Home safe and sound. I'll try to post reports here from the team as they come in. Those of you from San Clemente Pres will find their stories in the weekly Connections and there will be a report to the congregation in the near future.

Thank you so much for supporting the team, their families who stayed behind, and through them our partners in Malawi.

The team having lunch at Dulles. Seven hours till they arrive at LAX. 

Left to right: Jon, Sharon, Kim, Allie L., Lori, Dana, Joy and Ali B.

They are in the US!! Landed at Dulles at 8, took 2 hours to get through customs, etc. At 10 (their time) they were checking in to United for their flight home. They don't leave Dulles until after 2 pm, so they have 4 more hours to wait. They land in LAX at 4:30 pm. Thanks for praying them all the way home. 

Just received this text from Dana, "Just arrived in Addis Ababa -- 30 more hours and we'll be at LAX."

I'm up early (4:30 am) so texted Dana and got this message, "On the plane now, taxiing down the runway!" Praise the Lord. Please pray for them as they have 36 hours of travel before they arrive in LAX.

This just in...
@SCPCMalawi2013: Looking at a leopard in a tree 10 yards away, with a kill (impala), with a second leopard on the ground , a hyena and a very loud baboon!!!

Another update from Dana's perspective,

We have wifi here at the Kafunta Lodge where we are doing our safari. At least I am told that we will when the electricity is turned back on at 3pm.

This place is beautiful, really really nice, but hot! When we arrived we had lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking the plain where we could see baboons and impala. Then we checked into our rooms.  They all have wide verandas overlooking the same plain. We will have tea at 3:30, then head out for our first safari drive. The flight here was a little scary as the plane was so small (seated 10 passengers), but other than take off and landing, which were pretty bumpy, it was a smooth and short flight (35 minutes). Zambia looks a lot like Malawi, but the huts are different. The thatched roofs go much lower to the ground, and they look more like something you would see in Hawaii. Big difference in the temperature - turns out Nkhoma is a good 10 degrees cooler than Lilongwe, so it was much cooler than we thought it would be.

I have so many stories! The team has gotten along really well. Jon has been such a big help, whenever we have needed someone strong, we call on him. For example, today when we were picked up at the airport in Zambia, we loaded our luggage in the back of a van and started down the road. The back door of the van flew open! We were afraid our luggage would fall out! It didn't, but we pulled over and the driver got out to check out the situation. Turns out the latch on the door was broken. He tried to tie it down with a palm frond, since he didn't have a rope. Jon ended up using his belt! Just one of many funny stories...

New update from today:

We departed Madidi Lodge this morning a little behind schedule, but made it to the airport in plenty of time to stash our luggage prior to our flight to Zambia. We were able to do a little duty free shopping before boarding the King Air, and following a 45-minute flight, had about the smoothest landing ever. The Kafunta Lodge is awesome. On our first safari we saw a pride of 19 lions, 3 leopards, a genet and too many others to name.

This update just in about the team from yesterday:

Said a few goodbyes at Nkhoma. Our transportation was delayed so we were not able to get out to the FTS training site to say farewell there. Graduation for them is on Friday. Louise said they would send lots of pictures. We met Louise at Crossroads for a late lunch in Lilongwe and transferred the donated items to her. We had a chance to do some shopping, then headed to Madidi to organize our luggage (limit 27 lbs each to Zambia). Dana was able to meet with the Skywaves (bus company) to settle with them. We grabbed a bit to eat, then to bed for a 0600 exit.

[This is a bit of a repeat since Jon had emailed this information to me yesterday and I was able to post it then. Hopefully the next updates will be from Zambia, where they are now.]

Had a text from Jon this morning. One of the team members took a used lap top to donate to FTS. Unfortunately right before they left Lilongwe yesterday the screen went dead. Please pray that someone in Malawi will be able to easily fix it so this can be a useful tool for the team as they serve for the glory of God.

Waiting for news from the team. I expect that they are on safari at Kafunta River Lodge in Zambia (http://luangwa.com/our-camps/kafunta-river-lodge/).

This morning I realized that the news about the Nairboi airport fire may cause some of you to worry about our team. I am sad to hear of the fire and the loss that is to the Kenyan and East African economy, however, I am grateful that our team traveled on Ethiopia air and flew through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia instead of Nairobi. Thank you for keeping our team in your prayers. Even now, pray that they will be thoughtful during their debrief time, rest, relax and learn what God is trying to do in their lives individually and as a team as they prepare to return home.

