Ready to Roll!

Well, today is the big day! Cindy and I packed all our big suitcases last weekend. Thankfully, we received enough funds so we can take lots of extra fabric and supplies for the widows and kids. My dentist graciously donated FIVE CASES of toothpaste so we will be helping many Malawians keep their teeth clean. Today is just for putting my personal items in a suitcase and spending some time with the fam before heading to the airport at 4:30pm. We are very excited!

Thursday, Cindy and I were fortunate enough to get to have lunch with our friend and term partner in Malawi, Maribeth Leineke (see MB's blog linked to mine). She is home for a brief summer visit before going back to Malawi. She gave us some of the inside scoop of what we will see, new team members that we will meet, places we will go, etc. Needless to say, it got me even more fired up to go on this trip! God is on the move in Malawi and it is such a privilege to be a part of it. These past several years have been orchestrated beautifully and countless people have been helped because of the support of people like you. Cindy and I get to physically go and see what is going on first-hand, but we could never do it without your support. So let me take this opportunity to assure you that you are part of something much BIGGER than supporting little 'ole me to go to Africa. You are changing lives. Some day, I pray that you will get to see it for yourself or meet someone whose life has been changed for the better because of the support you have given. It really does make a difference in the world.

Some of you have asked about a schedule while we are gone so here is a brief schedule of our time in Malawi:

* Saturday, July 16, 2011 -- Depart from Sacramento at 7:30 pm
* Sunday, July 17, 2011 -- Travel Day
* Monday, July 18, 2011 -- Arrive in Lilongwe, visit kids
* Tuesday, July 19, 2011 -- Visit kids & widows
* Wednesday, July 20, 2011 -- 1/2 day travel to Blantyre via bus
* Thursday, July 21, 2011 thru Wednesday, July 27, 2011 -- Visit the Montessori school, the Chikondi disability center, the pediatric wards at Queen's hospital, and put on VBS for street kids and for the STEKA children's home
* Thursday, July 28, 2011 -- 1/2 day travel to Lilongwe via bus
* Friday, July 29, 2011 -- Depart Malawi
* Saturday, July 30, 2011 -- Arrive home in Sacramento at 4:45pm

Like usual, the days are quite packed but it's all with good stuff! We would appreciate any prayers you can say for us, especially on those travel days. As most of you know by now, travel in Africa is... how do I say it... rough(!). The roads aren't great, the vehicles can be questionable, and you just never know what you might run into. Literally. So we would appreciate any extra prayers on those days.

We are hoping to have Internet access upon occasion while we are traveling, so keep an eye on my blog for updates. I am anticipating updating a few times for you so you know that we are alive and well and maybe post a story or two.

Thank you again for everything! I look forward to being with you again soon and sharing pictures.

Much love,

~ Pam

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27