Oct.13 - 18
Allen a, doctor from New Mexico, has had dinner with us most every night for the past 10 days. He has been here several times before and works very closely with Barbara. They had an extremely critical new born who they were able to keep alive for over three days. They were all so sadden this morning when the baby died just before Allen left the hospital for his return trip home. Barbara was comforted by the fact she felt all the nurses and doctors had tried very hard to keep the baby alive. She was praising them for their efforts. There are many Malawian doctor assistants in the hospital. They are called Clinical Officers. Austin, a Nkhoma native, has just finished some extra training in the field and returned to the hospital this week. We had him for dinner with Allen last night.

Tonight Evie and David Ter Haar had dinner with us. They are looking at a movie now on the computer and will be going to bed immediately after the movie. David, 5 year old, like most children doesn’t like vegetables and wasn’t eating them at dinner. He watched Barbara and I put the Tony Chachere’s original Creole seasoning, which was brought to Jessi and me by the PWNC group in May, on vegetables. David decided he wanted to try it. He ate his spinach readily and asked for the spice three more times. I finally just put some on the edge of his plate and noticed that when he finished eating he licked his finger, gathered up the rest of the spice on his finger and stuck it in his mouth. Perhaps we have discovered what will make the vegetables on down for some children!! A lot of people have really enjoyed that spice on many things. I just hope it can be found here. The group brought such big containers of the spice we have not had to look for it.

At school we are continuing to enjoy getting to know the materials that people have sent us. Today I spent at school putting together a file of flannel board stories so the teachers can use the flannel boards that Linken has made for them. All my files start with materials from Church folks in Gastonia and some come from other churches in the US. Holland also sends us materials regularly. I have also been creating some new flannel board stories. Jack and Henryetta from Canada have brought us more books for the library. We are really developing a fine collection of books.

Tomorrow we, Willeke, Evie, David, Adam, Barbara, Happy and I, are going into Lilongwe to the ABC Bible College and Primary through Grade 10 Campus. We will attend their church and then enjoy swimming in their pool. I think it should be a very interesting service. Willeke has arranged the outing since Raynier and the two oldest girls are in South Africa for a surprise visit to Raynier mother’s 80th birthday party. Raynier had to go to South Africa for a medical meeting, and luckily it was timed just right for the party.

I had a nice talk with Emily Mwale today about being the Prinipal at Ebenezer. Emily is an active member of the Ebenezer School, Governing Committee and has been in education a numbers of years. She doesn’t have preschool and primary ed experience, but she has children and her last one is in our kindergarten. Hopefully it will work out and she can spend a lot of time with us these last months, observing and asking questions.
I have a lot of excellent materials to leave with whoever is to be the next Principal. Keep us in your prayers that things will be ready to progress with the new Malawian staff. I have high hopes for them and am trying to convince them they can make a difference in Malawi as they present opportunities to children to develop in all five areas of their development and to enable children to think how to approach new situations and how to solve their own problems. We pray daily for the ability to help the children to grow in wisdom, in statute and in favor with God and man. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.