Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Malawi Love Notes
Sunday, January 16, 2011
News from Africa!!!
At 7:30am cst, I got a short phone call from Roy. It was a blessing to hear his voice. He sounded tired and alittle homesick, but well none worse for ware. He wanted to make sure to at least tell me hello in case he didn't get a turn on the computer (very limited access time) and I guess the line was long. Many of the wives got emails, I have one that was forwarded from a friend of a friend. Jonathan is one of the seminarians traveling with the group:
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings from Malawi. :-) We have just had dinner at the home of the Bishop of Northern Malawi (where we've eaten several meals and four members of our team are staying -- the Happening was in the same compound, just around the corner), and I'm using his computer for few minutes. Travel went well once we finally got off; although the drive here to Mzuzu from Lilongwe was fairly grueling (five or so hours in a packed van -- more difficult because most passengers couldn't really see out).
Ah! I just heard there's cake. :-) Briefly....
The other seven of us are staying at the convent's guest house. Yesterday morning we attended a service inducting a woman as a "junior sister," at the parish just up the road. The service was between three and four hours long (and I confess they lost me during the nine speeches near the end!)... but it was also AMAZING. When the Mothers' Union women started singing outside, and the young in the transept began singing in response -- a kind of antiphony-through-the-walls --I thought maybe I was in heaven rather than Malawi. (Well, maybe I was.) The singing style is quite different than ours, but it's simply beautiful. And the harmonies, and... yeah. In spite of not understanding most of what was said -- the sermon was given in English with a translation, for our benefit, but the liturgy was all in Chichewa -- I loved the service, and I think everyone else on our team did too. (Although Patrick was immensely sleep-deprived and may not have been fully alert through all of it....)
The Happening seemed to go well. It started crazily, since we had to hit the ground running. But we assigned talks in DC the morning before we left, so there was actually some time to prepare, or at least think about what to say. We had... perhaps forty or fifty young people (14-24 or thereabouts), and pretty nearly all nine of us gave short talks. Mine was the last, on the "Apostolate" (bringing Christ to the world). The final two talks were this morning, so the two of us giving them stayed here at St. Mark's for the service. In Chichewa, of course; the English service was happening while we were next door at the Happening. But it was another beautiful service --and since it included our introduction, and giving all the "Happenists" (their word; I'm not making this up) wooden crosses -- we got them too -- that was also about three hours long. Fr. Culpepper,
our leader, celebrated the first English-language service and preached at both. Six members of the team went out to... I guess four other parishes, so our team gave five sermons this morning total, plus the two of us who gave talks at Happening. (I'll probably be preaching down south next week; we'll see.)
I said, and I saw in one of Natalie's updates -- which are splendid, by the way -- that Malawians are quiet and reserved. I'm not sure that's quite right. They're mostly very humble people. But they're also very generous, and loving. We've all felt wholly welcomed, and the young folks (the Happenists) seemed sorry to say goodbye, and flocked around for contact info. (I don't know how we're going to answer all those letters and e-mails.)
Tomorrow's schedule is getting fuller -- we're going to try to do the Nkhata bay trip, AND see the gardens, AND attend vespers at the convent (where we also had lunch yesterday). This is so -- top secret, don't tell -- we MIGHT be able to squeeze in a trip to the island on Tuesday, to see, inter alia, one of the largest cathedrals in the Anglican Communion.... I'll let you know if that happens. :-)
Thank you for your prayers. A skeeter got me pretty good on the elbow this morning -- at least I think that's what it was, I didn't see it-- so we'll pray I don't come down with Malaria when I get back. But so far, other than a few minor digestive bumps and some temporary sleep deprivation (getting better), we're doing pretty well. Answered prayer. And others are after the computer. Gotta go. :-)
Shalom,
Jonathan
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings from Malawi. :-) We have just had dinner at the home of the Bishop of Northern Malawi (where we've eaten several meals and four members of our team are staying -- the Happening was in the same compound, just around the corner), and I'm using his computer for few minutes. Travel went well once we finally got off; although the drive here to Mzuzu from Lilongwe was fairly grueling (five or so hours in a packed van -- more difficult because most passengers couldn't really see out).
