my kids are being deprived

There is something that can gnaw at me....even worse than the pesky mosquitoes of Africa. It's these little nuisances called "thoughts".

See, before we relocated our family {to the other side of the world}, a few well meaning people suggested that what we were doing was actually going to harm our children.

Satan LOVES to use seemingly "harmless" comments to fester in my mind until they seem to take over every thought. And I HATE that I let him do that to me.

Here's a little smorgasbord of thoughts that have been popping up lately in this ol' brain of mine:

"Man, my kids are really missing out. Baseball season has started and it looks like we will never.play.again!" (dramatic hunh?)

"my girls seriously would LOVE gymnastics, too bad we'll never be able to go to lessons"

"all of our friends are "graduating" to the next grade with cute diplomas and character awards to boot. My kids are stuck with me for a teacher in a class of 1."

"our cousins are on swim team this year, it'll be a miracle if we remember how to swim next time we get to the water.

"wow, every parent on Facebook is taking their kids on special field trips, playgroup dates, and enrichment activities. I don't think my kids have left the compound in a week."

and on and on.....it becomes really easy for my brain to throw a pity party about how deprived my kids are. When the brain goes, then my attitude goes. It ain't pretty.

And then, I  have to remind myself that Satan is a big fat liar!  I have to make an effort to preach some truth to myself.

Because in reality, this is what I honestly believe and am trusting God for with my kids:

my kids are getting to experience another culture, which is really cool. 

my kids get to see people worship God who don't look like them, talk like them, worship like them or think like them. they are learning that God loves ALL people and speaks ALL languages. 

we hope that our kids will learn that when you read the Bible and love Jesus, it requires an action. 

they get to see the Bible come alive here on a daily basis- widow's mite, woman at the well, prayer meetings that last all night, people who trust Jesus for every basic need.

they are growing a deep compassion as they play with friends who go home to a drastically different living conditions then what they (my boys) have ever seen before.

they are learning that they have a roll of caring for the orphan and the widow.....even at 4,6,8 and 9. 

they are learning that when you follow Christ (oh so imperfectly) that there is sacrifice, but deep blessing.

they are learning that sometimes it stinks to be the only person in a group who "sticks out" and hopefully that will develop into a compassion to include all.


they are learning to become each others best friends (slllowwwwly but surely)

So, even if we are missing out in cheering for our favorite catcher this season, I am trusting God that He will use this time in their lives to develop fruit in them that will last for eternity. 

6 fingers old

 It was a week full of birthdays with G & E having birthdays 3 days apart. 

One year, I may combine their birthdays, but this year, we knew they each NEEDED their own special days.

This was E's first birthday with presents!

She was so excited she could hardly stand it.

She requested cinnamon rolls for breakfast, grilled cheese for lunch, and pizza for dinner.

We had friends over and opened lots of gifts!

She was more than willing to pose for her birthday pictures!

This girl amazes me, she catches onto things super fast and tries really hard at everything she does.

She is a really good sport and can laugh at her self...I think that is such a gift.

I love how brave she is, how willing she is to open up, love and forgive others.

Coming into a new family at 5.5 years old is really hard.

She is the definition of courageous!

Nakupenda, we LOVE you!

At 6:

Favorite Color: pink

Favorite movie: Cinderella

Favorite Food: Grilled Cheese and Cinnamon Rolls

Favorite drink: Fanta

Favorite thing to play: Circle, Circle and Tag

Favorite Friend: Limbani and Eneles

Favorite thing to do with mom: "to help cook and to walk with you"

Favorite thing to do with dad: "help daddy"

Favorite Bible Story: "when Jesus come back alive"

Favorite subject in school: journal

What you want to be when you grown up: a Princess

EIGHT

I sound like a broken record every birthday, but it is true, birthdays are so bittersweet for me. 

I love to watch my kids grow and become more independent. 

Love seeing their interests develop and their minds' expand, but man, it is going by fast, crazy fast. 

My baby boy turned 8 last week.

He has a BIG heart and has always been a little partial to his momma.

