The sparrows have landed

 Beloved Encouragers, this journey, the road that has lead us back to my homeland would have been too rocky to pass through without you.  For five years you have believed in the work of Christ in us, from Sunday School’s colorful letters that brought us to tears, to care packages spiced with thoughtfulness, to hearing about daily prayers being made by children by their bedsides for us in Africa, we arrive home grateful for each one of your personal investments.  

Mawande off to first day of school..with a few
extra farm friends

Come on up to our loft for cuts by donation by me!

You have believed in the advancement in the kingdom of heaven in Cape Town, and now, we are ever so happy to announce we believe in the explosion of this same irresistible Happy News of the Gospel here in Manitoba, Canada. Indeed this is a time of training for Mawande at SBC where he is delving into the richness of the Word, studying a degree called Christian Leadership that will sharpen him in areas of church planting, pastoral and organization development.

Yet all the while, we are praying to have the eyes of our hearts wide open to join in with how God is currently moving in you, his Church, to…

             “Preach good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim freedom for the   captives and release prisoners from darkness…” (Isaiah 61).

HE has proclaimed the year of His favor, the season of his super abounding GRACE is upon us! So even whilst I have opened up a little hair salon in our home and offering a house cleaning service (both by donation please call 204 381 6172!) we am praying for a coming back to our  “First Love” as I scrub off those lady bugs one by one!

We’ve joined in a few prayer and worship meetings here and have met with pastors, local leaders and families that have long been discipling the saints for such a time as this.

A fiery prayer and worship night
with beautiful new sisters here
in this community

As Mawande has been studying the history of the Anabaptists, low and behold he has found out that the founding fathers of the Mennonite tradition were radical revivalists proclaiming this same grace of God! And yet more, they were martyrs, as those bound by religion and rules rather than the freedom we enjoy in shameless fellowship in Christ, were determined to keep them controlled and condemned under their thumbs. You can read the book first complied in the 1600’s as wide as the bible, filled with stories of these heroes in the faith called The Bloody Theatre or Martyrs Mirror. These men and women have gone before us and have been added to that great cloud of witnesses now cheering us on to continue where they couldn’t go themselves.

I think it finally is sinking in for both of us that we arent
just visiting

Quality time with our wild west coast brother

So as you have poured out yourselves on our behalf, we are now here for a time to pour back into the life of the church, the Body of Jesus, for the salvation of many. We are so excited to be joining in with leadership of the Young Leaders (collage and career) group in our church as well I’m working with The Loft Program which meets basic needs of those less privileged. Both of these ministries are birthing with life and we are so excited to see where the Holy Spirit leads us accordingly!

Though this consumes many of our conversations after hours, we also know we need to enjoy spaghetti picnic date nights, Mexican feasts with new bible school friends and the first Canadian snow to the full! Since arriving here we have been blessed to visit our brother Trev on the West Coast, showing off these great Canadian Rockies to Mawande’s delight! Catching up and savouring long lost time with dear friends and family has been incredibly beautiful, I can roll up to have Earl Grey tea with my mama whenever the prairie wind blows. In the midst of change in every direction, what a joy!

Family Camping crazzzy

One of these major changes has been our housing scenario. Just when we thought we were settled in a little home that seemed to be the plan, through various circumstances we had to find another place and I’m so grateful to say that God has blessed us tremendously through a dear family whom have invited us to share in their home and their lives. They invited us to stay with them the day before we knew our existing housing option would fall through! What a divine time of community living it has been, learning that we idolize our individual space and time sometimes far too much and miss out on doing life together with others, sharing what God has given us in a very tangible, heart to heart way.

The final SA goodbye send off with alot of warrior prayers
that got us miraculously through the border with only a
"come back any time!"

Plus! God had spoken to dear friends of ours the day before they left for long term missions…to just give us their car!! So a few weeks before the insurance on the car we had been borrowing expired, bam, God blessed us with a car of our own! Get out right?! Its even the same kind of car that I had to sell initially to move to South Africa! Isn’t Holy Spirit so in tune with our needs long before we are, apparently yes in the most obvious way these days!

He is our Praise!

May you see Him moving to meet you right where you need him most today. Keep your ears open, He is wooing you with his loving kindness around the clock.

Love The Manis

Nations to Nations, Here come the Mani's

Somehow we got to the time for the fresh shoots of Tulips to start peeping up in the North and the golden Rondebosch Maple trees to begin falling one by one down here in the South.

