Donkey Cart Caroling

It’s always busy here, but Christmas is an even crazier time!  The girls and I used our Christmas break to sew little tote bags for the kids at the Phokera church and simple sheep costumes.  The little lambs were adorable, and all the kids were excited about the bags with treats and gifts!

We also helped put together gift bags for the hospital and prison, but the kids and I didn’t go as we were completely exhausted.

I think one of their favorite things to do was to go caroling on a donkey cart.  But we were all tired by the end because it was about 110° that day.   

I didn’t think that it was possible to get everything done, but the Lord gave strength to do everything that we needed to do!

We have enjoyed watching the building of the church in Phokera.  It has been exciting to see the progress each week.  The men of the church molded and burned the bricks, while the women brought the water for making the bricks.  

Since they are made from mud, burning the bricks prevents them from melting away when it rains.  After they were burned, we all helped move them to the location where the church would be built.  

Everyone found the kids excitement to help move bricks amusing.  We were asked to move only 15 bricks…but they were going as quick as they could to try to carry more!  At the end, they chattered back and forth to see who moved the most. 

I love these guys!  They bring life and excitement into every area of life – and entertainment to the Malawians! 

The church was built so quickly!  There is still work to be done inside, but we were able to meet in there on Christmas Day for the Christmas service.  

The temporary shelter was taken down in Phokera and put up in the new village of Yamula.  We met there for the first Bible study this past Friday.  Because there were more children than adults and there wasn’t enough shade for all of the kids, they had us stay under the shelter while the adults met under the tree.

A few minutes into the lessons, it started down pouring!  The adults sitting under the tree were soaked!  We had to dismiss, but everyone is excited to have Bible studies start there.  

For a couple weeks things will be extra busy as we continue to attend the church in our village planted by the previous missionary on Sunday morning, then rush over to Phokera for services.  On Wednesdays we go again to Phokera then Fridays to the new village.  When the new pastor here is officially ordained, we will be turning it over to them and backing away.  

We have been evangelizing in Yamula to prepare for the coming Bible study there.  Last Saturday while Brother Shadrick was witnessing, a little goat was going around us.  Two little boys decided that they were going to catch it.  Running all around us, and trying to block the crying goat with their arms – they were adorable, but at the same time a huge distraction!  A few minutes after the little goat escaped, they started chasing chickens. It was hard to refrain from laughing! 

When Brother Shadrick was finishing up, another boy came with his pet.  All the kids surrounded him and his poor pet.  It was a baby monkey!  The kids were very excited about it!

Whether monkeys or snakes in church…life is never boring!