Independence Day

Happy Independence Day USA and Malawi. While we celebrate this day in the U.S. on July 4, Malawi celebrates its independence on July 6. This is 45 years as an independent nation. This is a national holiday—everything is closed.
The crowds are gathering at the stadium for a day of festivities and there were thousands of people already in line early this morning. What a great day.

We have met several other missionaries here in Malawi who are from the U.S. We had a couple of them over for dinner on Saturday night. That was great fun to talk with other Americans. This group of people have been here about as long as we have but we went back to the U.S. in March and they did not. I had Jamie send me a package of flour tortillas back with Bishop Stephano when he returned to Malawi last week and we got them in time to make enchiladas for dinner on Saturday. Our friends absolutely loved it. They said the one thing they had been craving was Mexican food. We figured that because we know that’s the one thing we cannot find over there and that is what we *really* craved when we landed in the U.S. So, we used our one package of tortillas and made enchiladas. I also made a homemade chocolate cake because finding good cake over here is absolutely impossible. It was a great time.

Today, we are going to the airport to help another American missionary pick up her team that is arriving from the U.S. So, more contact with people from the U.S.

The kids at the orphanage are doing well. We’ve replaced the fence around the orphanage as grass fences don’t last forever. This time, we used bamboo mats as fencing and it is much stronger. The carpenter is also building some bunk beds for the kids so soon, they may not have to sleep on the hard, cold concrete floor. Thank you Lord!!!

The two new young girls have integrated well into the orphanage. Hope and Eliza come to the car to greet us with the other children now and Hope always thinks I have something in my purse for her. (Well, I usually do. I carry fruit snacks with me and all the kids know it.)
Thanks for your prayers and your support. We love our time here and are very grateful that the Lord placed us here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else right now……………..even if it is cold.

Hope you all had a great independence day. We’ll celebrate independence day here in Malawi!!