Would someone tell me where Resolution January ran?

 Canadian Christmas was as fresh and warm as the pines that hug my parent’s yard into a snow-capped huddle of wonderland joy! Mawande was convinced as we climbed back on the plane, as his first taste of winter had now been swallowed, if He had been born and bred in Canada he would have been the happiest camper indeed! And for myself after being away for 5 winters, it felt like I was actually appreciating it all so much more through his excitement to try every great and funny thing we come up with on the prairies to enjoy that white stuff! From Snowshoeing, to snowmobiling, to slapping on those skates to the jump-and-roll in the snow back out of the hot tub craziness!

Along with the festivities, we had opportunities to share with many dear ones of the marvelous ways Jesus has been leading us on, and will be leading us towards this new year. Its full of up and down and north and south and I don’t know how but for the Lord that goes before us!  The hot words are Mani’s both joining YWAM forces, Mozambique Harvest School, South Africa see you later’s, Winnipeg airport hug rug for the second time, Mawande degree…and probably a few friendly cockroaches, highly needed good coffee and Oh Holy Spirit lead us needed in between!

Officially then, with just one visa left to be granted, this plan we have been sure is the Lords, is moving forward  with doors flinging open. Jesus has know I’ve needed for Him to do not just  a a little showing off, but like a whole fashion show for me to strengthen my faith for this one!

Get this, get this God we serve! He has provided all of our Missions school fees, acceptance letters, and most of Mawande’s first year tuition back in Canada! Our Cape Town flat has been sorted out, contents and car spoken for, and a car as well as a home in Canada are already under way being prepared for us! As well, the greatest gift, Mawande’s dear mama has once again laid her hands on her son’s head and told him to go follow where Jesus is leading, fully within her blessing, trusting her primary welfare to the God who hears her every prayer.  One cant fully appreciate what this means without understanding the depth of sacrifice she has given on behalf of her children for most of her life. Only our mediator Jesus can give her this kind of strength, this steady grasp of faith beyond the suffering that she can see. I am the most blessed daughter in law with a woman like this to call my Mama.

The "see you later bbq's have begun in our back yard"

 Mawande will be finishing his ministry with Hope Africa at the end of April, as he has been busy training those to who will replace his work, then he will be re-joining myself under Ywam before we leave for a two month missions training school in Mozambique with Iris Ministry. Now how do I describe this school  but a place where the flags of the Kingdom of God are blazing stronger and wider across the Mozambique countryside. A question one of our friends was asked when she arrived by one of the local Mozambican pastors in conversation about ministry experience was, “So how many?” How many what my friend was wondering…when the pastor went on to clarify, “How many people have you seen being raised from the dead?” He had prayed for two people at that point who had indeed, yep, that’s what you are reading, been medically proven dead, and then very much alive!

So least to say, its going to be a hands on sort of experience of preaching, teaching, healing and setting alight the fires of the the gospel of Jesus Christ!

From there we will be getting back on air Canada as Mawande will be finishing his Christian Leadership/Church planting degree at Steinbach Bible College this Fall. We will continue on doing ministry, myself full time, and Mawande in between his studies in our local church and community as the opportunities are many and very exciting. Nations to Nations is the branch of Ywam we will be working under in Canada as missionaries, as we will be coming back to Cape Town with Ywam after Mawande’s studies are finished in about 2-3 years time. 

Personally, I am full of excitement to sow back into the rich soil of support and prayers and love this community and church I call home in Canada has invested into me for the last 5 years in missions. Now to have this opportunity to come back and work alongside the beautiful ministries God is growing in my hometown, re-connecting and partnering with my brothers and sisters makes so much sense and gives me so much joy! It was one of the hardest journeys to uproot my life, and now, our gracious Father is giving us a season to re-establish ourselves here again for a time, indeed Mama and Papa Fast are just a wee bit excited let’s just say, family camping summer 2017 booked!

Of course, many tears will now be dripped on the Southern side of things, as South Africa has shaped me deeply, I feel like I barely identify with the Charlene that showed up on these shores those years ago. Its been through the beloved people of this land, our church, our family and dear friends that have introduced me to a God of the Universe so in love with every nation, expressing Himself uniquely in each different shade of skin, each new tone of the human heart.  Finding Him here, through this culture, in the eyes of this people, Ive been able to then see, and more fully understand who I am in the reflection of my Maker. I keep praying that mediator Jesus keeps reassuring our beloved family here that out-of-sight, does not mean out-of-heart. We will deeply miss this home every day away. We carry you all in our hearts, irreplaceable.