Ah! I just heard there's cake. :-) Briefly....
The other seven of us are staying at the convent's guest house. Yesterday morning we attended a service inducting a woman as a "junior sister," at the parish just up the road. The service was between three and four hours long (and I confess they lost me during the nine speeches near the end!)... but it was also AMAZING. When the Mothers' Union women started singing outside, and the young in the transept began singing in response -- a kind of antiphony-through-the-walls --I thought maybe I was in heaven rather than Malawi. (Well, maybe I was.) The singing style is quite different than ours, but it's simply beautiful. And the harmonies, and... yeah. In spite of not understanding most of what was said -- the sermon was given in English with a translation, for our benefit, but the liturgy was all in Chichewa -- I loved the service, and I think everyone else on our team did too. (Although Patrick was immensely sleep-deprived and may not have been fully alert through all of it....)
The Happening seemed to go well. It started crazily, since we had to hit the ground running. But we assigned talks in DC the morning before we left, so there was actually some time to prepare, or at least think about what to say. We had... perhaps forty or fifty young people (14-24 or thereabouts), and pretty nearly all nine of us gave short talks. Mine was the last, on the "Apostolate" (bringing Christ to the world). The final two talks were this morning, so the two of us giving them stayed here at St. Mark's for the service. In Chichewa, of course; the English service was happening while we were next door at the Happening. But it was another beautiful service --and since it included our introduction, and giving all the "Happenists" (their word; I'm not making this up) wooden crosses -- we got them too -- that was also about three hours long. Fr. Culpepper,
our leader, celebrated the first English-language service and preached at both. Six members of the team went out to... I guess four other parishes, so our team gave five sermons this morning total, plus the two of us who gave talks at Happening. (I'll probably be preaching down south next week; we'll see.)
I said, and I saw in one of Natalie's updates -- which are splendid, by the way -- that Malawians are quiet and reserved. I'm not sure that's quite right. They're mostly very humble people. But they're also very generous, and loving. We've all felt wholly welcomed, and the young folks (the Happenists) seemed sorry to say goodbye, and flocked around for contact info. (I don't know how we're going to answer all those letters and e-mails.)
Tomorrow's schedule is getting fuller -- we're going to try to do the Nkhata bay trip, AND see the gardens, AND attend vespers at the convent (where we also had lunch yesterday). This is so -- top secret, don't tell -- we MIGHT be able to squeeze in a trip to the island on Tuesday, to see, inter alia, one of the largest cathedrals in the Anglican Communion.... I'll let you know if that happens. :-)
Thank you for your prayers. A skeeter got me pretty good on the elbow this morning -- at least I think that's what it was, I didn't see it-- so we'll pray I don't come down with Malaria when I get back. But so far, other than a few minor digestive bumps and some temporary sleep deprivation (getting better), we're doing pretty well. Answered prayer. And others are after the computer. Gotta go. :-)
Shalom,
Jonathan
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Saturday with Archangel Michael
After spending the morning, a nice lunch and a bit of chat time with Judy (my icon instructor) I stopped at the grocery store. Picked up some snacks for Heather's return and dinner supplies for the Malawi Widow prayer dinner tomorrow. It is a loving nick name by Deborah that has caught on.
Did I forget to mention, that the snow accumulated about 4 inches last night and I had to shovel my way out the door and driveway? Boy, I sure do miss my hubbie. He does such a good job shoveling. Oh well, I am sure snow is the furthest thing from his mind right now in Africa. I imagine it is hot and humid where he is. They should be in the middle of the Happening weekend right now. Prayers for the Holy Spirit to fill them with the words that are needed at the moment.
Yesterday was very productive for me. Worked a 9 hour day, 2 loads of laundry completed, baked a dozen cookies to take to Judy's, mopped the floor, had a glass of wine with a friend, and turned on the self cleaning oven. Nothing like the feeling of accomplishment! No time for loneliness here! ha ha I heard from Heather and the groups traveling to NC for YouthQuake, they have arrived and having fun. All I have left on my agenda for this Saturday afternoon (creeping into evening now) is to run up to CVS and get more ink for our printer. We go through that stuff like crazy.
