the world with some of the biggest names in evangelical Christianity attending. The last Sunday of the conference, the entire congregation took communion together, the culmination of a week of preaching, worshiping, conversation and networking that will hopefully spur on evangelization of the world for the next few decades. A week later, my Auntie Reine stepped into a crowded primary school assembly hall with about 120 villagers in rural Malawi who don't have running water or electricity in their mud-brick homes. God's kingdom extends from Cape Town to Chamadenga village and His presence is as real here as it is anywhere else.

Praise God, He is Truly Glorious.

Retreating from the normal...to the lake

So back in October, I had requested prayer for a weekend retreat that we took with the Northstar kids (grades 10-12) at our school. Last year, we organized this beginning-of-the-year retreat hiking up a local mountain and staying in a hut with no electricity, no water and having to carry all of our stuff up a hill for the weekend. I thought it was great, but the kids opted for a more luxurious and comfortable location this year: a church owned cottage right on Lake Malawi.

Thankfully as we become more experienced putting these retreats on twice a year, it becomes easier to organize all the details. I use a schedule similar to the one we had last year, use a packing list that changes very little, and find vehicles that can get us there. Becca and I plan the menu, do the shopping, and pack it all up. The biggest challenge in preparing is the actual devotion/messages that we give during the morning and evening times of worship. We had brought together an all-star cast of staff to go along: Brian Carlisle, our new principal; Katie Dinwiddie, our stalwart math teacher; Ian Nagata, visiting worship pastor from CA; Becca Hiroto, need I say more; and me (they just bring me along to drive;). We were planning our weekend topics and settled on the "I AM" statements that Jesus makes about himself in the gospel of John. We divided them amongst ourselves and went to work prepping.

It was an exciting time and I believe that the time was very meaningful for both the staff and students. We enjoyed great food together; spaghetti Friday night, hot dogs and baked beans Saturday night. We had some fun washing dishes together, especially since we got shocked every time we touched the faucet or water coming from the faucet (due to faulty wiring). We played some rousing games of Nerts, Stratego, and War. The lake provided plenty of entertainment, as well as a cool reprieve from the hot and humid midday. We went on a long walk to the sand dunes just a mile away and played freeze tag in the water for about an hour. We enjoyed very little sleep, and when we did sleep, we were in a state of passive sweating. We may have played the most passionate and lively edition of the "paper game" (Taboo, charades and one-word clues combined to form a wonderful game) ever experienced in Malawi.

But the common experiences weren't he only significant stuff happening. Each of our four group meetings were deep, thoughtful and worshipful. Ian and Nate worked together to lead us in some great worship songs. Each staff member shared about one or two of the I AM statements and challenged the kids to not only recognize the validity of these statements, but the implications of each one in their lives. Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life, Good Shepherd, Bread, Light. If this is true, what do these specific statements do to change our relationship with Him? I so appreciated the talks because they went straight to the heart of the matter; our need for a personal and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

I must say that the retreat took a lot of energy to organize and put on, but it was all worth it. We look forward to seeing the fruit of this retreat in the months and even years to come. How grateful we are to serve God with our fellow staff at the academy.

Back in Malawi

Our new neighbors, Georgia and JJ

It's great to be back in Malawi. Though we had a great time at home in California this summer, it's good to be back at the work here that God has for us. A couple nights ago, Becca asked me "We've been back two weeks now, but doesn't it seem longer?" I had to agree. It seems like we've been back in Malawi for much longer than 17 days. I think part of the reason is that our first week and a half of work was incredibly intense. We jumped into work at school the morning after we arrived and didn't raelly stop for a break until Sunday for a brief respite. The few days before school and the first week are always quite busy, but this year seemed to be exceptional. We've now settled into a bit of normalcy, for which we are very grateful.

It's been a very good start to school with our upper school staff team. We've got a few new teachers, Jen Jackson for science, Jeff White for history, Mike Ammentorp for language arts and Joy Mwanza for French. We have returners too, Katie Dinwiddie for math, Titus Lloyd for computers, and Mwizaso Khonje for Bible. I'm teaching language arts for ninth grade again and it's a really fun group of kids. Right now we're reading Bruchko by a missionary named Bruce Olson who served and lived with the Motline Indians in South America. I tell my students that this guy was a little bit crazy for God. He endured things that make me cringe including disease, capture, and lots of lonely days/nights in the jungle. God blessed his faithfulness and perseverence, and brought many of the Motilone people to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

We have a new headmaster, Brian Carlisle. He's teaching a world history class to the high school kids as well as Bible for my Northstar group doing their work online with teachers in the USA. I've really enjoyed him thus far and appreciate his experience and wisdom. He has his Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Covenant College in Georgia. He has a deep understanding of a Christian philosophy of education and it's been nice to talk about it as well as think about how we can integrate Christ into the middle of everything we do as a school. He'll be around a few years so we look forward to his continued leadership and mission-minded approach.

