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This afternoon I held Rose’s baby, now an orphan. Rose died yesterday, and her family who didn’t care for her in life, barely grieved her death. I was very sad. Baby Alucia is very sick, and may not live long. That was my second funeral in two days. Yesterday, I was at the funeral of a faithful man, a neighbour to Peter who works with me. Many gathered, and I was coached by Peter, as to what I should do. I took my place with the women. Inside the small house women wailed, as many as could fit in that small room. The men were busy: working on the coffin, making rope out of palm leaves, to carry the coffin. The women were quiet, silently caring for their neighbour with their presence. Charles’ wife was in a corner beside the body. The women stopped wailing when someone said I wanted to pray. I felt that I may have been intruding, and yet, I know that Jesus does comfort. I prayed, giving thanks for the faith I had seen in Charles, and asking the God of all comfort to draw near. I stayed for a while. Many had been there all night, and would stay through the next. I returned home with a heavy heart, as I realized the lot of a widow in Malawi. Veronica has a house and three children, but little else. Friends of her husband took many of his possessions as they believe she will die if she continues to use such useful things as a bucket. Her roof leaks and she is alone. Still, she is a woman of faith and joy…rarely have I seen her with any other expression but a smile!
Death is a constant companion here. Funerals interrupt plans all the time. The costs are always too great, even if the coffin is woven out of reeds. The graveyard is too full, and graves are often turned over in making space for the next. Jesus died for each of these, for their lives mean something to him. ‘It is difficult to care in Malawi,’ said one of our guards, when I commented about the lack of care. I understand a little bit. As soon as you care, you are called on to act. It is easier not to involve yourself when there are so many in need. |
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Many needy people flocked to our conference in July – around 10,000. We were pleased to welcome visiting speakers from North America, Georgian and Winnie Banov along with their daughter; and from Mozambique, Heidi and Rolland Baker. People began to trickle in days ahead of time. The stage had to be repaired, wiring for lights set up, firewood gathered, food organized, latrines dug, accommodation found and booked. Much of this work was done by our graduates from the Bible school. |
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On the opening day, Mo discovered that our visitors had not yet arrived, and so he would be preaching (in half an hour). We have both become more accustomed to ‘always being ready’. Each day more people arrived, some having walked for days. Our numbers swelled from 4 to 7 to 10 thousand by the end of the week. A temporary kitchen was built near the shelter. Our pastors cooked nsema and relish (anything that goes with nsema: could be beans, goat, cabbage). The lines were huge, and some did not get enough, but everyone ate. One day, we slaughtered four cows to feed the crowds. The ‘best’ part of that day was when someone brought a sack of fresh meat to our house for me to cook. What exactly do you do with a pile of fresh liver, and who knows what else? Thankfully, our guard skillfully divided it into manageable portions, which I could freeze and use later. |
| We had many visitors that week, as you can guess. It was a joy to have our international director, Supresa Sithole and his family staying with us. We so enjoyed their company, and their faith. They have been seeing miracles for a long time now, and therefore see life quite differently. I learned much from being with their two oldest boys, aged 4 and 6. They are full of faith, and mercy – an incredible testament to what children can teach us when they are taught to pray. Enoch prayed for his teacher at school who was immediately healed. Lavy is a miracle boy who was not expected to walk (by the doctors) because of complications at birth. He walks, and prays, and laughs and plays. Our kids loved playing with Supresa’s kids and really missed them when they continued on their journey through southern Africa. I (Jo) did not get to a lot of the conference, as the crowds were a bit much for our kids (and for me, to be completely honest). I saw enough to know that the Holy Spirit did some wonderful healing work. It was wonderful to see our pastors mobilized in prayer. |
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One afternoon, Mo called me on his cell from the stage. He just said, ‘Jo, Heidi is marrying hundreds of couples, listen.’ I stood there with my cell phone to my ear, tears streaming down my face, listening to Heidi call up all the unmarried couples. Marriage is a privilege of the rich here, as most simply make an agreement and move in together. Heidi taught on marriage, what it means to stick with each other through sickness, and in hard times. Adultery is very, very common, and commitment a rare gem. She then performed a wedding ceremony for all of them together, and declared them married. Wedding certificates are on the way. |
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Also on the topic of marriage, Georgian and Winnie had taken a very interesting offering before coming to see us. They had called people to offer rings, plain rings, to give to men and women here as a tangible picture of their commitment. People had given beautiful rings, ten of which went to our leaders in the church. It is wonderful to see them wear their wedding rings.
On the final morning of the conference, we had to say good bye to our visitors. Some flew and some drove, and some turned to walk back. We had a final meeting. Imagine doing ‘lost and found’ with several thousand people. I chuckled at the items….a tin dish, a plastic cup, a chitenje. It took me back to our Pioneer Camp days. I returned home, and Mo arrived shortly after. The kids went out to play, while Mo and I got caught up. We were interrupted by a piercing scream. Patrick came running around the corner and I saw immediately that his right pinky was cut in half. This part may sound a little melodramatic! I ran to find the missing piece, while Mo saw to Patrick. Thank God he was home. I sent our guard to get ice from a neighbour, and we put the finger on ice. The boys had been throwing rocks at an old wall to knock it down, and one rock hit Patrick’s finger and pushed it down on a sharp bit of cement. Mo got on the phone, and called friends who live nearby. They had a medical team visiting who had been held up that afternoon by a flat tire. Again, praise God. By the time we got Patrick there, they had a trauma room all set up, and the whole team were busy praying. They were able to put a nerve block on Patrick’s finger (I think that involves injecting around the site.). They dispatched him to Blantyre though they were not hopeful that the finger could be reattached because of the damage. Patrick was prepared for that possibility. |
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| Meanwhile I had called our friend, the orthopedic surgeon, to see if he was around. He was due to go on holiday shortly. He was there, and willing to wait at the hospital until they got there two hours later. Dr. Harrison had a look at the finger and the stump, and decided that it was not worth the risk to reattach. Patrick handled this extremely well, and has had a superb attitude throughout. Today, he said how amazing his finger looked, remembering how long Kalina’s ankle took to heal and together we rejoiced. It is really a miracle how quickly and painlessly the finger has healed. |
Crippled men who prayed for Patrick’s finger |
| It was time for some rest! We were able to borrow the home of the same surgeon and his wife, Gail, and get some respite. It was lovely and cool in Blantyre, and we so enjoyed reading, playing, watching videos, and relaxing. Unfortunately Mo had to make several day trips, one to Lilongwe and two home. However, we all enjoyed the break. On returning home, Mo came down with malaria. Malaria kills more people than AIDS and is not to be trifled with. We treated him right away, but it still cost a lot of time and energy. In four days he was well enough to head to the north to scout out the land for a conference in September. |
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Here, his pictures will tell of the beauty and variety of the northern landscape. It was a very long journey, but very fruitful. They were able to purchase land close to the airstrip, and begin construction of a ‘church’. We will all head up there in September, so that the kids can enjoy the beaches and we can participate in the conference. Pray for this conference, Sept.10-16, that many will come to meet Jesus, and grow in him. Marc Dupont will be with us, as well as Rolland and Heidi. |
Bible School will begin again Sept.20, and we hope to have moved by then. Our new school books will be arriving sometime this month too. It promises to be a full and fruitful month. Thank you for your prayers, and your patience, in waiting for this update.
