Roses

We are so glad that we have sisters now to leaven the lump in Lilongwe. They have made, and each new one continues to make, a footprint in the hearts of the people here.
Sister Murisi and Ngqondela, Sister Santinho, Sister Adams, Sister Kumalo, Sister Patterson, Sister Chua, Sister Ntuli...... and many more to come.
We have had the great privilege of seeing the first sister missionaries come to Lilongwe. In May 2012 President Padovich asked us to set up an apartment and prepare for a set of sisters and he sent us Sister Murisi and Sister Ngqondela (the ngq is pronounced as a tongue click). These two came to the mission from the MTC together and were both assigned to serve in Blantyre as their first area. There the four sisters live in the same apartment so even though they weren't companions, they were still together. After a while their trainers were transferred and they became companions and it was after that that they were transferred up to Lilongwe together. In August they were assigned to be trainers themselves and they got their own new "baby sharks", first Sister Santinho for Sister Murisi then Sister Adams for Sister Ngqo. Months passed and still they lived in the same apartment and looked forward to "dying" (coming to the end of their mission) together in Lilongwe. And then came the news... Sister Murisi was being transferred for the last few weeks of their mission. It was a sad morning as these two parted for the first time in 17 months.
And now they are at the end of their missions, looking forward to the rest of their lives and many new and different "missions". We wish them, and all of our beloved missionaries, the best in every good thing. They will always be in our hearts and prayers. Bloom on, God's roses never fade!

Sister Murisi and Sister Ngqondela - two roses!

Sister Murisi's transfer day - a sad morning.

... and 4 weeks later, another sad morning.

4 Roses - Sister Kumalo, Sister Patterson, Sister Ngqondela, Sister Adams

Sister Ngqo saying goodbye to her "daughter". (notice the tan lines on Sister Adams' feet)

Bye!!!