I love how silly he is and how he lives to make people laugh.

I can always get him to show me his true grin in photos by saying, 

"Mr. Ramsbottom" or 

"I just did a boom-boom" (Despicable Me 2) 

or any other potty talk really. 

He can spend hours drawing.

He likes to play outside with his siblings and his friends.

He has always been super affectionate.

Happy Birthday buddy, we love you so much it hurts!

8 year old interview:

Favorite Color: red

Favorite movie: Kung Fu Panda

Favorite Food: French Dip

Favorite drink: Orange Fanta

Favorite thing to play: Wooshu (sp?) an African kids game

Favorite Friend: Isaac

Favorite thing to do with mom: draw

Favorite thing to do with dad: draw

Favorite thing about living in Africa: all the new games

Favorite Bible Story: King Josiah

Favorite subject in school: Reading

What you want to be when you grown up: an artist

Internship at Esther's House- A Guest Post

*I am excited to have my very first ever guest post! I am glad it is Seth too, because he is pretty special to our families here at Esther's House. I asked him to share some of his experiences as he completed an internship in Malawi.*

Hey Everyone! I am Seth Adams. I was a 2-month intern in for Esther’s House in Malawi. Hopefully I can give another perspective of life over there and maybe this can convince some of you to jump on board the ministry to support and serve.I have been home for a little over a month and find myself missing Malawi everyday. The experiences that I had over there have changed me forever and have deepened my conviction of serving in Africa. 

God placed a vision of using the tools and abilities he has gifted me with over in Africa at a young age. I was saved in the early part of my life and was given the calling of serving him for the rest of my life in middle school. Throughout my high school days he shaped my heart and willingness to serving the people groups in Africa. I believed that my call was to be a full-time missionary but the Lord didn’t have that in store for me in the immediate future. He still needs to teach, shape and mold me into the man for His purposes. He placed in front of me civil engineering, which is the study and design of elements within the physical world. This includes water, structures, soil and how they all work together. I believed that this major would be a huge asset on the mission field. I held this vision throughout college and it got me through the tough 4 and a half years of school that I had at the University of Arkansas. Throughout my college years I was led to Cross Church where I was able to serve and teach in the student ministry there. That is where I was able to meet the Carney family. I taught both Braxton and Ethan within my youth group. The boys were an absolute joy to teach and I have enjoyed watching them turn into the Godly young men that they are today. I was able to be a part of their transition of them moving to Malawi. From the moment I heard, I knew that I was going to go over there to serve with them. Since Africa had always been on my heart, I felt as though God was leading me to an opportunity to understand the true depth of the calling he has placed on my heart with missionaries whom I had already developed a relationship with. Which led me to my two-month journey in Malawi. 

My journey began with me boarding that long plane ride over. I got off the plane and was greeted by Jason and the boys and was surprised at how green and pretty everything was. I was able to go over in the rainy season, which is when everything is green and growing. There were mountains everywhere and it was honestly breathtaking. We drove back to the Carney house, in the Boma (city in Ntcheu), and I was able to meet the Wilson family. It seemed that instantly they opened up this missionary life to me and we were a team. God couldn’t have placed two better families there to work together to accomplish the vision that God has set before them. After dinner we drove to Esther’s House, where I stayed on campus with the 9 residential kids and the Wilson family. When we pulled through the gate the kids were on the porch waiting for us and I got to meet them. The kids instantly melted my heart. Through my time there I began to learn that they are regular children with their spouts of disobedience but its impossible not to love them through it. The first morning I woke up early to their laughter and went out to play with them. This seemed to be a trend for the rest of the two months in between work.  In the days to follow I began to work in my focus areas. I was sent to do a water study of the nearby wells. I was to make recommendations on the wells that required maintenance and the areas that were without a clean water source and in need of well to be drilled. I also was sent to assist in the medical treatment on the Esther’s House grounds. I began to learn that missionary life is a 24/7 job, which requires everything and pushes you outside of your comfort areas to accomplish God’s purpose. I was trained in engineering, with no medical training, and performed medical tasks that made the blood drain from my face, but was required for the children within our service. Missionary life will make you uncomfortable but for every uncomfortable moment, the Lord carries you and supplies you with what is needed to accomplish each and every task. Though those two areas were my focus at the beginning, it began to change as different needs arose. That included maintenance around campus, teaching a bible study class and some administrative tasks. One of the most rewarding ministry opportunities was being able to show the Jesus film in some of the nearby villages. That was an incredible opportunity to see the gospel translated into their native tongue and the 350+ people at each event share in an opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel. While participating at each event, God made certain things very evident to me. Watching the 350+ people standing and attentively watching the Jesus film in Chichewa, I was reminded of how big our God actually is and how often the gospel can be taken advantage of. We have the gospel so richly intertwined within our culture that we can become numb or detached from its true power and what implications it should have on our lives. The other truth that was revealed to me is that our God is not a God of boundaries or nationality. He is a God to all people and all nations.  For me, when faced with these truths, it changes the way that I see our God and the way that I worship Him.  

