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From: Bonnie Waters
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 5:33 PM
Greetings everyone!
It's Sunday evening – almost 36 hours since we saw our travelers off at the airport for those that left Portland yesterday. I just checked on their flight out of London to
Johannesburg. It left about 30 minutes late but assuming they are all on board, they are at least in transit to Johannesburg. It's their second night of traveling. Right now it is 2:30 am; they should
arrive in Johannesburg in about 7 more hours where they meet up with LuAnn. Once there, they have a short time on the ground before they catch their flight to Lilongwe. Two days of being motion to their
destination.
It makes me wholeheartedly think of the topic of their devotions for today: "Loving Others With All We Have" – I Corinthians 13:4-8
Lord, I pray that they are resting well
– and loving each other well as they travel these many hours. I pray that all their luggage makes it – and LuAnn's second bag finally shows up.
Bonnie
CWWOV International Committee
From: Bonnie Waters
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 3:34 PM
I received this update from Beth today:
There was a glitch in their plans as the women coming from London did not arrive in Jo'burg in time
for their flight to Malawi. LuAnn stayed behind with them. My last message from LuAnn was that they were trying to get S Africa Air to put them on the next flight to Malawi, but that was the next day
and all indications were that it was a full flight. Please keep them in your prayers and I will update you as I hear. The situation in London has caused many delays in international travel. Darn.
From: Ron King
Sent: Mon 7/9/2007 3:53 PM
CWWOV Malawi-Zambia Trip -- Travelers Missed Flight to Malawi
I got a text msg from Pam saying that they were at the hotel in Malawi....don't know anything else....Thanks, Ron King
Bonnie's Comments: This is good news. This means 5 (LuAnn, Kathy, Pam, Patricia & Cherri) will
be in Malawi when Sandy arrives. Sandy's coming from Switzerland (via Nairobi) and then Tim and Ann are scheduled to arrive after Sandy.
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 2:51 AM
Greetings from Llongwe, Malawi! We arrived in Malawi last night around 10:30- exhausted, but praising God for safety during our many hours of travel. Our hotel accommodations are very nice.We
all slept well and woke up refreshed and ready to go. We will meet with WV staff today and tour the city. My luggage did not arrive (British Air system broke, then terror threat causing a back log of 10
,000 bags - think I will actually ever see it again ???). I am hoping to find a store to buy a few things until it does arrive (I am trying to remain optomistic I will get it). This email is really to ask for
continued prayer and to let you know we are safe, in great spirits and ready to learn about Malawi and the WV work that is being done in this country. Tomorrow we begin travelling to the various
villages. You are all in our thoughts and prayers! Love Kathy
Greetings from Malawi!
Our hearts and senses are filled with the wonderful experiences we have enjoyed this week. I asked
our World Vision Malawi Area Director, John, what he believes is Malawi's most unique, identifying
quality. It didn't take him long to reply "our warm, friendly people." We would agree. We have been greeted and cared for like celebrities.
The children win our hearts. They wave and smile their beautiful smiles. In one area we visited near Ilembe a group of children surrounded me. They had never seen Americans before (or anyone from
another country). I joined their laughter as they grabbed my hand and rubbed my arm, confirming I am the same flesh as they are!
It is no wonder Ilembe has had no visitors. It is quite a journey -- two days each way. When the bumpy dirt road with 52 bridges (some in place and others not so 4-wheeling river crossing was
required), we climbed into two motor boats and made the final hour-long leg of the journey on choppy Lake Malawi. Some of us were more drenched from the spray than the rest when we arrived!
The village turned out in full to greet us. We toured their newly remodeled school rooms, the teacher houses they were building (the only way to lure a qualified teacher is to offer housing), the birthing
clinic they are building where all births can be attended by a trained mid-wife in a sanitary setting. If a woman has complications she is taken directly to the hospital by boat. I thought how hard that
crossing would be in that state!
We had a time to exchange greetings and Tim and Anne were seated in brown plush lazy-boy type
chairs that resembled thrones in that setting, as they represented also Maureen and Ned who sponsor the village. The village opened the meeting with prayer and throughout, Jesus was honored, a surprise
to me since the predominant faith is Muslim. They expressed their deep gratitude for their support. Ned read Maureen's letter and each sentence translated was responded to with clapping. I wish
Maureen and Ned could have been there. (Kathy videotaped that part, Maureen, with commentary as she does so well -- you will enjoy it!)
We are now loading into our vehicles to go to Ngopi today. We are excited to greet this village, which we have supported for the past 3-4 years. I'm sure there are great surprises ahead of us!
Anne is feeling better this morning after 24 hours of travelers "distress". We are so thankful she is
doing well. We miss all of you, our families and friends. We truly appreciate all your prayers. We have so much more to tell you when we see you.
God bless all of you. We're praying for you too.
Sandy
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