Oh South Africa, your people’s gift of reconciliation keeps challenging and changing me, your grace for me to learn is healing. Thank-you. The nations need you.

So, that about wraps up this segment of his eye is on the sparrow: South Africa, as the Canadian geese shall fly home soon…so shall the Manis follow. And thank-you for journeying this leg with us, See you on the ice…where the fires of revival are already burning in the great white North!

Love The Manis

a makoti poem: eyes to the ground with chicken all around

Beautiful Traditional dress
with even a towel wrapped around
inside to keep the womb warm
for the new bride..!

Once upon a traditional Xhosa household wedding time,

The moment for the village hero’s new bride had come to shine.

With the morning sun she dawned on her navy apron attire,

Scrubbing pots to prepare, she just might have begun to sweetly perspire.

In great numbers did the dear family arrive,

To Queen Mama’s freshly painted and spruced up hive.

To catch a glimpse of just what this Makoti could achieve,

Included aunties sneaking in impressive tricks up her sleeve.

She spooned sugars and measured milks to the top

Not one of her guests left hungry to find bread at the shop.

A new name was her reward, Lulo is she now referred,

Meaning “One who has brought hope,” to this new families herd.

Welcomes from uncles, blessings from aunties,

She was being knit deeply into this land of shanties.

Mrs Lulo Mani indeed is much richer than any pre paid loan,

Her new family has accepted her as one of their very bone.

Though understanding  another’s way can leave one feeling strangely squeezed,

Bowing and silence for custom’s sake have their rightful place to appease.

Indeed she has learnt that honor comes in all shapes of wild potatoes,

Unto Jesus she chooses to wash all colorful feet, yellow red or green as tomatoes

Now if you don’t really have a clue what I’m going on about here in my rhymes, please let me offer you some explanation pronto!

My family of great honor

Within the wedding year, every new Xhosa bride (called a Makoti) has a separate tea ceremony in the families home as an expression of honor and welcoming her in her place in the family. She is given the privilege to serve the family and in this way she is shown to be worthy of knowing the family intimately enough to do things as they do them. To be given an opportunity to submit to the family traditions is a the way the family shows complete acceptance of the bride into the deep fabric of what makes them who they are. As she serves, the family is demonstrating to her they trust themselves into her hands to care for them and the family as she would her own. What greater sign of honor could this be?

Chicken party in the corner
on my mat with Lalam

Of course myself coming from a different view showing honor to guests by serving them, until I fully allowed this ceremony to digest into my understanding, this day was honestly very difficult for me. But there is the difference, I no longer am seen as a guest in their household, a very pale one at that. I was being told through my capable service to each one, without so many words, I am of them. I am worthy to bear their name, and to be fully honored as such into the entire community, with each dish of chicken prepared just the way they like it. As I placed pap into their hands, they were placing full faith and confidence into mine.  

Preparations for the life I was born for

As a woman, a new wife and even as a missionary, this is one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Considering all the painful racial history exchanged between black and white, the degrading view of women around the world and the constant damage done by well-meaning missionaries, the potential threat to miss this significant moment of restoration was great. It was a highly emotional day for me with stabbing thoughts of being controlled and demeaned, and without any space for the usual extravert nature that I carry. But as I’ve allowed space and time for myself and Jesus to reflect, indeed he has lead me on paths of gold, carrying great treasures and a crown of grace. I look down now to see my hands full of reason for dignity, not dishonor. I was born for this.

Surfs up on the most freeeezing winter day 

I was then honored yet again…with the arrival of my dear friend Darlene the following evening on a jet plane from Canada! Darlene!  Four years after making the promise that once she was able, I would be seeing her face in South Africa and there she was shining upon arrival in the international terminal! For ten days we surfed like the best of them, scrabbled our brains with English words I still doubt exist, and explored this beautiful land and people. There is nothing like physically holding someone’s hand when they say “I am here for you.”

3 Scrabble brains coming up with geniusnessz

Visiting Mama for Sunday biscuits and  a cuppa tea

As well to have Mawande and this dear friend from old bible school days get to meet and have worlds collide, this exchange was such a gift to me. Darlene’s conclusions about my new hubby at the end of it all were, “Ha he’s a funny guy! Keep Him!” And so I shall! More exchanges to come…71 days until we visit Canada but who’s counting?!

