My daughter's miracle

On August 7th we sent Janika and Jaako out to clean up their things off the side-walk. Well I guess Janika had left her umbrella across the street. Without even looking she ran out on the road from between two parked cars and a truck was coming. The truck slammed on their brakes and swerved, just missing hitting Janika dead-on. Janika under an adreniline rush was able to hobble inside screaming her head off. When Andrew, I and the driver were looking at her foot it was getting a major bruise on the inside of her foot and was swelling up. It didn't look very good. I got ready to bring her to the hospital. Janika cried and screamed "Please, Please pray for me. I want to be healed before I go to the hospital." In the commotion we didn't really hear or act on her crying so she screamed it again and this time Andrew prayed for her and then carried her out to the van. When we pulled out Janika said we had to think and talk about happy things so that she didn't feel the pain in her foot too much. As we were driving Janika started to say that her foot didn't hurt as much, she continued to say that it was getting better. By the time we got to the hospital she said she could move it without much pain. Irv and Jonie met me at the hospital and Irv carried Janika in. Sure enough when Clint Neubauer (the nurse) looked at it, it was pretty good. He was able to apply pressure and she could even walk on it a bit. And the amazing part was the bruising and swelling was almost gone!! It just had some bruising and swelling on the top of her foot. The Dr. looked at it and it was x-rayed. No fractures or anything. Just soft tissue damage!! So off we went home. We had to go by Wal-mart to get a tensor bandage for her and when we got there she pulled her croc off and yelled "Oh my God!!" I thought something bad happened so I turned around in panic - but she said " All of the bruising and swelling is gone!!" And sure enough when I looked at it - it was true. She now only had a slight discolouration on the top and no swelling. WOW!! Jesus had healed her! Her call for prayer healed her!! She now just has to be off of it for a few days and be careful but she is totally fine. Oh ya, as well at the hospital we realized that she had a tire scuff mark on the back of her arm from her elbow to her wrist! I asked if the truck had hit her body and she said "Not really - It just lightly skimmed across my tummy" I asked her where her arms were and how the truck could touch her tummy and not her arms and she said "I don't know" In that kid voice that says I her mom doesn't know what I'm talking about! So that's it in a big nutshell. Janika says she so happy that Jesus saved her from dying and healed her foot before she got to the hospital.I believe in miracles - do you?

can't think of one

Hey every-one,

Just sittin' here and reminiscing about days past as I'm slowly linking up with people from public school, high school and just other important people and I realize that so many people have had an impact on my life. I want to have that same impact on others. I want to be remembered as some-one who cared - wasn't always necessarily nice (Ha Ha) but genuinely cared for people. As Jaako and I plan this 2nd trip to Malawi, I'm more focused on the people in Malawi, not just trying to help my son accomplish his goals. I truly miss being in Malawi and I'm so very excited to be going back. To go back and buy more truck loads of food, put another kid into school, help another family start a business. It'll be slow going, but every family we help is another family saved. Lets do this one family, one person, one village at a time. But lets do it. Not just talk about what a great thing Jaako is doing, but become a part of it so you can say "What a wonderful thing I am doing!" You are all vital parts of this journey. With out you we wouldn't have been able to accomplish nearly what we did. You are great people. Thanks for your help and keep helping. Malawi needs lots of help. Lets do it.

We are having a yard sale on Saturday the 24th at Thunder Bay Christian Fellowship from 9-1. Come out and support the trip! Call 622-1030

Life goes on

Hey guys, life has been busy and I haven't had a chance to write. Jaako hasn't either on his blog. We don't have an internet connection at home now so it is difficult. He will update soon too. My daughter Janika just turned 8 and I realize how quickly time is passing. It is just amazing!! I'm in the Sault right now visiting my very sick mom and it's funny how suddenly time seems to stand still. It's like I'm willing time to stay still so that my Mom will heal and we can carry forward from this day on with everything behind us as if it never really happened. But we go day by day, starting each one anew and fresh and hey it's working. Life is going on and we are succeeding in having good days. That's all I got for now.

Orphans

Just reading some very shocking and saddening statistics from Malawi. Right now in Malawi there are over 1 million orphans, 700,000 of them are because their parents died of AIDS! Does this compute with you? It doesn't with me. There is a medicine that will allow an aids patients to live out their days healthy!! What are we, as a North American culture doing that allows for this to happen? I know we all care, we all are saddened at the thought of orphaned children, we all want to help. Then why is not happening? I just keeping thinking that if every person in Canada gave $1.00 every year - do you know that poverty stricken countries would receive $32,777,304.00 - All for a buck. Can you go without one small coffee once a year? What about once a month? Come on guys, we have the potential as Canadians to bless the nations!! We are a wealthy country with warm-hearted people. We are a people that care. I am so proud to be a Canadian and as a Canadian, I want to help those who are way less fortunate than me. My buck is in the pot. Where's yours??

