a time.

So this week was a week of lasts…last bucket bath, last trip to the borehole, last house devotion, last day without running water, last day of tutoring, etc. It was a really weird week. I just can’t believe our ministry work is over. Well, really, our work is never over. Right now, I’m back at Njewa—we’re just hanging out here. Monday through Wednesday we will be at Lake Malawi. Thursday we leave. It will be good to just relax and reflect before we get home.

This week was pretty normal-house chores, devos, tutoring, a lot of just hanging out with the kids. Thursday we got to hike Kasunugu Mountain ( a local mountain) with about 25 of our kids. It was really tough—the altitude is killer for girls who live at sea level ha, but it was so worth it. The view from the top was so beautiful. We just hung out, ate lunch, and worshipped God at the top. It was a great way to spend the last full day at Chiwengo.

Yesterday we had to say goodbye…and it was awful. We were all in weird moods, including the kids. It was really hard when we saw them cry or they said they were sad. We had a final goodbye program with everyone right before we left. We sang and there were a few speeches. I got up and said a few things on behalf of the interns. After that, all the interns had to line up at the front while they sang a goodbye song and hugged us one by one. It was one of the worst things ever, and it was so hard to be strong and not cry. One song the kids would sing said “I’ll meet you in Heaven and we’ll sing songs together.” Even though I would love to come back, this could very well be the last time I may get to see these kids. It was tough, and even though it stinks that it was so hard, it means that God did something. Our hearts were touched. If it were easy, nothing really moved in us.

Friday morning I got to talk for a while to my favorite house parent, Donald. Of course he hopes that I come back, but he also said that it is time for me to go home, to be an ambassador. The best thing I can do now is to tell people what we’ve seen and about COTN. I am part of the COTN family now and part of my purpose in going home is to tell others about this ministry, about these children. I am nervous about going home. I know I’m going to be overwhelmed and very frustrated at times. I absolutely love the simplicity of life here. As soon as I go home, I’m going to be thrown into a whirlwind. However, as tough as it will be, it is God’s plan. I was brought here to be changed, and He’s calling me to something else now, to go back, to bring this change back home. My world is so much bigger now. Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world, with the majority of people living on 50 cents a day. I have seen extreme poverty, and it now has a face. I have stared at it in the eyes. I have held its hand. I know its name. All of this would be a waste if I forgot this, if I went home and nothing was different. I can’t forget this—the people, the way I’ve seen God move, the things He’s done in my heart. God wants me home now, to serve Him there. And as sad as leaving is, I’m excited to tell others about these children and this country that have captured a piece of my heart.

Continue to pray for us during these next few days at debriefing and for our adjustments back home. I’m sure it will be an emotional couple of days. Thanks for everything. I love you and miss you all, and I’ll see you real soon.

there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance -ecclesiastes 3:1, 4