Sheryl France-Moran

This just in from the team -- We're now at Crossroads (fast food restuarant in Lilongwe near their lodge) eating lunch with Louise; we'll go shopping & head to Madidi Lodge for an early night. We depart for the airport at 0600 Thursday for safari in Zambia. 

(Now that the team is back from the village of Nkhoma, we may get some photos and more updates. Thank you for your faithful prayers.)

This came in from our team a couple hours ago.

@SCPCMalawi2013: Dana & Kim were part of an FTS training team this morning teaching trust and relationships; Jon was with FTS trainers showing youth how to Teach the Bible to children; the rest of the team went to the field with doctors, nurses, & PB+J to assess children that are suffering from Malnutrition.  Following lunch at the lodge, we began necessary tasks related to our departure from Nkhoma tomorrow.  We met Stan's PB+J Team for dinner over at the hospital guest house, a good time of fellowship was had by all.  It was great to see Knocks again (our former bus driver).

Please pray for Sharon, she's a little under the weather. She and Allie L. spent the day at the guest house while the rest of the team went on follow-up visits in the morning with FTS to four families whose lives were transformed in the name of Jesus Christ.

After lunch at the guest house, Jon went out with an FTS team to observe Farming God's Way and to encourage and pray for farmers. The rest of the team was at the guest house engaged in planning and preparation for tomorrow's training at the FTS training site in Nkhoma.

An answer prayer -- Louise heard Mphatso arrived in the US safely!

Jon preaching Sunday morning.

Lori sharing her testimony at the church service.

Recap of 3 July: Lori @ Ali B. helped set up the new PB+J facility by Nkhoma Hospital; the rest of the team participated in the health, Wellness & dying training that was conducted by FTS.  In the afternoon we went to the Nkhoma market (as it was market day) for supplies.

 We attended the service at a small rural church. Jon agreed to preach if we were asked (which we were), & Lori prepared a testimony. Dana also spoke. The power of The Lord was evident with each part fitting in with the whole incl. the meditation given by the pastor.

In the afternoon the team (minus Joy & Dana, who stayed at the lodge) hiked Mount Nkhoma; we made it back in time for another candle-lit Meal (due to another power outage) at which we hosted all the FTS trainers and a missionary family that is passing through Nkhoma; after Eating the power came back on, we sang some praise songs led by Often, just a very meaningful time of sharing and worship. We praise God!

 Louise was able to e-mail these photos to me tonight (10:30 pm in California) -- 7:30 am in Malawi. Only a few had captions, so I made my best guess on many of them. I have also posted them on Facebook.


The team on their way to Malawi.

The team at Mukani (FTS Headquarters) with Louise and Ishmael

I think these shots are all from the Crisis Nursery.

I think these are from when the team members visited their WV sponsored children.

Here's the team at dinner at the Theological Guest House. Notice the candles below and the head lamps in the next photo. The electricity has been out many evenings and some days while they've been there.

In the classroom it looks like Joy is teaching about the Wordless Book.

Jon teaching the Four Spiritual Laws

Looks like Allie and Sharon learned to shuck corn, just like Dana.

The Jesus Film.

A couple more notes for today. Praise the Lord for answering our prayers to heal Lori and Ali B.

Joy and Sharon were back at the Nkhoma Hospital for the afternoon where pain and tragedy, new life and miracles happen in simultaneous incongruity.

It's great to Have Lori and Ali B. fully engaged with the team again!

This just in from the Y-Malawi team:

Ali B. and Lori worked with PB+Jesus for the day. The rest of the team worked with FTS in the marriage relationship seminar. Dana taught "love languages." Jon introduced reflective listening and all participated in role playing, prayer, fellowship and encouragement. Again we feel truly blessed.

Thursday update from Malawi

Dana and Allie L. went with Louise to follow up with and record the testimonies from ta woman miraculously healed last week and a former witch doctor.

Joy worked in the maternity ward and Sharon worked with the children at the Nkhoma Hospital. Ali B. and Lori are still in recovery mode from colds.

Jon and Kim were with the youth evangelism training at the school, where Jon was asked to teach the Four Spiritual Laws. That's the morning...