Send a loonie to TBCF, 515 N. Syndicate Ave. Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3X2. Send this post on to your family and friends and lets see if we can make a difference. I will keep you posted if and when the loonies start coming in!!

New Plans Ahead

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to let you know of some of our new plans. Jaako is wanting to go back to Malawi in June 2008 - How exciting!! Almost daily he tells me how much he misses Malawi and that he wants to go back. I think we may lose him to Malawi when he gets older :=( So back it's back to work we go. Those of you that live in Thunder Bay, On Sunday May 20th we will be having a hotdog and bakesale at our church after the morning service. It will begin around noon at 515 N. Syndicate Avenue (Behind the Dairy Queen on May Street) and run for probably about an hour or so. All proceeds will go to a man named Paul in Malawi who's wife just passed away as well as his home burn't down. Everything was lost in the fire. He now can't travel to work as he has to take care of his other children. He wants to start a maize grinding business so he can stay close to home. Soon we will have more info for upcoming events. We want to have another yard sale as well in October we want to have another Malawian Feast and Silent Auction.

Presently a friend of ours, Angela is running a clothing drive for Malawi. Any donations of summer or light weight clothing can be dropped off at the church and she will get it to those who desperately need them in Malawi. Call 622-1030 for more info.

Thanks every-one and stay tuned to find out how you can help the children of Malawi!!

Darn Parasites

Hey guys,

Just been doing some thinking these past few weeks as I continue to battle some sort of parasite or something I picked up in Malawi. At times I feel fustrated that this thing refuses to leave my body and continues to cause me grief but then I realize (again!) that this is the sort of thing that the people in under-developed countries deal with day in and day out. I at least have had the option and opportunity to go to the doctors to get tests done. Once the results are in, I can be treated. My friends in Malawi do not have this choice. I continually forget just how fortunate I and my family are. It's funny how quickly we forget to count our small blessings. Like lines at Doctors office, grocery stores, even traffic lights as I sit in my nice mini-van. There are so many people that would love to have the money to stand in a line in a grocery store or at a Doctor's office. How do we begin to change the way we think, the way we are? To see the small pleasures in life and not stress over the little things? I guess it's a day by day relearning, rethinking process. I'm trying..................

Market Places

Hey, I just want to share about our market-place experiences in Malawi. The first time we went to a market place was the same evening we had flew into Malawi. We were exhausted from jet lag but very excited as well to experience a little bit of Africa - so off we went to an art market. It was located literally in a parking lot of what looked like it could be a small strip mall. The vendors all had their ware laying out on the grass along the edges of the lot. The second we got out of our vehicle, we were mobbed by the marketeers. (Is that even a word?) Oh please madam, please sir, please boy, buy from me, my family hasn't eaten today. It became very quickly overwhelming as they all fought for us to visit their space and buy something from them. The items were beautiful!! We could buy anything from awesome paintings, to carved bowls, candle holders, toys, animals etc. The workmanship was excellent. Jaako was very overwhelmed. He felt very badly for those we didn't buy from. It was difficult for me as well to choose who we'd buy from and from whom we didn't. We made a huge error in judgement as we promised people we'd come back and look at their stuff. The next time we went, we were again mobbed and everybody remembered exactly what we had looked at and reminded us of our promises. Some true and some not. I couldn't remember who I'd promise to buy a painting from, so I think I bought from the wrong person. But we learned very quickly how to say no and how to barter with them, as well as know who wasn't telling the truth. It became a fun and exciting adventure as we grew comfortable in standing our ground. Once we stood our ground, the vendors also began to respect us more and treat us less aggressively. All in all it was a great time and it felt wonderful to help people out as well as bring many beautiful souvenirs home. Even Jaako became a pro at bartering and purchased many items for himself. It is such a different process from walking into Wal-mart and looking for the best price on the shelf and just putting it into your cart. Even in the few stores they had, sales people competed for your sales as well as bringing your bags to your car. You always tipped the boys that helped you out! I'm really beginning to miss Malawi a lot. It claimed a part of my heart. I miss the excitement, the people the commotion. Even though we've been home for many, many weeks, it's hard to blend back into such a laid back life style. It was great for the first few weeks, especially as we battled sickness. But now Jaako and I find ourselves at the point of boredom at times!! We strive to keep busy and involved. It is great to be back home but I am also looking forward to going back to Malawi again.

