Picking Up The Pace

It has been just a month since our last update and the pace has certainly picked up. We have continued to be blessed with good health for the most part (Josie spiked a fever for a few days but recovered quickly) and are now getting used to the African heat.

Josie in her new birthday dress

Josie celebrated her 3^rd birthday on August 27^th and we celebrated it in our usual way with cake, dancing and a whole lot of neighbor children. Thank you to all who sent gifts for the girls. All of them meant the world to the girls and we all appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Josie now spends most mornings with Esther and has really developed a bond with her. Her speech has struggled a bit agin with the changes in our routine. Please pray that Jesus will help her to find her words easily and continue to grow into the beautiful little lady she is.

Lily performing at Friday Chapel

Lily is doing VERY well in her new school. She has made many new friends and has really excelled in her reading skills. Her teacher is a very sweet woman originally from South Africa and I believe she adores Lily as much as Lily does her.  The school itself has great staff overall, with a strong curriculum and beautiful faith woven into it all. We have been fortunate to be able to attend most her Friday chapels.  Witnessing and experiencing those have definitely assured us that the Holy Spirit has led us to this place and Almighty God has shown his mercy onto us with many blessings.

Pretty in pink

 Tonya has been busy helping at Lily’s school in a number of ways including organizing the school’s uniform closet, helping Lil’s teacher, and creating a resource room for the teachers. On days that she is not helping at the school, she has also been working with Fr. Dario at the provincial house. We have ben asked to assist the province in some administrative duties in the finance/accounting office and we are happy to help. This has been a great way to learn more about the Comboni province of Malawi and Zambia, the different Comboni communities in these two countries and the great work they are all doing for the glory of God. If that wasn’t enough, we both helped to open the two-pre schools that are run by the parish. They opened two weeks ago and have been a great learning experience of the culture in many ways.

Part of the road to the pre-school

Over the past months I have been working with Lily’s school in building and creating their new food service program. I researched and sourced the equipment out of South Africa and have been developing the menu, pricing and procedures. The equipment should arrive soon and then I will get the program up and running. Again, another gift from God that I can utilize my knowledge in food service here in Malawi! Since the opening of the pre-schools, on the days Tonya is at Lily's school or the Provincial House, I have been walking to the bigger of the two to help with enrolling the students collecting fees and making sure the teachers have some basic needs to operate the school. The walk is about 2 miles from the house through a very poor area of Lilongwe on a dirt road. It takes about 40 min. each way and has been fun except for the plooms of dust that come rolling when a car passes. It gives me time to listen to music and speak more Chichewa to people I meet along the way. I have had some pretty funny looks when the people see and hear the white guy strolling and singing down the road, something not many had seen there before.

Some of our learners at St. Agness pre-school

 We appreciate the work we have been given so far and thank God for the opportunity to share His love in all that we do. Please pray for our health, safety and patience as we continue on this wonderful journey. 

Please mail your gift to Comboni Lay Missionaries 1615 E 31st Street
 La Grange Park, IL 60526 or donate online at www.laymission-comboni.org

Denote “Kleven family – General Support” in the memo line or intention box on the website to support keeping us in mission or “Kleven family – Ministry Account” to support our ministry projects in Malawi. Gifts are deductible to the full extent allowable under IRS regulations.

Sending our love and blessing to you all! Jacob