We met with the teacher for tomorrow's training on marriage/relationships for planning. All but Lori plan to attend the Jesus Film tonight.

This message from Dana to Jim:

 

Louise is letting me use her email. She has a mobile hot spot. We are going to try and send some photos to Sheryl so she can post them on the blog. In the meantime below is one that Louise already had on her computer.

We had a great day! I learned how to shuck dried corn and take it off the cob so it can be ground into corn flour for nsima. We are cooking dinner now with no  electricity,. It went out about 30 minutes ago, so we are in the dark. The headlamp is coming in very handy. And the cooks are using our little lantern. Good thing we bought candles too when we got here. 

Jim got another text indicating that the power had come back on, so looks like it was only off for about an hour.

Lots of news from Wednesday in Malawi:

Ali B. and Lori have both had minor colds. Ali was feeling better by noon but Lori is still a bit under the weather. Ali was able to go to the hospital to work with PB+Jesus, but Lori needed to rest at the Guest House. Please pray for healing for Lori. It is evening in Malawi now, so please pray that Lori will sleep well and recover from this cold. Pray also that the rest of the team doesn't get this bug.

At 7:30 am the rest of the team left for FTS training. After greetings and praising God through song and dance, Dana and Louise went with one neighborhood evangelism team. Sharon and Allie L. went with another. A third team did follow-up after the Jesus film was shown last night. Jon, Joy and Kim had an opportunity to observe the Wordless Book training and rehearsals. Amazing how God is working, including healing a woman miraculously this morning. Many accepted the FTS team and the Good News and are now brothers and sisters in Christ. We are so blessed to be in this partnership!

I asked Jon how they were dealing without a fridge and he informed me that there is a freezer that is working, so they use the fridge as a cooler. Last year when our team was there the freezer blew a fuse and stopped working while we were there, so glad to know there is a new one.

Hope to have news about their day with FTS (Fishers Trainers and Senders) in a few hours.

Sheryl

This in from Jon, "We were with our World Vision sponsored children today. Between the 8 of us, we visited 11 children. We are all moved by how God is working."

From Jon, "We're able to exchange our currency with Louise's help; picked up needed supplies in 3 stores; ate lunch; visited Mukani (the FTS headquarters outside Lilongwe); arrived safely in Nkhoma."

I also heard from Jim Cialdella that Dana had texted to let him know that the Theological Guest House, where our team is staying, does not have a refrigerator. That will be a challenge, so please keep them in your prayers.

Here is the team at breakfast at Madidi Lodge on Monday morning.

Jon sent this update at 11:45 pm our time or 8:45 am in Lilongwe --

     Latest update, Louise just got here and we're waiting for Blessing to show up (we're on Malawi time now :), and she told us that Mpatso went to the airport for her flight last night, but it was 'canceled.' Please have folks pray that she can make alternate arrangements to get to Dulles, and from there to Louisville, for her conference.

     Also, Louise at her apartment had a major electric connection (tranformer, main fuse, something etc.) crashed, and Ishmael had to meet the electrician at 0600 this morning (that was the only time they could work it in to their schedule) to get it fixed (though it may not be the permanent fix their looking for).

     Needless to say, Louise did not get much sleep last night. Pray for her as she's juggling many things right now, not to mention our trip and Stan's [Coast Hills Church] trip coming up next week, along with the training, etc.

This came in from Jon at 10:30 pm (sorry I was so tired yesterday I went to bed early and am only posting this now). It was 7:30 am Monday morning in Lilongwe.

     The flight numbers seem to have been mixed up and/or changed, as the flight we were on from Addis was one digit off from our tickets (177 instead of 178 or something).  It is just amazing how God is paving the way for us, Louise thought she was getting here at least an hour early, and we only stood at the curb at the Lilongwe airport for about five minutes. Knocks was not our driver, it's a guy named Blessings (he said to call him that, as we're all having trouble pronouncing it correctly in Chichewa), nice guy who ate with us at Crossroads last night.

     So, all our prayer requests God is answering, the luggage (extra stowed bags per person and one extra third bag) was no cost, it was checked all the way from LAX to Lilongwe (we didn't have to hassle with it at all), customs was no problem (we didn't even have to fill out any customs forms, etc.), we made all our connections no problem, and we all agreed that Addis (Bole International) is far and away better than Nairobi. It still has challenges (the women had to scramble for some toilet paper), but it is lighter, airier, more accommodating, and though there are some transport issues (limited busses taking passengers out to aircraft, creating long lines at departure gates, etc.), it was overall a much more positive experience.