Baby and Blanket

I remembered a cute story today as we were doing a presentation to the kids at St. Bernards. I was reminded that at one of the villages, a group of ladies sang a few songs for us. Oh how beautiful it sounded. The harmony and just plain volume of it mesmerized me. When I finally came back to reality, I noticed that most women had a baby strapped to their backs, a few didn't. In the middle of the second song, a little girl about a year old, toddled up to her mom dragging a blanket behind her on the dirt floor. It reminded me of our kids with their favourite blankies and such. This little girl walked right up to her mom, tugged on her moms skirt and gave her the blanket. Her mom grabbed her by the arm like a monkey and slung her on her back and then she bent over and wrapped the blanket around her daughter and herself, all the while not missing one note of the song! It was just amazing to watch. These blankets are like soothers, teddy bears, receiving blankets etc. It brings comfort to the child as they are strapped to their mothers back. When they were strapped on their mothers back, I rarely saw a baby crying or making a fuss. Only when they were hungry and the mothers remedied that quickly. I have never in my life seen such content infants. The closeness to their mother or sister, brought comfort, contentment and quitness to the babies. I think their culture has something on our North American Culture. If I was younger and just starting to have my kids, I think I would try it. It just seemed to create a bond that was so strong and unique. I loved watching them.

Children

Good Evening,

Jaako and I had another presentation tonight and it always hits home how in need these children are. Just looking again at the clothes, the food and just their lives, it hits home again and again. I never tire watching the presentation or looking at the pictures. Jaako said yesterday to some-one, I realized how lucky I am to live in Thunder Bay. What a good way to say it. We whine and complain about this and that, without ever even really realizing what the other half of the world lives like. I do it too. I've done it since I've been home even. It's winter, my husband is laid off, no money coming in, we have to eat the same foods, whine, whine, whine. It's amazing that I still have the capacity to whine. I'm eating much better than most in Malawi, it may be not be up to standard here, but in their standards, we live like Kings!! I have to shake my head and say: Knock it off Sue! Yes - I admit, I talk to myself. But anyhow, every day is a new day, a new day in which I can be very grateful for the things that I have and even for the things that I don't have and not forget those that have less than me.

Flood

Hey every-one. Thanks to every-one that came out last night to our info night. I was so happy that so many came out to see what Malawi was like. I'd like to share about the flood in Zambia now that I have had some time to process it. We went into Zambia for a few days and the night before we left Zambia, we had torrential downpours again which caused many of the major rivers to overflow their banks. What a mess! We were barely able to make it out of our camp, in fact we were the last vehicle to make it. God had His hand on our Land Rover - we went through water that was going over our hood and flowing into the truck. We had some tense moments. We also had to walk through waters up to our knees (Jaako's thighs) that had crocodiles and snakes in it. God kept us safe. Once we were out and driving down the main road to Malawi, we were devastated to see all of the water around us in the lower lying areas. Huts were up to the roof in water and people were moving their few belongings up to the road in order to save it. I was only able to think, what were these people going to do now? Their crops were ruined, their homes and villages were ruined, what little they had was now lost. Dry season is coming soon, so another crop won't be possible for a while. This isn't a situation that is uncommon. Although it was the worst than it has been in decades, but every year people in those areas suffer from flooding. Malawi had a huge flood just prior to us getting there. The devastation in these countries is so huge and it seems that so few actually care - or they just don't know about the crisis as it's not in every papers headlines when it happens there. I don't know what the answers are. I won't stop praying though until I have some. This flood was where Jaako and I contracted Belharzia. When left untreated it could be life threatening. Jaako and I were desperately sick from it, but we had the $6.00 (combined total for both of us) medication that would make us well again. Most people there won't get the medication. It's almost a weeks salary to just get treated. I keep asking myself why we are so priveleged. This bothers me night and day. Why do I live the life that I do? What makes me special? I don't have the answers. I can only help.

Information Night

Hey everybody,

This Saturday night at 7:0o p.m. we will be having a night to show you all about the people of Malawi. It will be at Thunder Bay Christian Fellowship, 515 N. Syndicate Ave.

I really encourage everybody to come out. Come out and experience what Malawi was like. See the hearts of the people. I'm still so over whelmed from the whole experience. Since we've arrived home, we've already had 2 deaths of people that we knew and connected with. The first was a mom of two sets of twins under the age of 5, she died of Aids. And then a 12 year old girl fell sick and died within 3 days. These were both treatable diseases and they just lacked either the knowledge or finances to help them get better. It just breaks my heart. Everyday people die unnecessarily. Only because they don't have what they need. It's time we stand up together and help these people. They need prayer and finance. Look forward to a brand new web site soon that will allow you to step out and help this nation.

