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.