Prayers up to God for my loved ones today and a reminder from 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Happy New Year
WOW, time is flying by and I am still not doing a good job keeping things posted on this blog. Luckily for the handiness of my phone and facebook I can keep up with most of you there. So, our Christmas visit in Florida was pleasant, aside from getting sick and down for 2 days. Unfortunately we didn't get to see everyone on our list, but we tried. Mostly, I didn't want to spread my germs. It was good to see Stephanie, I am so proud of her. She has grown in to a fine respectible responsible adult and is doing great at UCF. Missed you Cristina!
The house is eerily quiet. Roy left on Tuesday with 11 others on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa. At first I must admit, I had a difficult time accepting the fact that I wasn't able to go this time. Reality set in, and my responsibility as a mother and wife to "hold down the fort". Now I am in full gear to support him in daily prayer and looking forward to some "me time". Speaking of me time, it starts today. Heather left today for the YouthQuake conference in Asheville, NC. What an awesome spiritual program for teens! So I am catching up on emails, coorespondence, paperwork (nice word for bills) and other stuff to do on the computer when it is usually occupied by a teen. ha ha Thinking I may go for a haircut after then relax with a nice salad while reading The Elements of the Spiritual Life by F.P. Harton. This book is required reading for AT1, which resumes in 3 weeks, and I am enjoying this one thoroughly. AT1 has been a class that Roy and I are taking together on campus. It has lead us deeper into our spiritual journey with focus on our Rule of Life, prayer, devotions, and different aspects of our spiritual gifts.
So as for Roy's journey to Africa. They left on Tuesday morning and had all intentions of flying out of Milwaukee to first stop Chicago. Well, as the weather conditions would have it, the flight was cancelled. So they opted to rent 2 vans to drive them to Chicago to meet their connecting flight that afternoon to Dulles. Of course, the snow followed them to Chicago and there was a 2 hour delay. This of course, led to them missing the connecting flight in Dulles to Johannesburg. Their first night was spent in Washington, DC instead of Dulles. Not to worry, as their intention was to have a free first day in Mzuzu (their first mission stop in Africa) to plan the Happening curriculum; so they used the time in DC for the curriculum planning. At least they are now prepared. Much of the trip and work they are doing will be lead by the Holy Spirit. The only planning of participants for the Happening event given to them was there could be 2 or 400 people in attendence. This event is different from the US Happening in such that the age group encompasses the age group of 15 - 30 rather than just teens. I plan to update frequently with some daily mission plans for specific prayer needs. For now, travel is the first one. They have finally arrived in Johannesburg and will spend the night. Tomorrow they board yet another plan to take them to Lilongwe and from their it is an 8 hour drive to Mzuzu.
Here is a link to share on Heather's journey to YouthQuake. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=uJG6p22AD8A
That is all for now my friends. Just wanted to give you a quick update on our life! Blessings be to God and Glory is His name!
The house is eerily quiet. Roy left on Tuesday with 11 others on a mission trip to Malawi, Africa. At first I must admit, I had a difficult time accepting the fact that I wasn't able to go this time. Reality set in, and my responsibility as a mother and wife to "hold down the fort". Now I am in full gear to support him in daily prayer and looking forward to some "me time". Speaking of me time, it starts today. Heather left today for the YouthQuake conference in Asheville, NC. What an awesome spiritual program for teens! So I am catching up on emails, coorespondence, paperwork (nice word for bills) and other stuff to do on the computer when it is usually occupied by a teen. ha ha Thinking I may go for a haircut after then relax with a nice salad while reading The Elements of the Spiritual Life by F.P. Harton. This book is required reading for AT1, which resumes in 3 weeks, and I am enjoying this one thoroughly. AT1 has been a class that Roy and I are taking together on campus. It has lead us deeper into our spiritual journey with focus on our Rule of Life, prayer, devotions, and different aspects of our spiritual gifts.