{showing of the Jesus Film}

Through my time there, I was able to gain life long friends in ministry with the missionary families as well as the Malawian friends that I was able to serve with. The journey has changed my life and I was able to gain a much better understanding of missions and the responsibility that all Christians have in ministering to the world. Missions isn’t a calling that only some believers are a part of but one that every Christian has on his or her life. John Piper describes missions this way, “Go, send or disobey”.  That we either go to minister to the world, financially support those ministering to the world or sin through our disobedience in not participating in the mission that all Christians are charged with. So I pray that you join this ministry in supporting financially or giving up your time to go serve alongside these missionaries while they minister to Malawi. You will never regret this decision and you will be an enormous blessing to this people group. I personally am counting the days until I get to return but until then will continue to look for opportunities to serve the missionaries and the people of Malawi back in the states. 

To Market, To Market......

I think it is safe to say that shopping in Malawi provides an entirely different experience than how we previously shopped for food in the States!

 

3 hours to the North and 3 hours to the South of our village are big, bustling cities with groceries stores galore. You can find many familiar items that tempt your taste buds, (except chocolate chips...sigh) including dairy products!

 

Oh thank you South Africa for producing and shipping milk, butter, yogurt and cheeses galore to our little country.

 

I could just bear hug you for that!

 

And as much as we enjoy the occasional times that we are around the big city to grocery shop, my favorite shopping experience, by far, is the local market.

 

Here is our favorite little market that is right next door to Jason and Lacey's.

 

 

I love shopping outside with all the noises, smells and colors.

 

 

As the weeks and months go by, you never know what you might find at the market.

 Currently mangoes have fizzled out and limes, lemons and avocados are plentiful.

 

Each little shop has fun surprises and I love knowing that what I purchase was grown and handpicked by the owner.

 

Sometimes when you are shopping, it starts to rain.

It is the rainy season after all.

You just cozy up under an overhang and hope it passes quickly (and that your camera doesn't get wet).

And you watch your kids dance around in the rain and splash in the puddles.

 

The market is such a picture of community.

This woman is my friend.

She always sees me and yells, "ahh, sister!".

Then she proceeds to speak to me in Chichewa and teaches me how to reply.

 I ask her if she has peanuts and she replies, "no". So, I buy carrots instead.

Then I tell her "Tionana mawa", which means "see you tomorrow" and she laughs and shakes my hand and repeats it back to me.

 

If  the produce salesman is in a good mood, we might receive a "prize" in our sack.

A prize is an extra piece of fruit, pile of beans, or cluster of onions thrown in free of charge. 

 

We stroll down the aisles and buy our produce, watch men play games outside the shops, smell the grills sizzling with roasted maize and buy all the kids a Fanta.

 

It's my kind of grocery shopping.

FOUR

Our little "brown bear" turned 4 today! 

We are having so much fun celebrating on the same continent this year!

All the "firsts" are THE best!

I love how she always puts her shoes on the wrong feet.

You would think it would feel funny...nope!

We love her sillies and her sass.

We love her spunk and all her affection!

