We have been in Malawi for two and one half weeks days. The time has been full, tremendously informative, heart-wrenching, inspiring. . .
After arriving on Wednesday afternoon we unloaded our things at the Korea Garden Lodge in the capital city of Malawi – Lilongwe. After a quick stop for local currency and bottled water we went to dinner with several board members and wives of African Leadership, Malawi (African Leadership, headquartered in Franklin,TN, are hosting us on this scouting/vision trip). We had a very enjoyable time meeting these local residents of Lilongwe and hearing about their ministry and vision here in Malawi.
On Thursday we met with the pastor of Capital City Baptist Church, Henry Joseph. He gave us some background on the church and showed us some of the ministries through which they serve the community. This included a youth center close to the central part of the city and Kauma Village, a housing/agriculture community that houses families who have taken in several AIDS orphans. I can’t even begin to explain or describe.
In the afternoon we drove to a refugee camp where refugees, mostly from The Congo and Burundi, have been placed by the UN after fleeing war in their countries. Some have been living in this “temporary” refugee camp for 15 years! At the camp we met with a group of pastor’s who have been going through a 2 year discipleship program sponsored by African Leadership. Rick spoke a brief message of encouragement to them. They were thrilled to have visitors from so far away. This camp is one of the most bleak and depressing places I have ever visited.
From the refugee camp we went to a juvenile prison where 29 teenage boys are serving time (many for stealing from their own family members). African Leadership helped them start a farming initiative that now provides food for them and a prison with 1500 prisoners. Visits are also being made by some of the local pastors.
That evening we had dinner with David Walker, an American businessman who first came to work with a micro-finance bank. He is now a consultant with local businesses and trying to learn more about how to do business as mission.
Today, we drove south for just over an hour and went to a village where there is a food and Bible program for AIDS orphans living with extended family throughout the village. The kids cane today (Saturday) just to see us. There were about 100 of them and a group of 5 teenagers sang a couple of songs. The oldest boy was playing a home-made “guitar” put together with a large, square cooking oil can with 4 wires stretched along a hand-carved neck. It sounded great! I was asked to give a message to the kids. It was deeply moving to speak to these kids who are so young and yet, have been placed in a situation where they must exercise such strong faith.
We drove back to Lilongwe for a quick lunch and then on to another village for a Pastor Training Graduation Ceremony. It was a group of 9 (some teachers and wives) who had finished the 2 year discipleship training program. WOW! The praise and worship was a wall of sound and emotion. Rick gave a charge to the graduates. Two of the graduates had husbands who got up and were dancing as they received their diplomas. The mother of another graduate stepped out and was dancing as he received his. After they were all pronounced graduates the place exploded with singing, clapping and dancing. Rarely have I seen such spontaneous joy and celebration. This was a very significant moment for the graduates and their families.
In between these highlights have been numerous conversations and meals with other persons serving here. God continues to expand our understanding and, little by little, is helping us focus in on some ways we might be able to serve alongside some of His people here. Many we have met are openly talking good news of Jesus Christ and compassionately doing good works of the Kingdom. Pray that we would discern how God might have us join what He is doing in Africa.
(I have pictures, but the internet is too slow to send them just now.)
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