The big 5!

Our baby girl had her fifth birthday in Zambia. We can hardly believe how big she is. We celebrated when we returned to Malawi and she and Bradley will have a combined party next week. We are so thankful to God for her. She is a real sweetheart.

Second birthday in Malawi. 5 years old and very excited about her first bike.

Her first birthday in Malawi. She turned four and we had a princess party.

This is her 3rd birthday in South Africa at the Spur.



When Ami was two, God graciously allowed her to live after Brian accidently drove over her with his car. She had no injuries, eventhough she was pinned underneath the car with her little knees on her chest. God also protected her while we were involved in an attempted hi-jacking in our garage. HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

Two years old.

Here she is sitting on the traditional Biedebach Family First Birthday Table!

Precious gift from God- one day old.

African Safari

Open vehicles.

Brunch in the bush! We didn't know that we were going to have this treat. It was amazing. Dining with the hippos and crocs.

Ami especially enjoyed sitting between 'aunties' Pam and Ramona. The kids enjoyed their time immensely.

Less than 25 miles per hour...

This is a very, very good road!

The roads we travelled on to South Luangwa in Zambia were so bad that it seemed forever before we got there. On Thursday night(9:30pm) last week Brian said, "I think you and the kids should get up at 4am and come with me and the team to Zambia tomorrow". The team had planned their debrief a while back and it was decided then that the kids and I stay in Malawi because of the long drive and various commitments I had. In the end, we did go with and it was fantastic! So fun to spend more time with the team and to be together as a family. I suppose sometimes it's better just to pack and leave instead of getting oneself all stressed with the planning and packing for a trip.

Tom amd Lisa Hatter, with Benjamin as mascot.

We stayed at Mfuwe Lodge. This was our chalet. There are no fences and the animals are right outside your window. Brian saw an elephant while he was in the shower.


This is the waterhole from our chalet. We saw crocodiles and hippos here.

Team picture minus Phil Chang. We miss them already!

Medical Mission

This was the last village that the team worked at and is about five minutes from our home. These ladies are standing in line waiting to see the doctors.

Dr. Ted working together with Chin-Wei at the children's station.

Jim Baxa who is a physical therapist is helping a man with exercises to relieve pain discomfort- I think that is what he is doing.


Sarah and Suzanne questioning this gentleman about medications and pain he experiences.


Allen is an EMT. Here he is taking this woman's blood pressure.

Chin-Wei examining a young boy.

Amanda and Lisa distributing medication.

The village.

Going to visit the team in the village opened my eyes again to the poverty and desperateness of this country. I thanked the Lord for
the beautiful home with running water that He has provided for us. We are so blessed. My prayer is that these people will take the tracts they were given and read them and that Christ would draw them to Himself. What a joy it was to hear this team sharing the truth of the gospel with these village folk. THY WILL BE DONE.

Ecstatic!

Ami, Bradley and their friend Sarah Rose.

Our kids enjoy jumping on our neighbor's trampoline. Ami and Sarah also visit the tramp to revamp their hairdos!

Frangipani

This is an obtusa frangipani tree, which the kids love to climb. At least the fall to the ground isn't too far :) Frangipani flowers are highly scented during nights and often used in bouquets. They have a tropical essence. The flower is propeller shaped with a delicate yellow center melting into the creamy white outer petals. In the summer these are just beautiful. Bradley often gives them to me to put in my hair. I shall post a picture when they are in bloom.

Snap Shots - Malawi Medical Team

A very tired team! They have worked so hard. It's tiring being in the hot African sun all day trying to communicate with and 'fix' people who are very ill.

Jeff and Kristil Dalrymple. He is the team leader.

Benjamin being carried 'malawi style'.

This is Suzanne's second birthday in Malawi. She and her husband Jay, were on the team last year.

So glad you were willing to spend it here again serving the people of this country.

Danny, Dave and Dr. Ted

All these guys were with us in South Africa in 2005.

Danny and Dr. Ted have been on all three medical missions' trips to Africa from GCC.

This is the chapel where our church meets. The medical team took up a couple of rows.

Phil Chang helped to lead the music at our church.

The entourage of much needed 4x4 vehicles for entry into the villages.

The team used seven vehicles to get around.

Some of the team at the breakfast table with the kids. Seven of the ladies on the team babysat our children so that we could enjoy a date night. We had a fanatstic time-our babysitters on the other hand, had pandimonium break out.

Upon Request...more pics of the house

We are still "moving in". We haven't hung any pictures yet, but we'll get there.

That's Brian reading on the couch-not just some leg. The light fixtures were a gift from my mom!

They look stunning.

Here you can see where our "TV" is and also my desk.

This is where we sit to watch a DVD. We do not have television-which is a blessing! AND plus Malawi only has two channels, both in Chichewa. They only got TV in 2000.



This is the diningroom/living room

Just missing them...

I really miss my family. I miss my dad and mom! I miss Martin and Linda too. It's sometimes so hard to be away from them, but it's also a reminder to me that God is in control and He has placed each of us where He has us, for His purposes and glory.

These pictures were taken in South Africa(Feb 2008) when we had a SURPRISE visit from my sister, Linda and her children from the UK. Her husband, Grant was unable to join them because of work obligations.

Opa and Nanny with the grandkids.
Bradley, Julia, Benjamin, Ami and Ethan.


I have also learned that I need to be thankful for luxuries like email and skype. I need to let loved ones know how much they mean to me AND I need to pray for them. Eventhough, it was especially difficult this week to be away from the laughs, the hugs and the closeness of family. I am glad that God has made me aware of how grateful I need to be to Him for the blessing of my precious family. Lord willing, we shall each other soon.

School at home for a year.

We have officially completed our first week of our first year of homeschooling!
There aren't great libraries around and resources are limited. Email connection is slow and not always good. Because of these reasons we have decided to purchase a curriculum which is complete with guides and books. It has been great so far.

A friend of mine, who is also not sending her child to school yet, and I decided to start a morning fun activity together once a week. Others began to show an interest and we now have 5 mothers who have joined our group. We started out with our four kids and now we have 10!
At least each mom only has to prepare an activity once every 5 weeks.

Water Babes!

It is so hot here now! Everything is dry and dusty. Brian put up this pool which we bought in South Africa. It has been so refreshing.

Ami is especially affectionate with her baby brother.



Bradley is quite a big boy! One of the team members thought that he was four.

Miles of smiles.