Jambulani Africa!

i'm here in malawi, just finishing my first week.
it's been amazing, and i'm sorry the update hasn't come sooner.
this will be short because of a bit of a time shortage though!

i finished two weeks at the Kruger park base doing construction work and kitchen work - lots of awesome physical labour! and the following week, we basically met a LOT of incredible people who really spoke into my life & blessed me mainly just because of God's love radiating in them. it spoke to me more than any words. we took care of their babies, so i basically had 15 1-2 yr olds to watch with a few others the whole week crying for their mummies. soo.. you can imagine the resounding cries i heard in my sleep that week! we tented it too, so i got used to the tent life and actually enjoyed it! thank God, He spoiled us and blessed us with MATTRESSES! how ridiculous is that? but God cares about the little things so much! i've learned that more and more throughout this trip.

we trucked it out to Johannesburg for one night and said goodbye to our base leaders and other staff and the people we'd befriended at Kruger. we stayed at Joseph Project - the YWAM base in Joburg, after a long trip from the bus station to the base because of the copious amounts of ridiculous driving skills in the city! my word. haha... enough said.

we were so grateful that they put us up there - really great arrangements! and the next day.....ventured on our 35 hour bus trip from Joburg to Blantyre, Malawi. WOO. that was an adventure! i got a $65 charge for a VISA just to drive through Zimbabwe on a bus....apparently Canadians suck. haha.. i don't know! and we have to pay it on the way back too, plus a fee in Mozambique too. our bus driver didn't like us from the start and was constantly reaming us out - yikes. we did have some awesome people on the bus that encouraged us though. i threw up twice as the trip started - no clue why. once an hour before leaving Joburg, and then again 3 hours into the trip. there were tons of complications with borders and the driver was worried we'd be stuck in Zimbabwe - which we really really didn't feel good about, but decided to go ahead anyway - and God honoured that. we made it!
we also had a ridiculously awesome 5-6 hour border cross entering Malawi. so we got to Blantyre at 9pm last Sunday, unsure of what we were doing this past week or where we'd stay. thankfully the orphanage decided to take us early and let us TEACH at the school all week!
wow! it was amazing. i got to be an english teacher and meet some incredible orphans here.
it's really rural and i got to meet some adorable village kids when i went on a walk too. i got some awesome videos that I can't wait to show you all!

we've been eating nsima & cabbage & beans all week with the orphans here.. so tonight a family here blessed us with an amazing african stew and dessert! like i said.. God cares about the little things - even what tastes good to us! this family - the Uys family, has been a huge blessing and if they ever read this - thank you thank you thank you. like i said, you are treasures. no doubt about it.
i'm excited to start work in Lilongwe tomorrow with the churches there for two weeks, then coming back here to live in a village for a week. then because of financial situations, we'll be going back to Joburg for a week, then Capetown for a week, then back to Swaziland for my last two weeks! Let me say how HAPPY i will be to be at rest in one place for more than two weeks eventually!
(mom & dad, i mean you!) happy thanksgiving to all you Canadians - sad i'm missing it! but i'm in africa - soo.. i can't complain. :)
Neabonga Nkulunkulu for YOU! (I thank God for you!)
God's good and i thank you so much for your prayers, support & blessings!
I love you & God's love be with you, always!

love,

angelie :)