April 1-6 Easter Holiday started on Thursday. I went with Willeke and Reynier Ter Haars to Nkhwazi, a beautiful spot on the northwest shore of Lake Malawi which covers up about one third of the entire area of Malawi. It appears more like the ocean rather than a lake. The children rode the waves just like being at Myrtle Beach. There was a large rock formation within a short swimming distance that the children loved climbing and jumping off into the lake. It made a very high diving board. Trees were very close to the sandy shore line, and I enjoyed sitting in my chair in the nice breeze reading my book and watching occasionally as the children called my attention to special actions they were performing from the rocks, their rubber canoe, sand castles, etc. Our camping reminded me of the many camping experiences our family enjoyed on the west coast for so many years. This time though, I choose a room in the lodge and felt like the African Queen in the most attractive African décor with oil paintings in attractive natural-wood frames, furniture (sofa, chairs, and coffee table) made of logs with colorful covered pillows and cushions. The bed had its mosquito netting bordered with matching material of the bedspread and pillows and was tied back at each bed post with matching ties. I felt like the African Queen until I realized that I couldn’t call for my attendants to take care of the huge spiders I kept seeing creeping around. I did, however, enjoy watching the wild life around the camp - monkeys jumping in the trees, birds singing, dogs wondering around, otter, butterflies - and then there were, of course, the gnats, very small flies, a snake, ants, the same critters you see almost anywhere you camp. We were not bothered by mosquitoes.

I had my meals with Willeke and Reynier and their 6 six children (Geerton, Wianna, Jo-ine, Eva, David and Adam) and the Van Dykens (Canadian missionary couple, Carolyn and Scott and 3 sons, Nathan, Darrick, and Aaron). The children were great campers helping with all the work. The adults cooked and the children did the dishes without arguing.

Our Easter service was beside the lake. It reminded me of the many times Jesus taught the disciples and the multitudes around the sea of Galilee. We read the Easter story, sang and had prayers. The children offered many precious prayers for the service as well as for regular meals and for our travel time before and after trips. Our singing was good because the Ter Haar family is a little like the Von Trapp family. The family sings together in church at times. We all had a great time relaxing and enjoying the beautiful spot on the Lake.

We broke camp just before it rained. As we were traveling the very bumpy dirt road to the main highway we got stuck because it had rained during the night. We got out to push the van. We had an easy time with the pushing, but suddenly the heavens opened, and it poured down. Willeke was driving and afraid of getting stuck again so she just kept on driving leaving all of us in the rain until she came to a safe place to stop. We were all totally drenched, but no one melted!! We arrived home at 5:00pm on Monday after 4 days of great adventures.

The building of the second phase of the school which is being paid for by the Koreans is coming along very well, and the playground equipment provided for by people of Holland will be placed on the playground this month. The teachers’ housing is on hold. The contractor who did the first buildings of the school did it for almost nothing, but now his work load prevents him from doing the teachers’ houses. When a contractor in Lilongwe was asked about doing it, his price was more than the cost of materials. There is a good builder who is willing to build at a reasonable price, and they are looking for one to purchase materials. Hopefully that will come soon.