Finally, I must mention one last incredible work of our Father, Source of all lavish Love! In unending prayer for another best friend of mine in Malawi, for those of you whom remember Claudia, I have been asking Jesus for the chance to see her again. She has been enduring through desperate times in her home land, and I just have had this ache to see her for the last few years since she left Capetown.

Well, it so happens, I hear “500” in prayer one day last month, make my request to see Claudia, and the next day, I kid you no kids, there is a $500 donation in my account from none other than Auntie GRACE and Uncle Tim! I let them know what I felt the Lord had supplied this money for to check with them if it was ok, and with their blessing boarded a plane a few weeks later to hold the hands of my beloved sister!! The money was exactly the amount for a flight for me and a bus ticket for Claudia to meet together in an in between country of the beautiful desert of Namibia!

Let the giggles and photo shoots commence

We spent one week together I will never forget. A friend of mine here in Capetown asked a friend of hers if we could stay with them, and both Claudia and I can never remember being so spoiled in our lives by these strangers now, new family! It was like staying at the Father’s abundant house itself!

The Queen and the sea exchange their kind regards 

While we just laughed and cried and prayed, this beautiful family always had our places set at the table with them, ready to encourage and feed and be home for us in which ever way they could. Undisputable, all out acts of love God indeed showed us, never to be forgotten.  When discouragement, fear and doubt come a knockin’ the next time whispering that the Perfect Father doesn’t actually hear my prayers…Ive got a whole photo album of a flooding storehouse of photos and memories and miracles to throw them in the face!

Inseparable Sisters no matter the mile

Claudia said to me the last morning, “Before I came, I really felt my hope slipping far away from me, now, experiencing all of this, I feel like I’ve come alive again!” Just tell me we don’t have the best Dad ever?!

My prayer is that you be finding Him to be doing the same for you,

“…making open rivers on the bare heights,

…making the wilderness a pool,

…and the dry land springs of water…

Isaiah 41:18

My favorite preacher for the month of September

Blessed is the One who gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, He increases strength (causing it to multiply and making it to abound..Isaiah 40:29).

All glory to Jesus Christ, The Messiah

Charlene Mani

He has Fast in his blood afterall, but dont worry Ive still got all his Mani

Its Confirmed...can you see that twinkly eye?

With a shiney new drivers license in hand, Mawande has undoubtedly got some of my Pa's genes in his need to speed veins!

Whether to grab a jug of milk, a stick of chocolate or just another view of the spotted dog statue on the corner, this husband of mine is out the door before i can say dark with hazelnuts! Watch out Main Street Steinbach cruisers, November is drawing nigh! And let me tell you, his number one passenger is now the official lady of leisure, chair tilted as low as a sunset, I've officially retired to the happiest passenger at last!

We have enjoyed a great last couple months, slowing putting away our summer t's for some long wholly socks which seem to constantly go missing around the Mani household. The beauty of spouses that have the same shoe size!

Ive had my 31st bday! I simply cant believe the brilliant life Ive been blessed to live up to now and to think its only going from glory to glory..with all the guts and gore in between of course! I love getting older, knowing Jesus more, loving him more and in turn, loving myself more. Ive never felt more comfortable to be and accept the rough edges that show my weaknesses as much as those pretty ones that are easy to see so strong and thriving.

Loving myself feels really good. I  never could have dreamt I would have been able to be the one write that just a couple years ago. But...for the grace of God. There's really just no other possibility. Receiving his love for me deeper and deeper, thats the secret. The sunny Cape Town skies the limit from there as to how much I can love me and love all of these treasures or people around me. Simple. 

As i mentioned the chilly season is upon us, which also means the the rain, the horizontal knee soaking rain...no matter how high those boots get! Thus our mother's day gift for our beautiful South African mama was some new sheeting on her roof. A couple neighbors and Mawande's uncle came out to help for the day. Oh and of course our wee nephew Lalam decided it just could be done without him as well! Up he was passed to help his uncle get the real work done from a birds eye view, with a lot of hesitation from this Auntie Charlene who had her auntie eye's on all the live wire crossing just above him as you can see. Lets just say, you know how we get all in a fuss when all the Christmas mini lights go out if one does...try a couple thousand houses all on one power grid?! 

