"We were grateful to be able to be in Canada in October for the birth of our beautiful new granddaughter, Zoe. She is sister to Evan who is now nearly 6 and Jonah, 3.

"The last few months have been busy….to say the least! There has been hardship both here in Malawi and in Canada, and I made a short trip home due to tragedy. In and through all, the Lord is good, and He is faithful.

"I only very recently returned to Malawi, after a time of refreshment in Canada. While there I learned that the ongoing acoustic neuroma in my right ear had grown to the place that it now needs to be dealt with. I will be returning to Canada in early January and will decide with the doctors at that time whether to have radiation treatments, or surgery to remove it.  The best option by far would be for the Lord to heal it!  Please pray for God's will to be done and for His Grace to be poured out on everyone and everything that is involved.

"It has been a full season since my last update, with many new things happening. Remember me mentioning that I was really seeking God for new direction? Well God revealed to me that it is the church’s responsibility to look after the orphans and the widows, and not just me with a small team trying to feed many many orphans in the Sofala province!  

"These past months have been very full and exciting, with many special events above and beyond our normal day to day bible school activities and life at the Centre.

"Shortly after our return to Mozambique (following a trip to Canada and the USA) we were invited to participate in a teaching seminar for pastors and leaders in the neighbouring province of Gaza, near the city of Xai-Xai.  It was a very rich and rewarding experience for both of us (please see December 2009 Zimpeto Bible School Update for more details).

“The Morrison’s are in their seventh year in Bangula, Malawi. The base has grown considerably during that time, from one Bible school dormitory, to several classrooms and three dormitories at the Bible school, a Primary school with 8 classrooms, a library, and several teachers’ offices, four children’s homes for 52 children and their Malawian house parents, 3 missionary homes for 10 full time missionaries, and a Visitor Centre which can accommodate up to sixteen visitors at a time.

"It has been a busy time here at Iris for both Betty and me. I have been splitting my time between Zimpeto and Maracuene, spending three days each week at Maracuene and two in Zimpeto. The boys and I have been busy with many small projects, in addition to making cupboards, baby cribs, and a bench for the nursery.

"I wrote in my last update 6 months ago, that my family and I were praying that through our journeying with my mum through her chemotherapy, God would give us “the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that [we] may know that [He is] the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons [us] by name” (Isaiah 45:3)."  It's amazing to look back over these last months and be able to say that God has indeed done this!  Because mum's chemo made her so sick (the oncologist said she has never seen anyone so sick with chemo), I am still in Canada.  This last week, howev

"We've had lots of interesting events these past months and would like to share a few with you. One of the highlights was John's 60th birthday which was celebrated by not just one but two surprise birthday parties. Although 60 can sound old, it's just really exciting as one continues to grow in the goodness of God.

"The last few months in Malawi have had their ups and their downs. We have been working hard in order to get the finishing touches done on our new kitchen and hall, and it is now finished!