We've been hanging out a lot with Jeff and Carson White, a new couple from Texas. Jeff is teaching at the academy and college, while Carson is working at the clinic as a nurse. Jeff and I have been working out together the past couple of week and we've already had three rousing games of "Settlers of Catan" in the past week. We've got them hooked. Jeff's got a pretty cool Texan accent and even wears cowboy boots to school. He's a fellow college soccer player so I definitely like him. Becca really enjoys talking with Carson, their most recent time being at a staff-student volleyball game where Nacho decided to take a wee on the gym floor! Thankfully I was wearing two shirts, the one underneath doubling as a rag. Gotta' do what you gotta' do.

It is great to be back with Nacho too. He's as loving and friendly as ever and we're glad that he stayed well over the summer. Thanks to the Trumbles taking care of him!

Reflecting on Discipleship

Last week, during our ABC Christian Academy staff orientation, our new headmaster, Mr Brian Carlisle, asked everyone to introduce themselves and tell us about a teacher who has inspired us growing up. There were lots of good examples shared around the room and when it came to me, I actually chose a campus pastor with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship from my days at USD. His name is Scott Schimmel and during my freshman year he asked me to meet with him once a week to talk about faith, keep me accountable, and encourage me in my pursuit of Christ. He met with me the next few years usually in the coffee shop at the bottom of Maher Hall. I was a groomsman in his wedding, he was in mine, and skipping a few years ahead, we recently met to play tennis and talk in Danville. The reason that I decided on Scott, was that he chose to serve me by investing time and energy and prayer into me at a pivotal time in my life. I credit much of my spiritual growth in college to these one on one times that we spent together during college, and his continued concern for me several years later. This was one of the driving forces behind my decision to study education in college and from there to head to Malawi, where Becca and I are now. I wanted to teach, not so much because I could impart the knowledge and skills associated with social studies, but because I'd have the opportunity to invest, time, energy and my abilities into the spiritual, intellectual and social growth of my students. I knew that through the relationships formed at school, I'd have the chance to invest more deeply in young men; to encourage and challenege them to be more like Christ, just like Scott did for me.

As I've been working with youth in a Christian setting (at the academy in malawi and also with the youth of Bridges Christian Fellowship in Riverside) the past five years, that desire has only grown and deepened. It excites me to see young men and women making decisions that honor God and serve the people around them. Becca and I get a big grin , and my heart beats just a little faster, excited that these young people are choosing the hard, but best way. Let me give you a couple examples:

- Jon Spencer is going to be a sophomore at Covenant College in Georgia. He is a missionary kid and a guy who I've invested in a long time. Last year as a freshman, Jon and I met regularly via skype, mostly for me to ask him questions about how he was doing, encourage him in his faith and devotions, and give him advice on any number of things. When he visited at Christmas and in May/June, we got to hang out a lot (and he was a lot stronger with his weight-lifting). Throughout the year and during those visits, I was so excited that Jon had gone to college and stayed on track. He was, and still is dating a wonderful young lady named Lauren who we were privileged to meet a few months ago. They are making good decisions together and care for each other deeply. I'm excited to see Jon studying scripture and spending time alone with God.

-Cayla Ries is also a sophomore, at the University of California in Riverside. She is a young lady who was a junior in the youth group at Bridges for that year we were home in Riverside. She was one our student leaders and has continued to grow and mature these past couple years. Becca and I were close with Cayla and her family, and I'm glad to say, we still are. Well, during our time home this summer, we only got to see her a few times because she was in Pasadena with Intervarsity's summer Urban Project. When she got back, we got to hear from her about the summer, and how has been transformational for her. The passion she shared with was enough to give me that big grin and thank God for working in her life. God is growing in Cayla a heart for the urban poor, and perhaps giving her direction for the future as well. Becca and I were so encouraged that she is continuing a passionate pursuit of loving God and serving others.

Those are just a couple of examples but the list could be much longer, to includ kids like Ronnie Dawson, Daniel Allen, and Joel Dehnert. I'm excited to that they are investing their lives in what God has directed them to, whether that is serving at a Christian summer camp, leading an Intervarsity bible study, or joining the Marines.

Last week a new missionary named Michal van Rensburg came to meet me. He was in orientation too and was encoruaged by my sharing about Scott, and his investment in my life. He has been thinking about this lately also and recently heard a pastor say that "Wherever we are, God has placed us there to invest in the people around us for God's kingdom." The question is, who are the people God wants us to pour our lives into? I think if we seek God's direction, He'll make it clear sooner than later.

2009-2010 with the ABC Lions

Each year, during the first week of practice, there are a few things that I like to stress:

1) We are a team that values hard work, technical ability, team ethic, and Christian character.

2) We will be fit, so be prepared to suffer through long runs, sprints, plyometrics and strength training.