I was attempting to cook a little chicken lunch inside, but had to put it on hold as the tin bends in so deep when it is walked upon  in certain spots, my head was nearly 'walked on' a few times. Now thats a real headache waiting to happen?!

At the very end of April our church was finally able to showcase their concert that has been in the works for the last 6 months. Practicing every Sunday after church, after singing for a good two hours in church nonetheless, these brothers and sisters of ours have ridiculous raw talent making us so incredibly proud. We had the 'cheekache' for the following day as we could not have been prouder of our family. Let alone their phenomenal soul awakening voices, just to know the stories of transformation in each one of their lives, from hopeless to limitless hope, left us singing those songs for days afterwards. "You are the Piller that holds my life" was one of the refrains that kept rippling on and on through the week.  From classic "Sisteract" burgundy gowns and solemn candles flickering to Florescent jump-suite costume changes dancing up a fire, the name of Jesus resounded in our community declaring Love is truly alive! What a day of individual victory and as a church. "So get up off of that chair and dance 'til you feel better"! 

 And to finish off this fine few months, June 8th was officially the day we were legally married in the court house here. Yes 6 months before we were actually married, but required for visa processing. So Mawande surprised me with a one night mountain flower farm forest retreat!
We literally left the noise behind and soaked up nothing but sunshine with the next cabin a five minute drive away! Solitude. Pear orchard. Proteas dotting the entire mountain side and with the occasional tractor trucking along, we were just whistling our favorite countryside songs! With Mawande being a pyro at heart, we had fires roaring day and night in our little cottage, oatmeal and hot dogs for 2 days. Could it get better? Contentment.
 The Oma and Opa that owned this mountainside property also
 grew up here.
We had the pleasure of meeting them for a few minutes, people of great peace who love the Lord and his creation and love to share it. Can we all be them when we grow up?
May that same peace of mountain fresh Living Water revive every bank of your heart as you steep yourself deeper into his depth less grace.

The Manis love you and each other...but for the grace of God...

not one lonely corner

Im so glad my nephews loves to share!

Paska samples thanks to the wonderful Marie Eve!

So.....Pickled fish is back!


Its an ever popular Easter treat over here, folks put down their fried chicken feet and enjoy a seaside delicacy this time of year. Just send me your address, Ill post some first thing over to you in the morning...extra pickling time on the ship over...mmmm!
But in case you prefer yours fried, just ask Jesus, he's a breakfast fish fry top chef Himself! (John 21:9).

Our Lord, has risen Indeed! 
That never gets old does it?
I mean really...instead of the word death being our enemy, being what we preserve ourselves from in every way possible every day to the point of obsession...thanks to the Resurrection, the day we call it kaput...it will be in that moment we will come truly alive!

For the first time we will know who we really royally are and who our King Father is.
There is not one lonely corner in heaven with our Papa around, not one cold night of the soul on our own.
Perfect infant peace within ourselves and others, perfect love from the Source Himself to heal age old wounds of betrayal and every kind of abuse.
There will never be one dream ever again to go unfulfilled. Not ever another  life cut short.
All desperation and self hatred disintegrated in our Father's arms.
Oh the tears of joy will relentlessly flow, this life full of destruction and brokenness is really finished, its really over. And we will really make it.
Children will come running out!
We will really stand there and face one another with our mouths wide open in astonishment untold. "Its true, the story is true, and we win" we will shout in ecstasy.
Now that is Glory to glory.
Oh death where is your sting?

Want to hear another fantastic story? A tiny bit less epic but..its my life!
Last week I bounced 3 feet back off the face of a glass door that was shut, when I ran into it with all my might, thinking it was infact open...oh glory be indeed! One sore toe remains.
And for the first time when a preacher asked at church for all the single people to raise their hand, I didnt. Which was so fun, we are still totally married, and totally in lovey dovey life.
Totally also bought a bbq and feel really Canadian with our Sunday afternoon lunch burger feast,

My Malawian sister now studying at Providence College in
Canada becoming sisters with my sisters!

anyone coming next Sunday?

Im really trying to take my cousin Melissa's advise at this point. I told her I was struggling knowing what to all write this time around, she just told me, "If it were me it would be 5 bullet points and done, none of your flowery poetry fluff..." So here is a shout out to her, is this point formy enough for you Melis?!
Easter was spent as usual at our church 4 days and overnight sleep overs straight, of firey preaching, heavenly prayer's flying, netball tournaments, popcorn and The Passion and feasting non-stop! Apparently my husband and I are getting old and boring and went home for nights, totally turning 31 in a few weeks!
And a few more fancy stories of fun!

