a home away from home

Merry Christmas and Happy 2014 Friends & Family!

As I look back on this past year I am overcome with emotion and amazement. The Lord has been nothing but faithful this year and I can see now, how his hand has been at work through every twist and turn in bringing me here to Africa this year. In the few short months I have been here God has truly transformed me as a person and has enriched my love for people, travel, and culture.

Mid December brought the close of the Academy for the holidays, which meant time to see more of Africa. I had the privilege of traveling down south with five other staff members to Cape Town, South Africa. We embarked on our journey on Sunday, December 15^th, only after watching the ABC Men’s Basketball team win the National Championship on Saturday night. It had been 13 years since the boys had won the title so it was a blessing to be apart of that joyous moment. 

Early Sunday morning we headed to the bus station where we boarded the InterCape to begin our 38 hour bus ride from Lilongwe, Malawi to Johannesburg, South Africa. We traveled through 4 African countries (Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa) in 2 days. Waited numerous hours at border crossings and witnessed countless little miracles along the way.

Even though it was hot, sweaty and crammed it was well worth it. We hiked Table Mountain, went shark cage diving, pet cheetahs, visited Robben Island and went to the Cape of Good Hope, the most south-western point of Africa. It was the trip of a lifetime and I am beyond grateful for the memories that were made.






God knew what he was doing when he brought this group of people to Malawi this year. The staff and friends I have by my side are some of the most incredible and passionate people I know. They challenge me spiritually and encourage me in my faith as I strive to understand, further, where God is leading.

“We were made to represent the love of God in each other’s lives, so that each person we walk through life with has a more profound sense of God’s love for them. Friendship is an opportunity to act on God’s behalf in the lives of the people that we’re close to, reminding each other who God is. When we do the hard, intimate work of friendship, we bring a little more of the divine into daily life. We get to remind one another about the bigger, more beautiful picture that we can’t always see from where we are.” – Shauna Niequist [Cold Tangerines]

I thought it would be appropriate to use this post to introduce you to some of these amazing people that I keep talking about. For those of you who follow me on Facebook you have seen these two faces quite a bit.

On the left is Sydney, she is my roommate, workout buddy, accountability partner and honestly an answer to my prayers. Don’t let her size fool you, she may be small but she has a huge heart for Africa and the Lord. She listens to me grumble and we laugh to the point of tears. She has been nothing but a constant source of support this semester. The handsome fella to my left is Todd, and yes, you did see him in National Championship photo above…he’s a baller. Todd is one of the funniest people I know; I always joke and say that somebody needs to buy this guy a microphone…but seriously. He has a smile and a personality that are magnetic and he radiates joy wherever he goes. He has a huge heart for people and acts out God’s love for others in a tangible way. I praise God for these two and am thankful for friends who have become family and make Malawi a home away from home.

It only took two weeks in South Africa, fully immersed in the comforts of a first world country, to realize that Malawi has become a place I can call home. The simplicity here is honestly refreshing. There is something so beautiful about nothing; I cant even put it into words. As this holiday comes to a close and I begin to prepare for the New Year ahead many things are on my mind. Several months ago I was faced with the question of what to do this year and God opened the door for me to come here to Malawi. Once again I am at a crossroads as a new season of life is possibly approaching. I am prayerfully considering a few options for next year:

•         Stay here in Malawi another year
•         Pursue a Masters in Sports Ministry
•         Seek a sports ministry job in the states

I am currently bringing each option before the Lord seeking direction and clarity. I am praying for wisdom trusting that the direction will become clear.

James 1:2-7 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”

Would you keep me in your prayers as I seek the Lord’s direction for next year?

This past week I was able to go into a nearby village and visit Dennis, a man who works here at ABC and his wife Ethel. They were recently married in November and I had the privilege of attending their wedding. They were kind enough to invite us over to their home in the village, where we shared our testimonies and prayed for one another. It was an amazing moment and their kindness and contagious smiles are two things I never want to forget. Would you pray for these two as they begin their new life together? Pray for Dennis, as he seeks to be a responsible God-fearing man, for his lovely bride Ethel. Ethel has not given her life to the Lord but wants to know more. Pray for her and her heart to be open to hearing the Truth, and for us to be living examples of Jesus to both her and Dennis.

Also, please keep my neighbors the Hiroto’s in your prayers. Kellen and Becca are both teachers here at the Academy.

Two years ago they adopted Yami here in Malawi and are currently in the process of adopting another little Malawian boy Justin. Adoption here is quite the process and it has been a rollercoaster to even get the social worker to move on Justin’s case. Justin is currently in an orphanage in Kasungu. Over the break he was sick and in the hospital for 5 days. Kellen and Becca cannot bring Justin home to begin fostering-to-adopt until the social worker goes to get consent papers signed by Justin’s relatives. Today they were able to go and see Justin with their social worker into his family’s village. Justin’s family is meeting tomorrow (Saturday) with all the relatives to make their decision. So the Hiroto’s should find out in the next few days if they can bring Justin home. Please pray for them as they patiently wait and trust that God is in control and that His timing is perfect.

I truly appreciate each and every one of you and the different ways you have supported me here in Africa. Your prayers, encouraging posts, emails, and financial support are invaluable and I am so grateful. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask! I would love to share with you more about what is happening here in Malawi. 2014 is going to be a whirlwind but I am excited to see where God leads.

Happy New Year!

-Ames