What a blessing to be back with the brothers and sisters in Malawi!
I arrived in time to join the monthly get together of workers at Goodson’s house at the Saidi project site. It’s a joy to see how well the team is gelling. It’s obvious that the Lord of the Harvest has brought His labourers together in His harvest field.
Although I’ve seen a constant stream of photos as the work has continued over the last couple of months, it was great to be able to walk the land again and observe the progress first-hand.
There was a (very large) funeral taking place at the adjacent graveyard, and for part of the afternoon dozens of cars were parked sound the site and on the main (dirt) road which passes it. For cultural reasons, we had to be very circumspect, so progress photos will have to wait until a little later.
The reports and subsequent discussions were very encouraging, covering:
- School visits (Anna & Harold)
- Saidi Bible Studies (Goodson)
- Child-Headed Households (Anna)
- Building work (Goodson)
- Renovation of Under-5 Clinic at Chikowi Village (Goodson)
- Literature (Harold)
- Dzaleka Refugee Camp (Anna & Wati)
- PBS Training Seminar in Lilongwe (Anna & Wati)
- Printing (Wati)
I was thrilled to hear how the literature is being used to great effect, and the report of brothers in the Kasungu District reaching out into areas steeped in the secret Nyau cult, known for its masked dances, was particularly encouraging.
We were all moved to hear of the deep poverty in the Dzaleka Camp where refugees from a variety of African countries are living in the most appalling conditions. Anna told of visiting in mud homes with only plastic sheeting for a roof and raw sewerage running through the streets.
Particularly distributing were the reports of women who admitted having to resort to prostitution to survive (the monthly living allowance they receive from UNHCR is approx US $3) and another driven insane by witnessing her own father murdered before her eyes when he refused to rape her before their captors. Anna told us how all the women she spoke to had been raped before or while fleeing, and of witnessing first-hand evidence of people trafficking still going on in the camp.
There is much to pray for.
Oh, almost forgot to mention Flora’s eggs. They were great – as usual!