PICTURES!!!!

Christmas pictures…

Bryans and my families this past December.
Also us:






Back in Malawi
We just returned from our Close of Service Conference held in Nkotakota at the Pottery lake resort. The conference was very informative and we had a wonderful time seeing all the members of our group, Environment 2007 – 2009. We lost four people over the two years, two due to medical separation! Crazy. Peace Corps said that this is very good for a group of over twenty.



We met in the shade of the trees behind the lodge because our meeting room was so hot.



We saw so many types of birds and even some monkeys and such. Can you find the two monkeys in this picture?



The lodge made us buffet meals for each meal. They even provided two tea times so we ate 5 times a day, they like to do that here. Bryan caught me with my spoon on my nose!



We all got to paint some pottery…



The lake is beautiful! I awoke to see the sunrise over the lake.



While taking the photo I heard a Fish Eagle call not so far away so I went searching for her. As I approached some trees and rocks I heard her again then before I knew it she was off out over the lake flying away. I was sad but realized all the other birds out so I started looking for different birds I heard. Before long she was back I heard her calling from the tops of the trees. I decided to take the trail through the woods to the others side in order to see if I could locate her. I found her high in the tree tops.



She had just gone out so I found a comfy seat overlooking the lake hoping she would go out again. While I sat I saw the many Pied Kingfishers flying around and doing their hovering high above the water then dive down! I caught this one as it spotted a fish below.



As I sat and saw the beauty around me I decided to switch to my smaller lens to get a picture of the sun rays over the lake.



Of course as soon as I did the eagle took off again, out over the water. I switched back and waited and watched and saw her swoop down then head back toward me… She must have wanted to show off because she landed out on some rocks in front of me and ate her catch. She is one of God’s most majestic creatures!












Parting shot the waves splashing over the rocks near to the resort.

Back in Malawi

Christmas and New Years
Was Wonderful visiting the United States of America! (photos and more info to come)

We visited some churches that have been some of our large supporters. We were able to do some presentations and sharing what we have been doing in Malawi. We visited:
Zion Lutheran, Stillwater
Zion Lutheran, OKC
St John’s Lutheran, Lawton OK
Emmanuel Lutheran, Breckinridge OK

Our flight back was an adventure in itself! We got into Johannesburg and were supposed to meet our friend Ben. Who was a PCV in Malawi also, but he was nowhere to be found… and it would be hard to miss Ben. He is the tallest person I’ve ever met. He’s the one I went to South Africa for my knee surgery last year. He’s a great guy and he had the idea for the hostel we would stay in, but because he was not there we found a hostel on the net and grabbed a taxi to it. The hostel was just so-so but we felt safe and were thankful for a shower and a place to lay our heads!

The flight from South Africa to Malawi was very nice and then we ended up two checked bags short which came yesterday. That was an amazing story in itself. As we waited for our bags to come watching the baggage claim conveyor belt people started to get there bags and disappear and still nothing… finally I started getting a little worried when there were only a few (10) of us left and they started telling us that all the bags were on the conveyor belt, but then two of our four bags came and my hope was renewed just to be crushed again when the other two ended up lost.

By the time we decided our bags had been left in South Africa the other ten people were deciding the same thing and some of them were starting to get very upset. We were told we should go stand in this one line and tell the person the particulars of our bags. Many of the people in this line were very grumpy about loosing their bags. I figured, it’s Africa, what do you expect, it’s bound to happen once or twice. So we told them our particulars and our bags came the next day, but the thing that upset me was the way some of the people were treating the baggage claim guy who they were telling about the lost luggage. They kept belittling him as if it was his fault that their bags were lost talking about how incompetent Malawians were and how it always seemed to happen to them in Malawi when flying in… The thing is, who really lost their bags? It wasn’t the Malawian they were talking to; it was the people at the airport they had just come from! So, why are you getting all mad at the guy who is trying to help you get the bag back?

I found it made me feel better being civil to the baggage claim guy, and I think that made him care a little if I got my bag back. I don’t know if this is true or not, but we got both of our bags back and South African Airways will pay us back for the taxi ride when we go there on Monday. What an adventure!

What’s Next?
This week is our COS (Close of Service) conference. This is were we put in our extension request for our third year, only we have already identified the site to move to and we are moving soon so really just the paper work needs to go through. The conference is held at a beach resort, Peace Corps way of saying thanks.

Yes, we are moving! We are excited to tell you we are moving mid February God (and rain) willing. We have seen the place our home is very much like our current one only slightly smaller. We will post pictures and more info when we get it!

Alright once we have pictures from anyone of these events we will post again!