3) We will compete against each other but when we leave the field, be quick to give and ask for forgiveness for any wrongs done to each other.

4) We need to have a purpose for our time out here beyond fun, exercise, and winning. It needs to be about character development as Christian, sharing Christ with our opponents, discipline and self-control, and mutual encouragement through our shared fellowship.

Okay, so that's more than a few. If guys don't pick up on these right away, they do later on through our training, our games, and our talks.

Spending 8-10 hours a week with the college guys playing soccer is an absolute privilege. Ever since I was 5, and slipped on my first pair of soccer cleats, I have loved the game. Pretty cool that my parents signed me up for it when they didn't even know the rules. Then they drove me to all those practices and tournaments, and came to watch all of our games at USD in college. Soccer's a big part of how God brought me here to Malawi. It's a joy to share this passion for soccer with the guys at ABC. The great thing is that it goes deeper than just soccer too. We're friends and we're brothers in Christ who will encourage and challenge each other to be more like Jesus as we play.

This past year was probably the most successful that ABC soccer has ever had. Since I've been here, just five years, I've never had such a talented team. Two years ago, we were good, but this year we just got better. Out of our 20 plus games, we lost just two. We play teams from all over; other colles, social teams, village teams, and even professional teams. Since we're not in a league, we set up friendly games for Friday or Saturday and go from there. Though our matches always start late and we never have a good ref, our guys maintain a great attitude and respond well to my very limited attempts at coaching.

Highlights from the year:

1) Going to Bunda College (who have a reputation for being very good and very obnoxious) and hammering them 5-2 on their field.

2) One of guys, Chimwemwe, broke his leg during a game back in October last year. Though is was a real bummer, it brought the team much closer together. Visits to his dorm room, prayer times for him, and helping him get around on crutches were some of our sweetest times as a team.

3) Beating the youth team of a local professional club, the Silver Strikers, 2-0.

4) Prayer times before games with our opponents.

5) At the end of the year, the guys initiated a prayer and worship time for Mondays before training. It came as a result of a few leaders on the team realizing that we needed to keep God at the center of what we do on the field. I was so excited that they brought this forward. We're looking forward to Monday devotions continuing this year.

6) Watching late night Champions league games in the student center together.

7) Pre-game meals in the cafeteria, especially on Friday because beans, rice and mustard-leaf spinach are on the menu!

Lessons learned:

1) The guys don't mind running but they hate pushups and abdominal training. There's only one guy who doesn't mind and he used to be a soldier in Malawi!

2) My guys expect me to play in the game with them. I tried to limit my playing time last yaer, but the captain and vice-captain were quick to ask me to return. I'll be honest, I don't mind one bit.

3) After these games, I realize that I am 27 years old, on my way to 30. I hurt a bit afterwards and usually the next day too.

4) I am much more a player than a coach. I don't always have the answers for our tactical deficiencies, and I can't always make the right subs at the right time. But the guys are gracious and since I played Div. 1 soccer, I guess I'm the most qualified guy around.

5) I'm so grateful for these guys, their commitment to Christ, and their willingness to include an azungu like me in their lives. I am very blessed.

Home in California

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in LAX to an enthusiastic greeting of family and friends! Our parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends were there to welcome us with warm hugs and smiles. It is so good to be here. We will be home in Ca for 6 weeks, spending 3 weeks in Riverside and 3 weeks in Northern California with my family. We look forward to spending quality time with everyone and eating lots of good food! We will be going back to Malawi August 8.

More updates to come!

Kellen and I and his parents at the airport.

Kellen and I with some of the Hiroto Cousins at the airport who welcomed us with beautiful cards, song and hugs!

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas...

After an exciting Christmas morning with the Spencer family and their eight kids, we headed out to Bright Vision to celebrate with the orphans. We joined them in a festive meal of goat, rice and cabbage and then a game of football. It was a different Christmas than we are used to in the states, but meaningful to share it with the Malawians in this way.

On the day after Christmas, Kellen and the ABC football team had a tournament game in a nearby village. We arrived to find a hard, flat and dusty red football pitch and the village members crowded along the sidelines. It was an exciting and hard fought game, but with bad reffing, a rain storm and slippery ground, ABC lost 3-4.

My super athletic and talented husband also recently played in a golf tournament for the Junior Golf Association of Malawi and won a weekend away for the longest drive (377 yards!). We were very fortunate to be able to drive to Zomba Plateau about 4 1/2 hours away and stay in a luxury hotel for 2 nights. As you can see, we hiked around the top of the mountain and enjoyed awesome
views of God's beautiful creation.


We were welcomed back to Lilongwe today by a massive thunder storm. We enjoyed the cool weather and welcome rain for the crops. Nacho, who is usually unbothered by the storms, hid in the shelf under the table in our living room to sleep in peace!