Looking Back

I've just spent a little time going back and reading most of Jaako's blog and reading people's comments. I'm amazed and so very grateful for the support that we have received from so many of you. I thank God for each and every one of you. When Jaako came to me back in May of last year, I could never at that time have imagined all that has happened and all that is still to come. I just sit back in awe of all that God has done.

When Jaako and I stepped off the plane in Malawi, I was still unsure of exactly what God wanted for me. Jaako was pretty clear - he had come to help the children. As we started going village to village, a passion grew inside of me to see these people not only get by, but to prosper.
The Malawians are great people. They have a silent strength in them. They carry the weight of their situation with no complaint and most of all they carry hope in them. They are a nation that have not given up. They work very hard and will do anything to meet their needs and the needs of their families. They are very relation oriented. Family is a very big deal. You will see a working man not only supporting his own family, but he will support his parents (if they are still alive) and he will also support any of his siblings and their families if they are in need. They are not a greedy nation. They will give until they have nothing left to give. I watched this in awe and in wonder. Hope arose in me as I watched them. I believe they are a nation that will one day prosper.

Jaako and I had so many experiences in Malawi. We saw many great people, awesome animals and we also saw and witnessed much despair and sadness. We battled many emotions at the same time. It took awhile to adapt. We also battled much sickness. Our North American bodies just weren't up to speed to the Malawian way of life. We were off and on being sick the first 2 weeks, nothing that stopped us from going out to the villages, just enough to make us feel blah. The last week we both got pretty sick from the different foods we had eaten in the villages as well as the parasites we got when we got stuck in a flood. (I will write more on the flood on another day) We continued on to the villages right up to the day before we left. In the flood we picked up a disease called Belharzia. It's a parasite tape worm that moves through your body laying eggs. The eggs hatch in about 3 months causing you to be extremely sick. Many lose their hearing, sight etc.... God lead a lady to us who told us about Belharzia and that we should get a treatment before we left Malawi and take it when we got back to Canada. If once you've taken the treatment and you don't get sick then you did not have Belharzia, if you do get sick then you do have it. Well Jaako and I both got sick. Jaako got a really bad migraine that lasted over 12 hours and a fever. Then he was fine. I turned yellow and I was really weak, disoriented and fevered. A few days later I had stomache cramps like I never had before. I thought I would have to go the ER as I was beginning to lose my mind. It was pretty bad. All of a sudden it just ended and for the next few days I just broke out into a sweat every now and then. We are now feeling much better and we thank everybody who prayed for us.

Sue

Hello for the first time!

I thought that I would share a little bit about my experiences about going to Malawi with my son and Clint. It truly was a wonderful experience full of laughter, tears, joy and heart-break. I'm not a super emotional person (as most of you know) but boy, did I ever shed alot of tears in both Malawi and here at home. (Before I left and after) I will start from the beginning as much as I can and interject modern day in here and there, just for interesting reading!!)

God spoke a mighty word into my son back in May 2006, and being his parents, Andrew and I had to honour what God had told Jaako to do. It was our job as his parents to ensure that Jaako was able to walk out in what God told him to do. It was both an honour and a chore at times. I've wept many hours asking God how this was to happen. You see, Jaako's faith was much stronger than mine. In many times, it was Jaako's trust and faith in God that actually carried me through when I wanted to quit. But we have now been to Malawi and back and God has put in me such a passion for the people in Malawi. God has given me my own vision that compliments and works with Jaako's vision. We serve a faithful God guys. In the beginning I never imagined that we would actually make it to Malawi. But we did and God enabled it every step of the way. We had alot of bumps in the road and we prayed lots and worked hard and it was very rewarding.

It was an honour and a joy to be led by my son in this mission. A child shall lead.........
I'm so very proud of Jaako and what he has done. He could have just ignored God's call and went on playing hockey and playing with his friends. But he didn't, he grabbed a hold of what God called him to do and he made it happen. He hounded me until I agreed to help him. Thanks Jaako for teaching me how to be led. It's been a wonderful experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything!!! Thanks to everybody that partnered with us to make this happen. I know that many of you have prayed for us countless hours and it is so appreciated!! Most of all I thank God that he chose to use a child to accomplish His Will and allowed us to see that our children are leaders. They have the right to lead and we have the obligation and honour to follow.