When she is happy with you, she'll say, "mommy, you good!" while she gives you a big thumbs up.

We love her BIG laugh and how she can crack herself up over anything!

So, so happy to celebrate this big day with her!

She is such a GIFT to our family!

 Favorites at Four

Favorite Colors: Pink and yellow

Favorite Movie: Cinderella (we're still holding strong!)

Favorite Food: Pizza and Cake

Favorite Drink: Fanta

Favorite thing to play: Cinderella

Favorite Friend: Limbani

Favorite thing to do with mommy: make chocolate

Favorite thing to do with daddy: tickle!

What do you want to be when you grown up? "to school"

Skills Classes

It is our deep desire at Pure Mission to see all the children that we touch at Esther's House become leaders in their country. We want to give these kids the support, opportunities, and tools to live out whatever God's plan is for their life. One way we are seeking to do this is through skills classes.

 

Every day after school, our 9 residential orphans and 50+ community orphans trickle onto Esther's House campus for tutoring and spiritual development. In a village where movie theaters, skate parks, and shopping malls are non existent and extra curricular activities at school are null and void, we really wanted to offer the kids something fun and educational they could be involved in on top of their tutoring classes.

So, at the end of January, we introduced our 6 classes to our children:

Construction

Drama

Sewing

Hair Braiding

Bible Skills

Agriculture

 

The kids had a few days to decide on what class they were the most interested in and at the end of the week, we let them sign-up. Sign up day could have been re-named "high attendance day" because no child wanted to miss their chance to scrawl their name on the sign up sheet with excited fingers!

 

 

 

It was fun to see all the boys that signed up for sewing class! Love how in Malawi you see many men sewing at tailor shops. Esimy and Miles have been teaching the kids how to use the foot pedal sewing machines. Today, I saw some older children sewing bags, whereas the younger children were learning how to sew a straight line using construction paper. Sewing is such an important skill to learn in Malawi. It can be used to help mend clothing in your family and also can be used as an income generating skill or occupation.

 

 

Hair braiding is one of our most popular classes!

Debra asked for mannequin heads so that her students could practice braiding. We searched high and low and none could be found. So, she creatively thought of making "heads" with scrap material and sewing the hair onto the material...genius! The girls are learning different types of braids and we hope to offer services to the village (kinda like beauty schools in the US) once we get enough practice. For now, the girls are having a blast and practicing their fine motor skills.

 

Bruce is doing a fabulous job teaching drama to his eager actors.

They are working on their theater presence and will be presenting a Gospel based performance out in the village at the end of the term.

 

 

 David has a class full of eager boys who are anxious to learn the ins and outs of construction.

In a culture where you build your own house, these are very practical skills for the students to learn. They have leveled and fixed every door on campus and are going to be learning how to lay tile next.  Never seen a more excited bunch of boys walking across campus with their power tools.

 

 

 

Seth is an intern with Pure Mission currently.

 He has been helping teach the Bible Skills class. We are wanting our children to know how to spend time with God, how to use their Bible and to grow a passion for Bible Study.

 

Mr. Jiles is teaching our Agriculture class. 

The young children have been learning the life cycle of a plant and will be building boxes to plant their own seeds in.

 

 

We have many older kids who attend evening classes at school. We are also offering several classes in the morning for these students so they do not miss out on learning a skill. They have been here early each morning ready to go!

 

 

We are excited to see the classes up and running. We have seen an increase in our attendance each day. We are also using Skill Classes as an incentive for going to tutoring. The kids understand that they have to come to tutoring on time if they want to participate in their much anticipated Skills Class. We are hoping to offer new classes and let the kids sign up for different activities each term. We can't wait to see how these classes equip our children for their futures.



 



SIX

Guess who has been with us for six whole months?

 

 

These pretty girls!

 

In some ways, it feels like it was just yesterday that we were meeting the girls for the first time.

 

In other ways, it seems as if they have been a part of our family for much longer.

 

Last night we had fun looking at pictures of the 3 weeks that we spent in their home country.

