Happy Birthday Dear Adam

our African sister Charity and Adam

Today was Adam's 22nd birthday. We took it really easy, as we will be in Munich all day tomorrow (our wake up call is at 7 am). But Dave's mom made two cakes for us, and I think that just being in Germany with friends is such a treat:)

Germany, oh Germany

This is the road to our house in Likuni. No more dirt paths for us!

We are in Freising, Germany now. We successfully made it here (although we had to run through the Frankfurt airport and made it with one minute before they closed the doors)!

Well, the next time you hear from us we will be in Europe. We leave for the Germany on Thursday. We really can't believe that we are leaving already. We have so much more we would like to tell everyone, but it will have to wait (for two reasons: 1. I am about to swear off internet cafes, and 2. there is too much to go into.).

-Adam

Malawi Memories

We leave Malawi in less than one week.

Top 10 Most Memorable Malawi Moments
(in no particular order)
1. Adam knocking over a tiny child with a basketball to the head at KASO
2. Minibus rides (they are always eventful)
a. a 250-pound woman squeezing into four inches of space between Adam and a stranger
b. a young mother handing her child over to Rachel to hold until Likuni
c. multiple passengers carrying large grocery bags full of fish
d. eardrum shattering music issuing from the speakers right next to our heads
e. the two-and-a-half hour minibus ride from town to...town
f. Rachel getting...several...phone numbers from hopeful Malawian men
3. an evening with our severely intoxicated uncle Martin
4. waking up to country gospel music on the weekends
5. the power failing the first three times we attempted to cook
6. being frightened half to death by a (potentially rabid) dog that jumped over a 12-foot wall as we were walking by (the dog was not rabid, but it could have been!)
7. being offered chamba (pot) and strawberries every time we went near the post office
8. breaking our bed in the first week at the Gondwe house (Africans are of a slimmer build)
9. our fascinating tour of the national park, which included viewing hyena dens (dirt mounds showing no signs of life), dead weeds and stagnant water, a python and dried out alligator (also showing no signs of life), then having our tip refused because our guide wanted more money
10. having a baby throw up the entire contents of his stomach, covering Rachel's pants, only to have another baby throw up on her chest and hair a few minutes later

Joanna, Magali, Rachel, and Adam at Salima beach. Joanna and Magali are our friends from the Crisis Nursery. They work for the NGO Raising Malawi.

Girl at the Safe Haven.

Rachel and the Safe Haven Gang.

An early view of the road from Likuni to town.

Prince, Rachel, and Moses (L-R)

Likuni sunset.

Stagnant?

This morning I had a bit of a discouraging experience at the Safe Haven. Yesterday I assigned all eight boys to write a composition. I brainstormed with them and put a note on the bulletin board to remind them of their "homework." They have all written compositions for me before.

Four boys wrote a composition. Two said they had been too busy, and two could not find their notebooks.

Adam and I talked about it a lot on the walk to town (we have taken to walking, mostly, when we are in town, instead of using the minibus. We still take the minibus to and from Likuni.). I feel very frustrated, but what can I do? I have been with the boys for about six weeks. I am leaving in two.

There is consolation--these boys used to live on the street, eating garbage and engaging in substance abuse. They could not speak English before living at the safe haven. Now they are in a safe, clean home, where they get a couple meals a day and (some sort of) education.

But things need to keep moving forward.

-Rachel

Kids getting a new pair of shoes through Samaritan's Feet.

Joseph getting strapped onto the back of his aunt. He is getting to go home with some family members after being at the Crisis Nursery.