News Archives - Page 11 of 18 - Southern Africa Literature Trust

TRUSTEES’ REPORT – Year Ended 30 September 2021

Stephen Harper
31/05/2022
1

The activities of the Trust continued to be seriously affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic for a significant portion of the year. Nevertheless, we are grateful that as travel restrictions began to ease, it was possible for Stephen to visit Malawi twice to review operations there, first in May and again in August.

Stephen’s visit in May was timed to coincide with the arrival in Malawi of Anna Vallance, who has been commended to the work by her assembly in Livonia, MI, USA. It has been a pleasure to welcome her. Her dedication to the work and devotion to the Lord will undoubtedly strengthen the team, particularly as she has joined the Board of the Malawi operation.

A Buzz about Bible Time

Stephen Harper
28/05/2022
0

There’s a real buzz in the air today as we have just received the very first complete Nthawi ya Baibilo (Chichewa, Bible Time) series back from the designer.

This represents months of long, often tedious work by Anna, Wati and the whole translation team, and is another massive step forward in the work of the Lord in Malawi.

2023 Calendar & Tract Printing

Stephen Harper
27/05/2022
0

Our 2023 Calendar is in the final design stages. We thank Brian Chalmers Design for their help another year. We think Brian has done a very nice job, don’t you?

We’ve also just heard from Revival Movement (RM) that they have already printed 3 pallets of tracts for us, and are able to help further with our Calendar print this year. What an encouragement! We estimate the commercial value of their last shipment to be £80-90,000. We do not rely exclusively on RM for our printing needs, and always try to make a meaningful contribution towards their costs. Nevertheless, such generous support frees up tens of thousands of pounds for use elsewhere. We have considerable other costs in Malawi: printing, maintaining vehicles, hosting conferences, relief programs, and of course our ongoing building project, so we cannot overstate how big a blessing this help is.

Pray: Currency devaluation delivers a devastating blow

Stephen Harper
27/05/2022
0

The Reserve Bank of Malawi just announced a massive 25% overnight currency devaluation. The Malawi Kwacha has lost 90% of its value in two decades!

God gave me this work… so I keep moving forward

Stephen Harper
25/05/2022
0

“I keep moving forward”. So says Bro Harrison Saidi (coincidentally, the name of our village) who called by today. He came to collect Gospel Literature for meetings taking place at Mayaka, some 2-3 hours away by bicycle.

Building Work currently underway at Saidi

Stephen Harper
17/05/2022
0

We have much to thank the Lord for as we review progress of the building work at Saidi so far. Thanks to the hard work of the building team, and brother Goodson’s diligent oversight, a lot has been accomplished since we started less than two years ago.

Saidi Development Project – progress so far

Stephen Harper
02/05/2022
1

Although we recently had to make adjustments to our schedule for the Saidi Development Project, we are still encouraged by the progress made so far.

We are grateful for Brother Goodson’s diligence as he has supervised the work, and for the energy and skill of the building team who have done so much with limited resources, but much hard work and African improvisation.

Adjustments to building schedule

Stephen Harper
02/05/2022
2

Following Stephen & Gail’s recent visit to Malawi, we have decided to adjust the building project schedule at Saidi.

The deteriorating economic situation in Malawi means that we must plan for the possibility of an upsurge in crime. Consequently we have decided that we need to prioritise improving security above additional building work.

Stephen & Gail’s latest visit to Malawi

Stephen Harper
27/04/2022
1

It was lovely to have Gail’s company in Malawi for a couple of weeks

I love Malawi. I’ll take every opportunity to visit Malawi. But I hope I never have to visit again in the circumstances that made this present trip necessary.

As regular readers know, sister Anna recently suffered a very traumatic burglary and assault at her home. The trustees agreed unanimously that Gail and I should travel to Malawi at the earliest opportunity to support her through this crisis. We also felt it appropriate to review and improve the security of our people and property in Malawi in light of what had happened.

The forgotten humanitarian crisis – an opportunity in the Gospel

Stephen Harper
24/04/2022
0

We all continue to be moved by the needless loss of life and terrible humanitarian crisis occurring in Ukraine. We give thanks for faithful believers ministering to those in need.

However, we ought not to forget the untold millions of the world’s poor who are born into insufferable hardship. They live every day of their lives in hopeless despondency.