We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and help during the first week of MGO 2023.
Although much smaller than most previous years, the team still managed to distribute several thousands of Seed Sower texts, and many people listened to the Gospel preached in the open air meetings.
As in former years, the prison visit on Wednesday, and the Children’s Day on Saturday were outstanding highlights.
We arrived at M* prison to the news that they had several suspected Cholera cases. A team from Headquarters was on site to assess the situation and to advise on preventative measures, so our gift of a hygiene pack for each man was particularly timely, and exceedingly welcome. Almost the entire prison complement returned from their work in the fields to listen to the Gospel being preached.
On Saturday, around 300 children were present to listen to the Gospel presentation and to enjoy the activities and games laid on for them. It is humbling to think how little it takes to brighten the lives of these most impoverished children. Pray for them.
Please remember to pray for the various efforts of the MGO team this week.
We have a variety of activities lined up each morning, with a mix of street preaching and Seed Sower distribution and a visit to one of the nearby prisons. Each afternoon, we have planned to have a Gospel meeting at Saidi. We are looking forward to a big finale on Saturday, when we hope to have all-day Children’s camp at Saidi.
Please pray for safety as we travel – we have already had a minor mishap with the hired minibus. It wasn’t serious, but it reminds us how easily accidents can happen. Please also pray for health & strength of the team members, some of whom are feeling a little ragged after their long journey hear. Finally, please also pray for availability of fuel as the country continues to struggle with chronic fuel shortages.
It was an immense joy for me to sit down to break bread for the first time with the young assembly at Saidi this morning.
The Lord has really been blessing the work there. It is thrilling to see the beginnings of a spiritual harvest after years of sowing.
A big part of me would dearly have loved to be present a few weeks ago for the inaugural breaking of bread. However, I remind myself that the saints here have done exactly as I’ve always taught them they should do. That is, to seek to honour and obey the Lord, and to look to His Word alone for their guidance. To value the Lord’s presence above the presence of any missionary. And so I am glad that they did not feel that they needed a visitor’s blessing in order to begin meeting as an assembly. But I would still have loved to have been there!
Just a “large handful” of believers presently comprise the assembly. Recently, seventeen others asked for baptism and to join the fellowship. Brother Goodson has begun the process of hearing the testimonies of those interested. In conversation a couple of days ago he was telling me how impressed he is with the level of understanding of the Gospel. Many others come regularly to hear the Gospel, and today there were several new faces, as there are every week. It was a privilege to be able to share the Gospel with them… Wodala munthuyo wokhululukidwa tchimo lake; wokwiriridwa choipa chake! Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Amen!
Goodson also mentioned that other nearby churches are surprised how many abambo (men) consistently attend the meetings there. Most other churches are mainly comprised of women. However, at Saidi it’s around a 50/50 split. Goodson rightly attributes to the fact that the Lord is at work.
Over the next week, we plan to have Gospel meetings at the site each afternoon. Please pray that this would be a means in the Lord’s had to reach more unsaved, and to establish those who have professed faith. The believers have distributed many invitations.
We thank the Lord that the last of our small team arrived safely in Malawi from USA this afternoon. We are grateful for the sacrifice each one has made to be here.
We plan a slow start on Monday morning, with the main program getting underway with a Gospel meeting at Saidi on Monday afternoon.
In March, Cyclone Freddy wreaked havoc in Malawi, causing immense destruction and loss of life. With a total death toll of over 1000 and over 1,000,000 people displaced, the impact of the disaster was heart-wrenching. The storm destroyed thousands of hectares of mature maize, leaving communities vulnerable to hunger and economic challenges. In the face of this catastrophe, SALT tried to respond with compassion, wisdom and determination. The Lord enabled us to provide emergency aid to over 1000 people from around 10 villages.
The Lord’s people responded generously . We want to update you on our ongoing relief efforts and how we plan to continue helping those affected by Cyclone Freddy.
Immediate Relief Efforts
In the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Freddy, our team visited numerous evacuation camps, like the one at Lisao. We distributed much-needed emergency aid to the affected communities. The aid included plastic sheeting for emergency shelter, 13,500 kgs of maize flour, approximately 670 kgs of beans, and 2300 soap tablets. While we were able to provide assistance to those in need, we faced challenges as most of the evacuation camps were in school buildings, which were disbanded later, forcing people back to their villages, often with no choice but to rely on already impoverished relatives.
Assisting Vulnerable Individuals
Recognizing the plight of vulnerable people, such as widows or those caring for orphans, we aim to construct 15 new houses, as we are able. Additionally, we plan to assist in repairing numerous other houses for vulnerable individuals in the affected villages. However, the serious economic difficulties in the country, including scarcity and soaring prices of cement and shortages of fuel, have posed significant challenges to our efforts. Nevertheless, we remain committed to providing safe and secure housing for those who need it most.
Buying maize for later in the yearHouse construction at Pa Mchenga.JPG
Preparing for the Future
To improve long-term food security for our community, we have taken the initiative to purchase a reserve of over 12 tons of maize. We will distribute this later in the year to alleviate hunger. Moreover, we are determined to enhance our ability to respond effectively to emergencies like Cyclone Freddy in the future. With some of the funds donated, we plan to invest in an irrigation system on several acres of farmland adjacent to our site. We hope this project will significantly improve our capacity to support the needs of the community during times of crisis.
Impacting Lives with the Gospel
Our aim is always to keep the Gospel “front and centre”. Through all our interventions, we have had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with those we have assisted. This has had a profound impact on the affected communities. One heartwarming message of gratitude that we received reads,
“we want to thank you for the help you have given without respect of religion… the people are very grateful because you have helped more than all the other help we received and also because of the Good News which you sowed.”
The opportunity to bring comfort and the hope of the Gospel through actions and words has been the greatest blessing during this difficult time.
Conclusion
We continue to rebuild and provide assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy. We are deeply committed to supporting the affected communities in our vicinity. We trust that our relief efforts, though challenging, have been a testament to the power of compassion, generosity, and faith. We thank all our supporters and donors who have made this possible. With your continued support, we aim to bring lasting change and resilience to the lives of those affected by the cyclone. Together, we can rebuild hope, one step at a time.
Brother Goodson asks that we pray for an additional 10 women and 4 men who have requested Baptism, bringing the total number to 17.
Starting on Wednesday, Goodson plans to start special Bible studies for these individuals to make certain they understand the message of the Gospel and the meaning of Baptism.
Pray for wisdom and discernment as Goodson speaks to each to hear their testimony of salvation.
Anna says: “Please pray for safe travels for all of our visitors who will be arriving this week!”
Note: Stephen travels on Wednesday, with remaining members of the team arriving in Malawi Saturday & Sunday. Please pray for uneventful journeys, safe arrival of luggage, and speedy adjustment to the new time zone – as much as +9 hours for some team members.
Please remember the deteriorating economic situation in the country, as a result of which, simple things like having enough fuel for airport runs cannot be taken for granted.
Please pray as we make final preparations for MGO 2023. Over the next week, the team in Malawi will be finalising details of the program of activities, and other necessary arrangements.
As mentioned previously, our team this year is much smaller and has much less experience than previous years, so please pray that the Lord will guide, direct and enable us for the task in hand. MGO has been a great blessing in the past, and we look to the Lord to make his strength perfect in our weakness.
Brother Goodson asks that we pray for three men who have requested Baptism. Each bore testimony to discovering since starting to attend the Gospel meetings at Saidi that salvation is not by good works but through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
While we give thanks for this, Goodson asks that we pray that he will have wisdom and discernment and that the reality of their profession will become apparent.
