News

Weโ€™re excited to share the latest developments on our dormitory construction projectโ€”a journey made possible by the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our team on the ground.

Laying the Foundations for Change

This summer, our team began the groundwork for the new dormitory. While initial site preparation required extra levelling due to a misunderstanding with the architect, the issue was quickly resolved, allowing us to move forward. Despite delays in cement delivery caused by fuel shortages, we adapted by sourcing an alternative transporter and restocking supplies, ensuring the project stayed on track.

Milestones Achieved

  • Foundations Complete: The foundations for the Ablutions block and dormitory wings are finished. Stephen checked all levels checked and found them to be within excellent tolerances.
  • Concrete Work: The concrete floor slab for the Ablutions block was poured ahead of schedule. Backfill operations for the first Dormitory wing are progressing well.
  • Supervision & Cost Control: Goodson continues to provide excellent supervision and cost control, ensuring every stage of the build meets our standards and budget.

Looking Ahead

  • Brickwork: Construction on the Ablutions block and West Dormitory is set to begin on schedule, with key milestones targeted for January.
  • Conference Readiness: Our focus is on completing the Ablutions block and West Dormitory in time for the May 2026 conference, with further work on the East Dormitory and Common Hall planned post-event.

Overcoming Challenges

Early rains have helped with compaction and will help concrete curing, but we remain vigilant as weather could impact the schedule. Water for construction will soon be supplied by a temporary pumping solution, replacing manual carrying. Weโ€™ve also invested in a new diesel-operated concrete mixer, allowing two teams to work simultaneously and providing resilience against fuel shortages. (One mixer is petrol-operated, the other diesel.)

Although we incurred unplanned expenditure with the site leveling, we have managed to mitigate some costs by negotiating good exchange rates for funds brought into the country.

Site levelling Delayed us
Goodson checking levels
Stocking up on Cement
Rain stopped play
Provision of Temporary Water Solution

Partnerships & Quality Improvements

A “chance” meeting with a Blantyre businessman has opened doors to reliable suppliers for steel and roofing materials in South Africa, promising improved quality at lower cost.

Timeline & Completion

With a detailed building schedule in place, we are confident thatโ€”barring unforeseen delaysโ€”completion by the end of March is realistic, allowing a month for internal finishing before the conference.

Thank you for your continued prayerful and practical support. This brings us closer to providing safe, high-quality accommodation for our conference activities. We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress!

Pray

Please EARNESTLY pray concerning the arrival of a shipment of 3 Roller Doors that were sent from N.Ireland 7 months ago but have not quite reached Saidi yet.

Tom plans to help install this during his time in Malawi, but the information last week was that they are still in Customs in Lilongwe. Please pray that they will clear customs very imminently and be with us in time for Tom to complete this project.

Pray

Anna writes: “Please pray for the safe arrival of the visitors. Pray they would be blessed by their time here.”

Note: Stephen will travel Tuesday / Wednesday. Samuel & John, Tom & Debbie, and Jeff and Cameron will all travel at difference times over the following days. Pray that the Lord will grant safe and trouble-free travel, as well as a profitable time in Malawi.

Anna writes: “We are thankful to a good start to school visits. The door is wide open and the labourers are few. Please pray for more labourers!

“We are also thankful for our first Emmaus students completing their first courses. Please pray that we would truly see the power of God’s word at work in lives.”

From literature distribution to childrenโ€™s classes and the start of our hostel foundations โ€” the past month has been one of steady progress and thankful hearts across the work in Malawi.

Supplying Literature Distributors

๐Ÿ“– Gospel Literature: Reaching 50,000 Souls with Godโ€™s Word

Over 50,000 Gospel tracts were distributed across Malawi this month.

Each one represents a small but powerful opportunity for someone to encounter Godโ€™s Word โ€” in villages, marketplaces, schools, and homes.

Please continue to pray that these simple printed messages will reach searching hearts and change lives for eternity.

๐Ÿ‘ง Childrenโ€™s Work at Saidi

Grading children’s lessons

Classes have begun again at Saidi, with a strong group of children โ€” both returning and new. Anna is mentoring local ladies to take a more active role in teaching this year. Investing in these women helps ensure the ministry continues to grow and multiply, rooted in the Word of God.

๐Ÿซ Schools Ministry

The schools team resumed visits this term, beginning on 2 October. Their focus is on revisiting schools already engaged to strengthen relationships and distribute new school packs. Theyโ€™re also prayerfully identifying a few schools to begin Bible Clubs, laying a foundation for deeper teaching and discipleship among pupils and teachers alike.

๐Ÿ”’ Prison Outreach

Brother Brian visited Zomba Elderly Prison and Domasi Young Offenders Prison, supplying literature and sharing the Gospel. Weโ€™re grateful for these open doors and for the privilege of reaching those who might otherwise never hear the Good News. Pray that Godโ€™s Word will bring freedom and transformation in many hearts.

Distributing Prison Packs
Building Hostel Foundations
The new (to us) Cement Mixer has been a help

๐Ÿงฑ Buildings & Premises

Work has begun on the new hostel foundations at Saidi โ€” an exciting milestone that marks the start of a long-prayed-for project. Progress has also continued with practical improvements around the site: cabinets installed in the printing room, and new kitchen sinks fitted in the library, guesthouse, and office. Each of these steps strengthens the infrastructure that supports all other areas of ministry.