     Everything that was on our agenda has been accomplished, and we even got to meet Mpatso yesterday before she flies to Louisville, KY for a presentation; I passed on your greetings, and associated myself with you.

     That's about it for news, I'm hoping when the rest of the team wakes up I can send some photos for you to put on the blog.  

Semper Fi,

Jon G. Moran

This e-mail came from our partner Louise Laubscher at 9:00 am California time (6:00 pm in Lilongwe).

Dear Sheryl, I arrived there [the airport] at 2:10 pm and was shocked to see them outside sitting on their suitcases. They told me that they took ages to get through immigration and were only outside for maybe 15 minutes. The all look fine and they got their bags. I escorted them to Madidi. They got their rooms. As we speak they are now at Cross Roads for a meal. I am not now with them, because my daughter Mphatso is also leaving tonight for the USA. I will be with them from 8 am tomorrow and then the whole thing is starting.

Praise the Lord for His people who are caring for our team.

Sheryl

5:00 am in California and 2:00 pm in Malawi -- this text from Dana -- "Everyone is fine. All the bags made it! Our flight changed and was 2.5 hours early. Long story."

They were waiting at the airport and asked me to email Louise. Minutes later she arrived at the airport. I'm sure she'll reach their bus driver and get them to the Madidi Lodge, where they are staying tonight.

More to come when I get the "long story."

Sheryl

This text from Dana at 9:28 am (ET) "At Dulles Airport, getting ready to board our next flight. All are well. Africa, here we come!"

This is their long flight. They left DC at 10:15 am (ET) and arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 7:45 am (their time), which is 10 hours ahead of us in California, so it will be 9:45 pm tonight for us when they arrive -- basically a 15 hour flight.

Please pray that they will be able to get some sleep.

At 8:45 pm the red van and Jim Cialdella's car arrived at LAX just as Bob Lutz dropped off Sharon and Allie -- perfect timing. Here they are with their 17 bags -- Sharon, Allie L., Joy, Ali B., Lori, Jon, Kim and Dana. The team got checked-in and were headed through security within an hour. A text from Dana indicated that they were at the gate ready to board their flight at 11:15 pm headed for Dulles, their first stop in their long trip to Malawi.

Six of the team members (Lori, Jon, Dana, Joy, Ali and Kim) met at the church at 6:30 to rearrange their luggage. They ended up with 2 bags each plus the one extra one with medical supplies which United set without charging them.

Thanks for all your prayers. The team met about 45 minutes before they needed to leave for the airport to reorganize their bags. They ended up taking 17 (2 per person plus one extra) to the airport. Praise the Lord, United allowed each person to take 2 bags, since they will be connecting with Ethiopian Air. Then they allowed the extra bag to go for FREE, even though their website said it would be $200. The reason they allowed it was because it was entirely medical supplies.

I received a text from Dana around 10:40, so I know they made it to their gate and should have taken off around 11:15 this evening.

Joshua and I made it home around 11:45 pm. I've been up since 2:00 am, so I'm heading to bed. Will post pictures tomorrow and posts about the team's time at Dulles (outside DC).

Prayer Request About Baggage

We have an important prayer request. The team currently has 19 bags that they would like to take with them to Malawi. United Airlines indicates on their website that they will not recognize the international carrier's allotment of two bags per person (we have a team of 8). Please pray that United will not charge the additional $100 per bag for the 8 extra bags. The 3 bags beyond those 8 will cost $200, so please pray either for a miracle that United won't add that charge or for the team to be able to priorities, resort and only take 16 bags to the airport. They are carrying food for themselves as well as 3 bags of medical supplies for the hospital, theology books for FTS, supplies for PB+J and baby clothes and blanket that have been donated for infants at the Crisis Nursery for AIDs orphans.

Please pray for peace for all the team members, especially team leader Dana Leonard-Cialdella who is responsible for a lot of final details.

Thank you.

Sheryl

Y-Malawi Team Departure from SCPC

The 2013 SCPC Y-Malawi team is almost ready to go. They will leave for Malawi this Friday, July 26. If you would like to pray for them as they depart, please meet at the church in the south parking lot at 7:00 pm.