 

It was fun to hear their perspective of that time, now that they are little English speakers.

 

The pictures reminded me just how FAR we have come in the last 6 months.

 

Can't wait to look back at year 1.

I know it will just keep getting better and better!

So blessed to get to be the momma of my four.

Do you still have a blog?

I have been getting asked that question a lot lately, so I figure it is time to dust the cobwebs off this ol' blog of mine and give a little update.

           Here are some very random thoughts about life since I updated last.

• In August, we brought home our two daughters! It still feels so surreal at times that we are done with the waiting, the aching, the constant changes in process, the paperwork..... and our girls sleep under our roof each night; simply amazing!
• In October, we moved to Africa! Lots of adjustments all at one time and we are still working on becoming a family of 6 and transitioning to a new culture. But, here we are almost 3 months in, and there have been some HARD moments, but life is good.
• For the first time in 9 years, I am a working mom! That has been a bit of an adjustment, but my husband is THE best and we are constantly working on how to balance it all. Even though some days are tough, I LOVE what I get to do. Advocating, loving on, and helping these kids here is really the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. My absolute dream job!
• I am a mom to FOUR kids. This has been  dream of mine for soooo long. But, I gotta admit, the reality of that dream kicks my tail most days. It is getting easier each day and I can see glimpses of what life will look like in my future, but man, zone defense is hard somedays!
• We really like our life here in Africa. I love the pace of life, the culture, the people. I love what my kids get to experience, the relationships we are building, the adventures we get to have. I am so thankful that God called us to this.
• I hurt my shoulder sometime around Christmas and it can't be fixed where we live, so I had to come back to the states....solo. Just got home New Year's Even. This has been a big bummer as I miss my family terribly. Tomorrow I have a Dr. appointment to see what the problem is and fix it. Already have seen God at work in so many of the details.
• I don't like to fly...still. One day, I hope I can be that calm, collected person reading their newspaper, or better yet, sleeping as the plane ascends to 30,000 feet off the ground. But, for now, I am just that sweaty girl with the knots in her stomach, gripping the arm rests for dear life.

yup, very random. Can my excuse also be that it is 3:30AM (dang jet lag) as I am typing this?

Here is to hoping I can blog more regularly in 2014!

 

 

Our Adoption Video

Wrote the name of this first song down in 2010 when we started the adoption process.

My friend Jackie H. had it in her adoption video of her son Miles and I absolutely loved it!

My heart is just bursting with thankfulness to God for His faithfulness in bringing our family together.

We needed these girls just as much as they needed us!

This Love by Mandi Mapes

I’ve never felt this way before
funny how you found you’re way to my door   
and suddenly my prayers are coming true
and these arms are not letting go of you

this love this love is the deep kind
you’re my baby, you’re my sunshine
I’ll hold your hand, be your biggest fan
and I’ll love you all of the time

our eyes are not quite the same shade
and your hair blows in the wind a different way 
but I am your mother and 
I love you just the same 
so I’ll take your hand honey 
and you can take my name

my heart has been redeemed,
adopted and now I know my Father
this grace that I’ve received 
I want to show you
I want to show you

this love this love is the deep kind
it hangs on through the storm and the sunshine
I’ll hold your hand, be your biggest fan
and I’ll love you all of the time

© 2010 Mandi Mapes

Song #2 "Least of These" by Audio Adrenaline

Photos at the end in the yellow/gray were taken by "Your Life in Stills Photography".

School is in Session!

 

After Labor Day we decided we needed to get started on this whole school thing.

Add some structure to our day.

 

 

 

 

 

{yup, verdict is in, I officially have the cutest class}

 

 

Even though our curriculum is currently residing on another continent, we are making the best of it.

My little sister (ESL teacher) brought me the mother load of ESL (English second language) ideas and curriculum for the girls.

 

We are getting the hang of it.

 

 

 

About 2 weeks after we started school, in which I had been calling school "shule" (Swahili), Esther informed me on a random Sunday morning that school in Swahili is actually kafunda (sp?).

Pretty sure she will be the teacher by the end of the year.