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Dear Readers,

I don't know how many of you heard but the trip I was planning to Livingstone, Zambia last week was cancelled. Trust me, I was pretty disappointed about it but there wasn't much I could do. Last time I wrote I had just bought my bus ticket...well, two days later - the day before I was supposed to leave - the guy I bought the ticket from called to say the bus to Lusaka was leaving early Friday morning instead of Saturday, which we couldn't do since school was still in session! UGH. Only in Africa would they just decide to change the bus route the day before! It was extremely frustrating.  Well, I was determined to go to Vic Falls for the break so I looked up flights, rental cars, and mini bus costs but everything I could think of was going to cost more than I had saved. 

So, instead I spent the week exploring Lilongwe a little more. On Friday night a small group of us ate out at a restaurant called Buchanan's to celebrate our 5 days of freedom. All the girls were excited about getting somewhat dressed up for the first time since arriving here! The restaurant has an outside patio overlooking a small pond where there live millions of mosquitos and a couple bull frogs. The mosquitos were eating me alive and the bull frogs were SO LOUD! My ears were ringing by the time we left. Five out seven of us ordered the bacon cheeseburger - all Americans, of course! (You'd be proud, it wasn't me dad!)

Saturday we took a day trip to the northern part of Lake Malawi, Salima (one hour drive)- I think I've mentioned it before. Sunday after church is usually the only time I can go grocery shopping but since I had the week off I decided to organize a pick up volleyball game for anyone that wanted to play. I asked my team after our game on Thursday what time would be good for them to come play since I was having the game for them. They said 2:30 so naturally that is when I told everyone else to be there. Well, all the Americans came at 2:30 - four people. Two out of the four had never played volleyball before. Awesome, not much I can do with that. Finally, around 3:00 the captain of the volleyball team wandered out to the court assuring me the other guys were coming "just now".  

[Side note: Maybe it's just me but doesn't "just now" sound like it literally means "right now"? Don't be fooled by this - it doesn't mean that in Africa! "Just now" means "in a little while" (?) which makes the phrase "now now" mean "right now". Weird. I don't understand this at all. It makes no sense and my housemate, Cara (the South African) says it all the time! Drives me crazy!] 

Anyway, back to the volleyball situation. The whole thing felt like a disaster and I just wanted to call it off. I was really annoyed that barely anyone form the team had come and I was dying to just call the game quits, but I felt bad for everyone that had come. Finally, at 4:30 we had enough players to actually play a decent game - 4:30!? Remember that when you come to live in Africa...2:30 = 4:30, we call it running on African Time. Coming from an extremely time oriented culture, let's just say it's been a little difficult adjusting. 

I was called into the office a couple times over the course of the week which I was NOT happy about : /  I tried to hide my annoyance but I know I did an awful job of it! I knew the guys couldn't really help it because they needed the money to finish a house for Tyler, our new PE teacher from the States but I couldn't bring myself to be very pleasant.  

It's time for Bible study so I better go. 

Goodnight all!

Devil's Street

There is a street in Lilongwe that is actually called Devil's Street. I was on this street today. Apparently, it is the only place you can buy tickets for a bus from Lilongwe, Malawi to Lusaka, Zambia. Thankfully, one of my volleyball players volunteered to take my roommates and me or I don't think we would have made it out in one piece. Why the Malawians call it a street, I don't know...there wasn't a flat spot a car could drive on anywhere in sight. The road is narrow with no sidewalks but streams of people bustling about on both sides. Music was blaring, shop owners were shouting, and of course every eye was on us. I'm guessing not too many white people venture down Devil's Street! As long as you ignore their shouts and stares you'll probably be okay but it is always good to have a local go places like this with you. There were clothing and trinket shops, bars, air time kiosks, food vendors, etc. One bar's name was Woody Wood Pecker Bar & Drink Shop, I thought that was kind of funny. Thanks to Bright we were in and out in less than 20 minutes, bus tickets in hand. So, Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. I'll be on a bus to Lusaka, Zambia. Please pray for traveling mercies for me and my roommates. There are a lot of unknowns when you are traveling anywhere and perhaps more when it's a third world country.

Tonight is ABC staff's Bible Study. I forget if I told you that we are reading through the parables. Last week we read Luke 15, the prodigal son. After our study I realized that I identify with the older son in many ways but mostly that I sometimes find myself treating my relationship with the Father as a reward for deserving behavior when instead, like the father's loving response to the undeserving younger son, salvation is entirely a gracious gift from God! It was a comforting reminder for me because I would so quickly fall short if that weren't true.

Two more days of school then an entire week off! I am anxious for a break. I better enjoy the time away to the fullest because when I come back I have the feeling all heck is going to break loose. I sent letters home today to parents who haven't paid their first two tuition installments yet. Their deadline is Monday, October 18th; if the balance isn't paid off then the kids won't be allowed to come to school. I must have sent out 30-40 letters too. If you remember please pray for the families who are struggling to afford the tuition. There are already several families that the school has agreed to give scholarships to, but if we keep waiving tuition there won't be enough funds to sustain the staff or facilities that we have.

There is also a big need for a high school at ABCCA. Right now students in grades 10-12 are using a cyber school program called Northstar. It's very expensive for us and it's not ideal for the students especially when the power frequently goes out during the day and they can't get online. Hopefully, by the end of the month we will be connected to generator power, but parents and students both are still anxious for a regular classroom setting.


I'd love to hear from you so leave a comment or e-mail me at asvancamp@gmail.com!

Goodnight!

Lilongwe Wildlife Center

Here's a little chichewa for you to practice:

Muli bwanji (moo lee bwon gee)? - Hi, how are you?

Ndili bwino, kaya inu (n deelee bwee nu, kiya eenu)? - I am fine, and you?

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Hmm let's see, well this Friday was reading day at ABCCA. All the kids and teachers dressed up as their favorite character in a book and spent the whole day reading books and doing fun activities. It was a nice break from the usual routine plus all the kids looked so cute in their costumes!

This weekend my roommates and I decided to get off campus and try to do a little exploring around Lilongwe. We ended up at Lilongwe Wildlife Center about 6-7km away (we didn't get very far). The place was really small at least in comparison to zoos we have in the States, but we still got to see some cool stuff.

We were there during the animals feeding time so we got to see everything they had but a leopard. Surprisingly, my favorite was the hyaena (only because we didn't see the leopard). It was much bigger than I thought it would be. I guess I always pictured the hyaenas from The Lion King that were really scrawny and puny compared to the lions, but this guy was bigger than a full grown dog.




We saw a one eyed lioness whose hind legs were disfigured by disease making it really difficult for her to walk. She'll stay at the center for life instead of being released back into the wild (the ultimate goal of the wildlife center). We also saw baboons, monkeys, a python curled up in an old tire (gross!), and a crocodile.




My computer battery is about to die...better go!