So as for Roy's journey to Africa. They left on Tuesday morning and had all intentions of flying out of Milwaukee to first stop Chicago. Well, as the weather conditions would have it, the flight was cancelled. So they opted to rent 2 vans to drive them to Chicago to meet their connecting flight that afternoon to Dulles. Of course, the snow followed them to Chicago and there was a 2 hour delay. This of course, led to them missing the connecting flight in Dulles to Johannesburg. Their first night was spent in Washington, DC instead of Dulles. Not to worry, as their intention was to have a free first day in Mzuzu (their first mission stop in Africa) to plan the Happening curriculum; so they used the time in DC for the curriculum planning. At least they are now prepared. Much of the trip and work they are doing will be lead by the Holy Spirit. The only planning of participants for the Happening event given to them was there could be 2 or 400 people in attendence. This event is different from the US Happening in such that the age group encompasses the age group of 15 - 30 rather than just teens. I plan to update frequently with some daily mission plans for specific prayer needs. For now, travel is the first one. They have finally arrived in Johannesburg and will spend the night. Tomorrow they board yet another plan to take them to Lilongwe and from their it is an 8 hour drive to Mzuzu.
Here is a link to share on Heather's journey to YouthQuake. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=uJG6p22AD8A
That is all for now my friends. Just wanted to give you a quick update on our life! Blessings be to God and Glory is His name!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Winter is approaching!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
September Blessings
September is coming to a quick close. Last week Roy was chapel scholar on duty and Lector Server fill in for someone whose been sick. He did a great job chanting the epistle during the St. Matthew's Day Solemn Mass on Thursday night. There is something very moving about the high mass services that I do not take for granted while here at Nashotah. The chapel is a beautiful place for meditation and contemplative prayer too.
As I posted earlier, we continue to pray for family members at home that are not well. My mom was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the lung and we are awaiting her surgical clearance to know when her treatment will begin. Thanks be to God, this was caught early and has not spread. It is also a less aggressive cancer and can be treated without chemotherapy. Roy's Mawmaw has been sick and in the hospital, as both his Uncles in Virginia. We keep them all in our daily prayers.
Roy is doing well in Hebrew and his other studies as well. I am having a great time taking Aesthetic Theology 1 class with him on Monday nights. Last week we took the Myers Briggs test and discussed our results as well as how these results affect our spiritual and prayer life. We also talked how the personality types can be effective in marriage counseling and other types of spiritual direction programs. It was fun to see how alike as well as different we are as a group in the class.
Today is Saturday, when Roy and I left the apartment this morning for chapel it was 48 degrees. Brrrr it was a nice cool breezy bike ride. Time for layers, and digging out the sweatshirts and blankets. This time of year is a glorious sight for us Floridians watching the trees change to red, yellows, and orange. In a few minutes, Heather and I will be off for her horse riding lessons. Her trainer indicated that she is nearly ready to start jumping. She is having a great time with that. She is also looking forward to the Homecoming dance next month. I will be sure to post pictures. She is growing up so fast. We found out that Stephanie is doing great in school back home too. She graduated with her AA Cum Laud and is now attending Central Fl University for her baccalaureate studies. I am very proud of her.
As I posted earlier, we continue to pray for family members at home that are not well. My mom was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the lung and we are awaiting her surgical clearance to know when her treatment will begin. Thanks be to God, this was caught early and has not spread. It is also a less aggressive cancer and can be treated without chemotherapy. Roy's Mawmaw has been sick and in the hospital, as both his Uncles in Virginia. We keep them all in our daily prayers.
Roy is doing well in Hebrew and his other studies as well. I am having a great time taking Aesthetic Theology 1 class with him on Monday nights. Last week we took the Myers Briggs test and discussed our results as well as how these results affect our spiritual and prayer life. We also talked how the personality types can be effective in marriage counseling and other types of spiritual direction programs. It was fun to see how alike as well as different we are as a group in the class.