Health & Safety Training

๐Ÿงโ€โ™‚๏ธ Staff & Safety

Two new night-guards were recruited on a temporary basis to fill vacant posts, ensuring the site remains well protected. Anna also organised a Health and Safety training session for all staff, continuing our commitment to responsible management and care for our team.

๐Ÿšข Literature & Prison Hygiene Packs from Northern Ireland

We also give thanks for a major consignment of Gospel literature and Prison Hygiene Packs recently shipped from Northern Ireland. The container, prepared in partnership with Revival Movement and local assemblies, carries millions of Gospel tracts, calendars, and other evangelistic materials โ€” together with hygiene packs for use in Malawiโ€™s prisons. These will soon be distributed through our team and volunteers, meeting both spiritual and practical needs among some of the most forgotten people in society. Weโ€™re deeply grateful to all who helped pack, pray, and provide for this shipment โ€” every box is a testimony of Godโ€™s love in action.

๐Ÿ™ A Word of Thanks

As we look ahead to the rest of October, weโ€™re especially grateful for Godโ€™s provision โ€” in people, resources, and opportunities. Please continue to pray for the work at Saidi and across Malawi, that every activity will serve the greater purpose of making Christ known.

โ€œUnless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it.โ€ โ€” Psalm 127:1

๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ Thank you for praying, giving, and standing with us.
Your partnership helps us enlighten, encourage, and empower communities across Southern Africa.

โžก๏ธ Follow our updates on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
๐Ÿ’› Support the work: https://saltrust.org/how-to-support-salt/

A Foundation for Growth

The long-anticipated dormitory construction project at Saidi is finally taking shape! This new facility will, God willing, provide much-needed living space for Bible training, conferences, and visiting volunteers โ€” strengthening the ministryโ€™s capacity to enlighten, encourage and empower believers across Malawi.

Early Challenges and Unexpected Blessings

As the work began, it quickly became clear that extensive site levelling would be needed before any foundations could be dug.
In Godโ€™s providence, we were able to hire a back-hoe loader and tipper lorry โ€” no small achievement in a country where such machinery is scarce and often out of service.

These machines saved weeks, maybe months, of manual work and allowed the team to prepare the site properly and safely for the buildingโ€™s footprint.

Delays and Determination

Just as things were ready to move forward, Malawi faced a nationwide fuel shortage that delayed the delivery of 600 bags of cement.
When the long-awaited load finally arrived, the team offloaded every single bag by hand โ€” a remarkable picture of perseverance and teamwork.

The foundations, marked carefully by hand and dug with shovels and pickaxes, began to take form soon after.
Our recently arrived petrol-powered cement mixer, sent from Canada earlier this year, has already proven invaluable in easing the heavy labour of mixing concrete under the tropical sun.

Progress so far

Progress and Hope

With most of the foundation trenches complete, the team is now preparing to pour the concrete floors โ€” hopefully during Stephenโ€™s upcoming visit later this month.
This milestone will mark the end of the groundwork phase and open the way for blockwork to begin.

More Than a Building

Each brick and beam represents faith in the Lordโ€™s provision.
The dormitory will serve as a vital step toward expanding SALTโ€™s capacity to train, host and equip Gospel workers who will take the message of Christ throughout Malawi and beyond.

We are profoundly grateful for every person who has prayed, given, or laboured toward this vision.

โ€œExcept the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.โ€
โ€” Psalm 127 : 1

Please continue to pray for safety, steady progress, and provision as this exciting next phase unfolds. ๐Ÿ™

Join with us in giving thanks that we were able to begin visiting schools again, as of today. We thank the believers who contributed to the school packs. They were received with much excitement and jubilation today. Pray God’s word will be received as well.

Note: Resumption of School visits was delayed due to last month’s Presidential election. We are grateful that, although there was much concern about the possibility of violence, the election passed off peacefully, although various aspects of the work to continue.

Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about helping with Classroom packs.

Anna writes: Join with us in giving thanks for a number of people enrolling in Emmaus this week – both locally and a bit further afield. Please pray for the word of God to do a mighty work in their lives. For those who are not saved – salvation! For those who are – growth!

Note: We recently revised, reprinted and relaunched the entire range of Emmaus courses in Chichewa. We are very optimistic about the potential of these courses, primarily aimed at adults, to complement the Nthawi ya Baibulo range of courses for children.

Please pray for the launch of Emmaus Malawi this coming week, God willing, in the area surrounding Saidi as well as to a few key distributors. Pray these courses will make many wise unto salvation and build a Scriptural foundation in the hearts of those who already know Christ.

Please pray for the growth and preservation of the believers in the assembly.

Anna writes: “We are very thankful for a peaceful election. This means school work can officially begin!”

Note: 85 yr-old former President Peter Mutharika has been declared the winner. His last election victory in 2019 was declared null and he lost the re-run in 2020. His first term of office was overshadowed by numerous corruption scandals, but such has been the economic decline over the past 5 years, the Malawian people have turned to him in desperation in the hope that he can turn the economy around.

Please pray for an improvement in the country’s economic situation and for relief for the awful hardships that many have been experiencing.

ENLIGHTEN | ENCOURAGE | EMPOWER

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