3 Weeks & Counting

That's right...only 3 weeks away from our departure! I really can't believe that we have been here for 10 months already...some days it seems like we have been here for ages. There is just so much about this country that I will miss...mostly our new Malawian friends...oh, what a sad day it will be to say goodbye. The only good thing about goodbyes is knowing that I will see that person again. However, the sad part is that there's no promise that we will be back to Malawi, at least any time soon.

So much to do in the next 3 weeks...selling our household items, packing up, saying goodbyes, doing a few last minute sight-seeing adventures, etc.

After departing Blantyre, we are heading to South Africa for 2 weeks. Ahhh, looking forward to sushi and seafood in Cape Town! We're mainly going to Johannesburg for a few World Cup games (if you watch the USA vs. Algeria match, look for us in the stands!)...but then off to Cape Town for some r&r! I'm sure we will have lots of stories and pictures to share once we return!!

**Oh quick random story. Our mission is hosting a marriage and family conference here in Blantyre this week. The speaker is a former UN ambassador and diplomat. He was on the transitional UN committee in South Africa during the regime change from the Apartheid government to the democratic government that they have now...can you imagine meeting Nelson Mandela in person!! Anyway, Dr. Adei came to our house the other night...it was so fun to have him around our table sharing stories from his UN days! What a memory!

Time Is Ticking

I can't believe that it has been 9 months since we first arrived here in Malawi! We are in the final stretch here...6 more weeks until we depart Malawi. Maybe you're thinking, "I thought they were suppose to be in Malawi for a whole year?"....well, its true, that was the original plan last year. However, with finances and the need for Jonathan (Kayla and Jonathan are our 2 close friends that we came with and live with here) and I to get back this summer and search for a teaching job before August, it worked out that we needed to arrive home in July. So we are looking at a departure date from Malawi on June 22nd. When we leave Malawi we head to South Africa for 2 weeks! We are excited to be able to catch some of the World Cup Games (especially the USA game in Jo-burg...U-S-A!) and to tour around Cape Town!

And the best part is when we land in the US on July 6th! We just cannot wait to see our family and friends again! What a reunion that will be. To think that I will be finally be able to meet my two nephews that were born this year...yeah!!

Departing Malawi will be a bitter-sweet time for sure. There are so many new friends that we have made here who have shaped our year and our life in tremendous ways. It's going to be sad to say goodbye. Be praying for us as we head into our transitional months ahead...I know that God has some exciting things in store for us next! Stay tuned!