Alli's week

Praise the Lord, I am feeling much better than last week and hopefully I'll go from strength to strength. I am so thankful to have felt better, because Alli had a really rough week. She woke up on Tuesday morning with a high fever. She was moaning and so we took her for a malaria test. It was negative. She continued with very high fevers and was lethargic. Eventually she saw a Nkhoma Hospital doctor who suspected a viral infection, but we monitored her closely because sometimes malaria "hides". This afternoon her fever came down. It's still not normal but at least it finally broke. We missed her smiling face around here and Lord willing, she'll be herself soon.

Dizzy Doll

I saw the doctor yesterday here on campus and he thinks the headaches and dizziness may be from my positive test for tapeworm in the US. We weren't treated for that in LA because they did several tests and they came back negative except for the one. This US doctor who has worked in Zambia for 17 years said it's better to treat it so that it can be ruled out completely. The lower abdominal pains I have had this week are probable post surgery pains and I just need to hang in there. I have now completed the prescribed dosage to kill "the worm" and am hoping that the headaches and dizziness will go away.

"Pain is God's megaphone to a deaf world!" C.S. Lewis

Little discouraged

I have not been well the last couple of days and was telling Bied about how discouraged I feel. Just when I thought things were beginning to get completely back to normal, I started to get those same pressure headaches and dizziness again as well as the tingling in my feet, hands and face. I haven't had a 'body drain" (where I feel like all the energy is drained from my body and I can't do a thing) since the first week we got home.
Yesterday, however I had a mild "seizure" (we still don't know what they really are). We're calling them that because it was the same thing my body did in January. Bied reminded me that January was only a couple of months ago and that it will take time to heal. Please just pray that I would endure patiently.

My sister and I were talking today about what really should discourage us, and that is our sin! Every day is a gift by God's grace. "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." We should rejoice in the fact that heaven is our home and that because of God's grace those who truly believe and repent will know Him for all eternity.

Also, we know friends who are going through much more difficult trials in their lives and seeing their steadfastness in these times has been encouraging to me. God's will be done. He will use it all for His glory. He is faithful always.

What you got?

A neighbourhood gathering at the end of our driveway.

Baby birds. Our neighbour's gardener chopped down a banana tree and a nest full of fledglings came down with it too.

There were three little chicks. Guess what happened to Bradley's bird that he was going to raise til it was five and teach to fly? Benja killed it.

Twinkle Toes

Allison will be 10 months tomorrow! She loves moving from one furniture piece to the next. She has grown so quickly over these past weeks.

Naptime

is supposed to be in my bed, but these books were more interesting...good thing I have a comfy carpet on my bedroom floor :)

Easter Break...

...is over now and so it's back to ABC Christian Academy for Ami. She joined in at Kindergarten and is slowly getting used to the idea of being at school in Malawi. Although, if you had to ask her, she'd tell you flat out that she enjoyed school in America more. I am still getting used to the idea of not having her at home with the rest of us, however when I have had the odd not so good day, it's been a relief for me not to feel the pressure of getting school done. Her teacher for the rest of this year is a delightful lady and we're thankful that Ami could join her class. If you remember, won't you pray for Ami, that she'll adjust well and do well too.

The face

Finally, a picture capturing the most recent really funny face that Alli pulls! So cute.

He is risen!

"He is not here for He has risen, just as He said." Matthew 28:6
Brian preached from Acts 9:20-31 this morning. He entitled his sermon 'The Difference Resurrection Makes'. I love hearing the Word expounded. Such a balm and encouragement for the soul.
Charles Spurgeon said, “The resurrection of our divine Lord is the cornerstone of Christian doctrine. Perhaps I might more accurately call it the keystone of the arch of Christianity, for if that fact could be disproved, the whole fabric of the gospel would fall to the ground.”

After church the kids looked for candy-filled plastic eggs in the backyard. Last week Bradley had prayed, "God, please help us not to love candy." Some people would say, "Poor kids, it's that mother of theirs..." However, in my defense :), it's a good thing that they are learning that too much of most things is bad for you. Today, they probably overdid it.

And no the Springboks weren't playing a game or anything...those were the only matching shirts we could find and since the girls wore the same, the boys just had to, too :)

Potjiekos

Some friends from church enjoying a braai and potjie together at the van der Merwe's home.

Hanro and Steve. Both these men are on the leadership at our church. Hanro attended the Shepherds' Conference in LA and was so encouraged.

Matt and Rachel Floreen (our ministry partners) are expecting their first baby in August. At the braai they decided to do the Austin T. Duncan test... Get a spoon and a fork. Wrap both up individually in dish towels. The expectant mother must not see which wrapped utensil is placed on which chair. She enters the room and takes a seat of her preference. If she sits on the wrapped fork then she is having a boy and if she sits on the wrapped spoon then she is having a girl.

She sat on a spoon. Now we'll just have to wait and see whether the test is true.

Visitor from LA...and books

Reading with daddy. I love catching moments like this. These kiddos LOVE their dadda.

Reading with uncle Matt.

Kevin Edwards who is the missions' pastor at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley visited with us and the Floreens for a few days. He arrived from Uganda on Tuesday March 30th and left for LA on Friday April 2nd. It was good to have him in Lilongwe again. He and his wife, Jill are a real encouragement to all the missionaries from Grace and were especially kind to and supportive of us during our recent medical trials. They along with their three boys served in Russia for many years and so they know what it is like to live in a foreign country. Their hearts are for seeing God's Word go forth to the uttermost parts. Kevin is sitting at the head of the table.