A look back at our first year in Malawi...

Wow, it's kind of hard to believe that our family has been living and serving in Malawi for a year now! Where did the time go? Now to be honest, there were a lot of days that were slow but the weeks and the months just flew right by. We thought it would be fun to look back at our first year of living overseas.

We arrived with our 8 pieces of luggage and our 8 1/2 month old October 14, 2014. Not long after arrival we were learning how to drive stick shift (I, Lily still don't drive...it is a big source of anxiety for me!), having language lessons every morning, and learning how to live in a very warm climate. Not only that but we also were adjusting to sleeping under mosquito nets (just Hudson actually...), taking anti-malarial medications and drinking filtered water...never from the tap. 

It's funny how over time you forget that these things aren't "normal"  for your family and friends back home because now they are our "normal".

We've learned what patience is on a whole new level living here. Most days simple tasks seem to take longer and running errands is hardly ever quick and easy. Living life with frequent interruptions to power  makes you really appreciate electricity when you have it. Slow/ poor internet connections can cause frustrations especially when trying to talk with friends and family back home. (side note... Thank you for your patience and understanding over the past year with dropped calls and delayed response time in conversation). 

We've watched our first born grown up from a baby to a very smart toddler who challenges us daily but is so easy to love. We have also added another baby to our family and experienced healthcare in a developing country. Our family spent a month apart as I, Lily, went to South Africa with Hudson by myself at 34 weeks pregnant to await the arrival of our little G. 

We have seen the Lord use Joseph's students and their education to bring many to the Lord and to work the harvest with very few laborers. Joseph has learned how to write and prepare his lessons. How to connect with his students and work hard to teach them in a manner that they will learn well. He has had to change methods and get creative to connect with the students. 

I have been learning what it is like to be a stay at home mom...and it is a hard job! I have felt isolation this past year and sadness because of it. I have learned that true Joy comes from the Lord and not our circumstances. I have had to go out of my comfort zone and participate in things I wouldn't normally do in order to battle against feelings of isolation and loneliness. I have also had great times of devotion and prayer with the Lord in my times of weakness. 

We have learned that family isn't just your blood relatives. We have rejoiced and struggled along side of our teammates here. We have enjoyed their company and their friendships. Without our mission family our first year here would have been so very different. We are so thankful to the Lord that we have teammates that live so close that we can have community with. 

Looking back at this past year I would say things have turned out so much differently than how I imagined our lives would be. I would be lying if I said there were days when I didn't want to throw in the towel and just go home. I would by lying if i said I had never asked the Lord for a way back to the States. But then I think about how much He has taught us about Himself and ourselves this past year and I know that He has had us here for a reason and we are so lucky to be living this life. Being a missionary has been so hard in many ways, but I know that my love for my Savior is greater today than it was a year ago and for that, I am so grateful we came.

Language learning props

The day we found out we were pregnant with Grayson 

Preaching in the village

Going home from the hospital

Hudson with a local pastor/seminary student

Traditional Malawian meal cooked by Lily

Literacy class in the village

Seminary Graduation 2015

First family photo...fail :)

Our First Safari Adventure

We had the exciting opportunity to travel to South Luangwa, Zambia to enjoy a game park and go on a self-drive safari. We went with my (Lily's) mom and sister while they were here visiting after Grayson's birth.

We stayed at a private home adjacent to the game park, so we were able to see many different animals from the comfort of our own home. The house was called Gille and Jake's, and it was really awesome. We would definitely recommend it to anyone heading to South Luangwa.

The house had its own pool and a natural lagoon (watering hole) right at the edge of the property. The lagoon afforded us the opportunity to see many animals right from the house as well as watch elephants cool themselves down in the afternoon. Wow! What an incredible experience to see in person. At one point, we had 16 elephants bathing in the water about 25-35 yards away from us! We also got super lucky and were able to experience a lion kill about two football fields away from our house. About 10:30 pm our first night at the house, the baboons started going crazy. Come to find out the next morning, some lions had taken down a buffalo that we had actually just seen not too long before we went to bed. So the next morning around 6:00 am, one of the night guards at the house took Joseph and Clare out in front of the house to point out 2 lionesses that where still near their kill keeping watch. We then got into our vehicle to check it out and we saw what was left of the buffalo as well as one lioness hanging out, It was a great way to start our first full day at the park!

We also had a really successful game drive, and we were able to see a lot of animals. We saw elephants, lions, African buffalo, monkeys, giraffe, zebra, kudu, puku, impala, hippos, crocodiles and much more! We were in the park from about 0700 to 1100, and the time just flew by. There were multiple times where we came around a corner and there was an animal, right there in front of us. So cool! We went back into the park in the afternoon from about 16:30-18;00 and we were able to see more lions then. It was so cool to watch them stalking their prey to make a kill. Unfortunately we didn't see a kill made, but it was a neat experience nonetheless.

Nana and her grandsons

The buffalo that the lions killed near our house

Elephants that were near the house when we returned from our morning game drive

Elephants coming up to the mud hole for an afternoon cool down

We were so close!!!

Clare and the Elephants

Mom and the Elephants

Grayson getting his turn too!

The large Baobab tree in the game park

Two lionness that were right in front of our vehicle

Clare captured this great picture of a momma and her baby!

A whole herd of buffalo crossing the road right in front of us

A whole group shot at the house we stayed at

We are so thankful that we were able to experience God's creation in this way. It was also super awesome to get to do it with family! We are looking forward to going back later this year when Joseph's parents come to visit!