Betty's " Im Alive" lunch the next day!

1. A few weeks ago, I found my dear friend Betty passed out on her apartment floor upon arrival with her roommates having no idea what to do but to call me. And I of course had no idea but have a car so off we took her to the hospital, Betty in and out of consciousness, unable to speak, writhing in pain for the following 6 hours. The strongest pain medications were dispensed and she came to, said she didn't want to stay at the hospital for night, and back home we came, not know what the night would look like to follow. Turns out I went to go check on her first thing in the morning, passed by some girls chatting and laughing away on the steps, turn back to see its her! Having many people war with us in prayer in that 12 hours, where Betty later told me over a celebration "you're alive" lunch, for that entire time all she could see were two black figures in the distance fighting and she thought she knew her life was over.
But...that same Resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead, I also believe was put into action through the prayers of the saints and Im overwhelmed with his goodness in Betty's life.

Lounge/Dining room

2. I haven't posted any photos of our beautiful home yet, so please enjoy them as much as we enjoy it. The day we moved in here we ask the Holy Ghost to reside with all of his greenery peace here, and so he has. There isnt one person who has yet walked in here to not comment how peaceful this home is. Its a little granny flat they call them, a tiny home on another persons yard, that gets rented out if family members arent using it. So not only did we score this

Dining room/kitchen of joy

The master bedroom with Auntie Shelia's quilted handiwork

Our garden of peace and breakfasts of joy

small haven, on the most stunning yard with gardens and a pool and Tiki huts...we have been given another South African Oma and Opa as our landlords as well! Married for 40 years, this incredible couple who love the Lord, have opened their property and their hearts to us. We have had times of prayer together, sharing baked goods back and forth, and recieved invitations to their family events as they really take us to be their adopted children! The line up was long in front of us to apply for this house, but the moment we all met, they said all the other people no longer are runners, they had been praying for just the right people, and knew it was us!

3. "Im living the life I always dreamt of"was the thought that kept going through my mind a few weeks ago coming home from a counseling session. I've always longed for this opportunity to be hands on in training and ministering like this full time, and its happening! I get all sweaty and nervous before meeting new people that have just been through some form of trauma, as entering into people's spaces in this deep place of pain is a holy ground. With fear and trembling I tread this place that is such a prevelege to walk at these defining moments of our lives. Indeed Jesus greatest moment of victory came out of these "tomb" experiences, when it seemed injustice was the only winner left to speak, it was silenced by the impending hand of our infinitely wiser God to finally be exposed and roll that stone away. I am seeing more fruit in these peoples lives who are willing to walk me through their own caves and see if we can find some light down there together after all.

4. And of course Mawande continues to lavish love on the community he works in with Hope Africa Collective and see hearts and hands and sight healed in Jesus name. You just cant really have a better work report then that to hand in to your wife at day's end. He just finished leading a teen spring break week at thier base, where they had these kids hit the streets with the fiery love of Jesus and sent them back to school with all sorts of new ideas and testimony of how real Jesus is and what he can do if we believe! What a keenly active Jesus we have roaming the streets of Capetown, just waiting to be asked for a hand.

5. And finally first married camping trip in Feburary happened=floating bread in melted cooler box...the real Canadian smore...and no baboon sightings to report..just lots of bunnies? We both couldnt believe we were finally able to do this, how grown up we felt, just two married vagabonds roaming around a coastal hippy town called Kommetjie.

6. We have officially started hosting a church small group which really fills a huge need we have to just sit with fellow friends and find honest conversations and support and prayer.  The group happens to just be a few married couples which really is such a blessing of being understood and heard as we learn about this marriage business from all the experts! Really, I found myself sharing things I normally wouldn't last week because obviously I needed this outlet, and feel it is a safe place for me to also receive care and counsel.

Easter Mani family gathering

Easter Fast family gathering

And that is a wrap! We are starting to look at plane tickets to come home for about 6 weeks this coming Christmas...really couldn't be any more excited about that! We will need to spend time raising support and also raising our ice cream in take levels for night snack with my dad! So let the snow fall..now that I've heard the last flake has melted!










Love (being) Charlene Mani