Today is Saturday, when Roy and I left the apartment this morning for chapel it was 48 degrees. Brrrr it was a nice cool breezy bike ride. Time for layers, and digging out the sweatshirts and blankets. This time of year is a glorious sight for us Floridians watching the trees change to red, yellows, and orange. In a few minutes, Heather and I will be off for her horse riding lessons. Her trainer indicated that she is nearly ready to start jumping. She is having a great time with that. She is also looking forward to the Homecoming dance next month. I will be sure to post pictures. She is growing up so fast. We found out that Stephanie is doing great in school back home too. She graduated with her AA Cum Laud and is now attending Central Fl University for her baccalaureate studies. I am very proud of her.
Friday, September 17, 2010
News from Roy
I was so nice to see everyone over the summer, and to preach and worship with you, too. I received a lot of great feedback regarding my sermon, and expect that I will be able to apply that feedback when I begin taking the classes on preaching next semester. The semester is in full swing, which means Amazon stocks should be a good investment, based on the number of books I’ve purchased over the last 3 weeks! With that, it goes without saying that I am so grateful and humbled by all of the support we have received over the past last year. We would not be able to do this without your prayerful and financial support, and we have been truly blessed to have exactly what we need at exactly the time we seem to need it. God is great, and we know that He is working through all of us to ensure the Gospel is proclaimed!
Marcia is doing great working from home, and we never take for granted how blessed we are that the Lord has provided for us in this way, and in so many more that I can’t even write them all down. She is taking a class at The University of Wisconsin on Thursday evening, and she and I are both taking an Aesthetical Theology class together here on campus on Monday nights. The seminary doesn’t charge spouses to take classes, and spouses can take up to 11 classes for credit. It has been fun sitting in class and having discussions together.
Heather started High School and she seems to have adjusted well, yet again, to another major change in her life. Needless to say, I have loved watching my little girl grow up, but now find myself literally cringing at her new and “questionable” vocabulary: “When do I get to start driving?”, “When am I getting my dress for Homecoming?”, “Can I go to the football game with my friends?”, and the list goes on as I’m sure we all remember our teenage years. Heather continues to take horseback riding lessons every week, which is another gift we have received from those helping to ensure Heather gets to be in activities here also.
Stephanie started her Junior year at The University of Central Florida, and is doing great. She recently moved into a new apartment next to the campus, and continues to work part time and go to school full time. If all goes as planned, she and I will actually graduate at the same time. I don’t understand how my children are growing up at a rate faster than I am growing older?!
Marcia and I are both involved in the healing ministry at the church we attend on Sundays, and we both sing in the Community Choir here on campus. So, it goes without saying that our life here in Wisconsin is going great. While we do miss our family and friends, we also know that we are in the place God has called us. We pray for you all every day, and would love to hear from you as you have time.
Marcia is doing great working from home, and we never take for granted how blessed we are that the Lord has provided for us in this way, and in so many more that I can’t even write them all down. She is taking a class at The University of Wisconsin on Thursday evening, and she and I are both taking an Aesthetical Theology class together here on campus on Monday nights. The seminary doesn’t charge spouses to take classes, and spouses can take up to 11 classes for credit. It has been fun sitting in class and having discussions together.
Heather started High School and she seems to have adjusted well, yet again, to another major change in her life. Needless to say, I have loved watching my little girl grow up, but now find myself literally cringing at her new and “questionable” vocabulary: “When do I get to start driving?”, “When am I getting my dress for Homecoming?”, “Can I go to the football game with my friends?”, and the list goes on as I’m sure we all remember our teenage years. Heather continues to take horseback riding lessons every week, which is another gift we have received from those helping to ensure Heather gets to be in activities here also.
Stephanie started her Junior year at The University of Central Florida, and is doing great. She recently moved into a new apartment next to the campus, and continues to work part time and go to school full time. If all goes as planned, she and I will actually graduate at the same time. I don’t understand how my children are growing up at a rate faster than I am growing older?!
Marcia and I are both involved in the healing ministry at the church we attend on Sundays, and we both sing in the Community Choir here on campus. So, it goes without saying that our life here in Wisconsin is going great. While we do miss our family and friends, we also know that we are in the place God has called us. We pray for you all every day, and would love to hear from you as you have time.
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