Malawi

Hello friends! Here’s an update on our recent trip to Malawi! Malawi is a tiny country a few countries above South Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, but the people there are among the most beautiful people I have ever met. I first came to Malawi on a short-term missions trip when I was 18. It was there that God captured my heart for Africa, and brought me back to this side of the globe so many years later. There were just two of us that went, me and my friend Lucia, and as we flew past Zimbabwe and Mozambique, I kept thinking about the way Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to go into communities and proclaim the Kingdom of God.

And proclaim the Kingdom we did! Our ministry was focused mostly on teaching and preaching. We spoke at churches for the upper class of Malawi and villages where the world’s poor came to hear hope. We taught on weekdays in the city for a service where professionals come on their lunch breaks. We did some street ministry and spoke with beggars and street vendors.

The highlight of the trip was teaching at a multi-denominational youth leader conference in Blantyre, one of Malawi’s major cities. There were youth leaders from all different churches and ministries that came to get training. We taught basic theology, disciple making and leadership principles as well as practical skills to lead a youth group and ministry. It was such a privilege to work with leaders who were so passionate to love and serve God in a country that needs so desperately to hear of His hope.

At the end of the training, we stood in front of many young men and women eager to use what they have learned in their own ministries. Many of the guys plan to start soccer ministry programs for the youth in their villages. Others want to get their youth groups involved in taking care of orphans and widows. This was the first ever youth leadership training to be done in Malawi, so thanks to all the sponsors who gave money to make this happen. I look forward to a future season of God’s love exploding in this country because of these men and women desperate to share Christ’s love.

The villages we visited were the most rural and poverty stricken areas I have ever been to. One village called Chitakale Area really changed me forever. We drove far out on a dirt road to get there. As we came to the open field where we were to share God’s word, we were greeted by so many young children and elderly men and women. There were no mamas around; no men and women that looked like they could be parents. The village leaders explained that many of the children were orphans. HIV/AIDS has taken many of the parents. You see this in a lot of places in Africa, but Malawi is known especially for this. The orphans sleep in the huts of the elderly, but they can’t properly take care of them. The school only goes up to grade 4, then the children have no way of getting further education because the other schools are so far away.

Me and Lucia spent two days in this village loving on and playing with the children and bringing them food. As I sat with the little girls on my lap, I could feel their swollen stomachs and my heart broke knowing they are not getting adequately fed. At the end of the day, it was so hard for me to leave this place. I will be working to raise funds for Chitakale once I return to America. They desperately need daily bread. They need a school built so their children can learn. They need an orphanage. I cannot think of anything better to do than to look after these orphans and widows. God loves these people with a great big father heart. Let’s imitate our father and worship Him by being fathers and mothers to His children. Please let me know if you would like to help me in this endeavor.

God has taught me more in this outreach than any other outreach I’ve been to this year. If I were to write about all of it, this blog would never end. All I can say is God is so faithful and we have reason to rejoice in every circumstance. The people of Malawi teach me to rejoice and I am so humbled to hear them praise God in their suffering. Once again, I come into a country hoping to make a difference and find myself completely changed.

The last thing I wish to share with you is my future plans: I have prayerfully decided to return to America in early October, making my stay in South Africa nine months instead of a year. I am confident that God wants me in America for the next season of my life. I‘m excited to return home, but I know that I will miss serving God in such a unique and beautiful country. The plans once I return? I simply want to do what I have been doing in Africa: Making disciples and living on God’s mission. I am confident He will fill in all the details when the time is right.

I write this blog with gratitude in my heart for all the Americans that have made this ministry year possible. Thank you for walking me through these eight months and encouraging me with prayer, email and support. The investment you have made in South Africa has reaped eternal benefits. I look forward to seeing you all again very soon and hearing about what God has been doing with your wonderful lives.