Hippos!

The team returned last night from our safari at Mvuu (Google this place for pictures, it's so beautiful!). We had an incredible time! After the frustration and disappointment with the container, we all needed to get away from ABC and experience Malawi a little. The trip to the camp was about 5 hours. There are no sidewalks in Malawi, by the way. People walk, bike, and sell things right on the road, so a huge bus like the one we were riding in does not fit very well. It was a crazy, bumpy drive with a couple very close calls, but we made it to the camp last Wednesday afternoon. We had to ride a boat across the lake to get to the camp and immediately were greeted by hippos! We had dinner at the lodge and a late afternoon safari where we saw impalas, warthogs, baboons, water buffalo and lots more. As it got dark the guides took off the top of our vehicle and we all looked up in wonder at the beautiful stars. I have never seen a sky with so many stars in my life! It was a huge blessing and reminder of how big our God is!

That night the team went to sleep in the pitch dark (the electricity goes out at night, but they provide each room with a single candle) listening to hippos grunt right outside our rooms. There's nothing quite like that feeling in the world! :)

The team got up at 5 the next morning to watch the sunrise and go on an early morning safari before breakfast. We all saw elephants (mother and baby) and hippos, and one car was lucky enough to see zebras! After breakfast we all got to go on one last safari, which was on a boat. This was the most amazing one! We saw more hippos and crocodiles than you could ever imagine. Then we pulled over to a shallow area where 6 or 7 elephants were bathing and eating. They were not threatened by us so our guide turned the boat off and we all sat there watching these great animals in their natural habitat. I wish the internet was fast enough that I could upload some pictures that we took of these guys, but I promise you that each person on the tour took atleast 50 pictures of the elephants, so i'm sure you will all see them when we get back!

We had a long trip back to ABC, but made a quick stopped at a market to get carrots for dinner before going back. While we were there, Shelley traded a young lady three pieces of bubble gum for a small bowl full of peanuts. We're all getting better at this bartering thing now! :)

Today we are back to work on the clinic. It is amazing how much work we are getting done, even though we don't have the large container. Many tools and items that we needed to do the prep work were in the smaller container that did arrive.

We are reminding ourselves that God is in control! I love what Sherry shared with the team the other day,"I have learned that there are only three things that I can control in life, what I say, what I think, and what I do". She has been a great encourager and leader for the team!

Everyday here has brought something new and exciting, something challenging and discouraging. Our eyes are being opened and our hearts are being changed! We are so thrilled to be here and experience God's plan, even if it's not exactly what we had in mind!

Thank you friends and family for your prayers and words of encouragement!

With love,
Lindsay
for the Team

ps- We are praying for the Mexico Day Trip team! Can't wait to hear all about it when we return!