We are here, great start with local kids

Dear friends and family,

We have successfully and safely made it to the training facility/orphanage in Malawi.  The trip went very well with many fun pictures of all of us trying to sleep somehow, somewhere.

I am currently at an internet cafe here in Salui (a small town 20 minutes from the orphanage) to get connected.

After arriving yesterday, we went into town and purchased water, food, supplies along with paint for the ladies as they will painting and putting up murals with scriptures on the walls.  We arrived last night after dark and basically collapsed when we got to our rooms.

This morning was awesome, we started with worship with the workers  (around 30) and then got a tour of the facility and orphanage.  Much has improved since I was here last and a tour of the two now cottages for the orphans.  Zach did a great job and I am very impressed.  I met Shadrach and his family this morning as they will be the host family for the first cottage.  He has excellent english.

The best part of the day was on the tour.  The local village kids came out (around 20 or so) of all ages from 18 to babies.  Cathy and the girls were in heaven.  They played, sang , held hands and just loved on the kids.  You could see the girls loved every minute of it.  We went the kids home around noon and they are coming back for more games and stories around 4:00 today.  I tried to send a photo but the internet is way too slow.

The play ground is underway with the swingset built and now working on the playhouse.  We will have sand brought from the sandy shore of the lake for the swing area.

That is it for now.  It may take a day or two to get back to the blog.  No phone service at the orphanage.

Love you all,

Mike

Safely in Africa. Stopped in Congo, next stop Malawi

We are very close. We stopped in Congo for passengers and fuel, everyone good. We have good pictures of each other sleeping. Still have another hour.

Mike

Ready to go

Just added a twitter account if you want to follow:

Twitter@harvesthope.com

Ready to go

Hello Friend and Family
Well, we are ready to go.  We are all checked in with our 10 bags (Casey wanted to bring her shoes :)) ready to go.  Waiting at the gate.  Flying on a 777 aircraft.  I believe it will stop in Rome on the way over which will make the flight longer.  Pray for safe travels.  We have a tight connexion in Ethiopia.

The Moellers and Mel

A couple pictures of the orphanage cottages

thought I would add some pictures of the orphanage cottages before I left.  Each cottage will house 12 orphans and parents (mother and father).  As stated above, the money has been raised for the third cottage and outdoor kitchen/paviillion for the kids.

 These are the nicest building for 30 miles around

 Each building will have lights from solar power and battery

 Inside a cottage

 Shadrach and his family  (one child is an orphan, they also have 2 more orphans ready to move in)

Local kids from the village down the road.   can you imagine how excited they will be go get a match box car or a bracelet for Christmas !!  most important, we will show them the love to Jesus !!

Getting Ready to leave !! Everyone excited

Dear Friends and Family,

For the past month, we have been gathering and buying things that we think we need for the orphanage.  We now have 5 duffle bags full and ready to go.  The bags are full of medicines, bandaids, soccer balls, swing set seats, 250 match box cars, 200 bracelets, books, nail polish (for the village lady manicure fest put on by the girls), baby dolls, clothes, and the list goes on.   The best part is that nothing comes home,

The Lord has really worked on my heart the past month.  With Zach coming over from Malawi to the generosity of so many to buy supplies and fullfill the dream by providing the money for the third cottage, pavilion, bunk beds, swing set and all the supplies listed above.  We even have extra cash to leave with Zach when we leave.  It is so cool to see the Lord go ahead of us and prepare people's hearts for these kids.

We leave Sunday for DC and spend the day seeing the capital and then leave on Monday for the long flight to Ethopia and then Malawi.  Please pray for our safe travel.

My hope is to keep this blog updated assuming my iPhone will have connectivity in Malawi.  It stayed connected last time so I am hopeful.

Until then, thank you for your love and support.  Let the adventure begin !!

Mike