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How do we gain the right perspective in the midst of such hopelessness, fear, hunger and devastation? In the same way as the prophets before us, who, confused by the devastation around them, withdrew into the ‘presence of the Lord.’ There they would begin to see with eyes of faith the hearts longing for love, the church being transformed into a perfect bride, the individuals God had brought into their lives for a touch of His great love.
While I know this is the right perspective, I often feel the desperation of not having anything to give because I have failed to enter the presence of the Lord. God is always gracious, always reaching out to welcome me into his arms. Sometimes, he speaks to me in spite of my wrong perspective, and for that I give thanks. |
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We had been talking about hosting a Womens’ Conference in Bangula for some months. All of a sudden in early February we saw that the time was now. The women had finished hoeing and planting, and therefore had time to come. They were waiting for rain, and they were suffering hunger. It seemed a good time to gather together and draw encouragement from each other and from the Word.
I was nervous, as I always am when a large group gathers. The pressing bodies, the sickness, the complaining, the strong smells of urine and sweat, all make me want to run. I confessed my fear to the commissioners’ wives whom I meet with every week, and asked them to pray for me. |
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Before every meeting, I walked around our church building, greeting the women. They love to hear me speak Chichewa. Everyday women asked me to pray and so my walk to greet turned into a walk to pray. I prayed and prayed and prayed, for children with terribly sticky eyes, for legs shriveled up because of years of heavy labour, for congested chests, and deep coughs. I called out to God, not to let the women miss out because they were sick and distracted. I prayed for his kingdom to come. I called the women to come and worship. They gathered together, and I tried to play their worship songs on my flute, but was soon lost. We sang for at least an hour, and everyone danced. I got out some flags I had made and several women grasped them eagerly. |
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I spoke from Jn.6 and Luke 14. God seemed to tie them together for me, the invitation to a banquet, and the feast being the body and blood of Jesus. The first night I spoke in Chichewa as there was no translator present. I told the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, and said that Jesus SEES our need and KNOWS what he is going to do. All that is required of us is FAITH, small or big, that God can do anything. Though Jesus sees us, and knows what is needed, he still invites us to this feast. It is our choice. In the parable of the banquet, all the invited guests had excuses. Still, in the end, the house was filled with the poor and the needy. Will you come to the feast? Jesus invites you. The feast that Jesus invites you to answers a hunger that is far deeper than the hunger for food which so often drives us. He wants to satisfy the hunger in each of us to know God. He wants to feed us his body and his blood. What does that mean? Well, Jesus did not consider his body too important to lay it down, his blood too important to shed for us. If we are to take up his life, it will be at the expense of our own. |
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A surprise came to me as I spoke. I realized that these words about ‘counting the cost’ spoke directly into the overly dependent Malawian family. The family ties are so strong, be it a brother in trouble, or a disappointed mother-in-law, and no one wants to let go. Can you love Jesus more than your mother? More than your father? More than your own life? That’s how much he wants. Can you release your children to love Jesus more than they love you? That’s what he wants. In Malawi, there is a very common sight….the unfinished house. Many people begin to build and then run out of money….Jesus’ story about this challenges us to count the cost ahead of time. Taking up the life of Jesus could be costly….it will be a life of humility, suffering, leaving behind, but at the same time, a life of joy, and abundant life. Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross. Our joy is with Jesus. The party begins today as we take up the life of Christ, but the focus is heaven. We will worship the Lamb, and he will wipe away our tears, and lead us to living water. The sun will no longer burn, and their will be no more hunger. Hallellujah!
Every meal was the same, nsima (cornmeal mush) and beans, and some would have liked meat or fish. But, at the end of the day, they had eaten and were happy to go to sleep full. At night some women begged me for a mat to sleep on, but we didn’t have any more, so they slept on the dirt. One morning I used up a whole bottle of antibiotic eye drops. Everyone wanted medicine but that was not our purpose. One little lady wanted a new dress, and I knew we couldn’t go there (unless there were 300 dresses to spare). Jesus wanted to meet their deepest need, and that is their need for him. All these other things will be added as they seek him. |
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Joanna gives away clothes to this elderly woman. |
That little lady made her way to my house this week, to get a dress, and I asked her if she knew Jesus. She said she knew what I had told her and that is all. May God multiply his truth in the hearts of these women. Many walked hours and even days to come. They are certainly hungry for more.
After this conference, the kids and I all got sick, with chest infections and coughs. It was an exhausting time, of plodding along with home schooling and our normal weekly events: Ladies’ group on Tuesday, Girls’ Club on Wednesday, and Boys’ Club on Friday. The highlight of this time was the arrival of a new vehicle for us. It is comfortable, quiet, cool, and smooth….just perfect for the paved roads between Blantyre and the lake. Our first trip as a family took us up to Mangochi where we spent three peaceful days resting and enjoying the company of the Harrisons. |
| On the way back we had a quick stop at Hussein’s house. His grandmother quickly gathered all her daughters to greet us. I asked about the new church in their village, and they said how hard they found it, having recently come to Christ. They were crying out for teaching, and for shepherding. I found a Bible and began to show them where they could begin to read, and how that would help them establish their new church. I drove away reminded of the great need for teaching. I understand why Paul wrote all those letters as he traveled from place to place. |
Boys play football at our Friday afternoon children’s program |
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As our churches are spread out all over Malawi, we have not visited all of them. The task seems too big, but we must remember that Christ is the head of the church, and he will not leave them, no matter how small or remote the village. There is a lot of poor, if not wrong teaching, in Malawian churches. In time we hope to train up all of our pastors so that they can at least get some things right. In the mean time we trust God completely. He is the Great Shepherd, whose sheep follow him because they know his voice. |
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