Goodson explains how the building works at Saidi have already been so helpful. He asks brothers and sister to pray about the future needs of the Building project
Recorded October 2023
Transcript
For all the buildings here it’s encouraged me because right now we have a printing room an office now we have our stores so you’ll see the container there and also we have the Msasa
So all these houses [are] help[ing] us
People they need to pray for us because we have so many works here we are looking for the gospel hall that we plan to start the building I’m not sure if we can start this year but we plan to start the gospel hall
So people they need to pray about this myself I cannot do anything myself so I believe in the fellowship If we can work together we can manage to do something
So everyone who have a chance to help and work of the Lord here in Malawi It is a good time to take part
And I pray for other brothers and sisters who was not here in Malawi even other countries remember Malawi sometimes when you are gathered together to pray
The Saidi Building project hasn’t exactly been at a stand-still so much as a go-slow over the past few months.
We’ve had an exceptionally wet wet-season, and this certainly put the brakes on the building work. Which wasn’t a bad thing, really. As we’ve reported elsewhere, the spiritual work at Saidi has been growing steadily. Since MGO 2022, more and more children have been coming to the weeking Bible club. Similarly, the mid-week adults’ Bible has been growing, and we now have a Gospel meeting on site every Sunday morning.
Brother Goodson has a lot of responsibility for all of this work, which has been taking up more and more of his time. Recently he organised a program to visit each of the families to get to know them in their own homes.
On top of all that there was the huge task of distributing our 2023 Gospel Calendar – a major effort in itself.
Nevertheless, Goodson and his building team have managed to make good progress on the perimeter wall, which is now much nearer completion.
Goodson’s house and the container bay – with partially completed workshopView of msasa from south – with block wall to the right (needs raised)View of site from north with office & print room (r) & block-making shed
Distraction from spiritual work
This continuous work has been an additional burden on Goodson, our de facto building project manager – one which he has shouldered gladly. However, we are all agreed that we must not allow the building project to distract us from our mission. The infrastructure is intended to support the mission. It is not the mission.
Going forward, we will have to find the balance between the cost savings we can achieve by doing the in-house, and the effect that inevitably has on our ability to press on with the spiritual work. Please pray.
Planning the way forward
In the meantime, we have been working behind the scenes. Our local architect, Jackson, is well on with the development proposal for the entire building project. This should be ready for publication shortly – watch this space. Jackson is putting us in touch with a Quantity Surveyor who will help us cost some of the major parts of the project. This will help us have a better idea of an overall budget for the project. We know it’s likely to be significant.
The prolific rains also prevented a drone survey of the site we had commissioned several months ago. Carl was finally able to do it last week when the Lord graciously granted a break in the weather. The results are incredible and will be of enormous help to the planning team. I have included some of the drone images in this article, and hope to share some of the more complex 3D modelling at a later stage.
Area designated for Gospel Hall (top-r)Entrance to the site – notice the deep gulleys caused by heavy rain
Next steps in the building project
Some months ago we started work on a maintenance workshop and store. It still needs to be roofed and finished internally. We aim to do that over the next couple of months, with a view to using it temporarily as a dormitory when we hold our Bible teaching conference in May (DV). We also need to refit our block workshop for the same purpose.
The building project team will also continue work on the perimeter wall. We want to section off the area where we intend to build a Gospel Hall, in such a way that it will be outside the main perimeter. And the section which runs along the eastern side of the site, next to the main road, needs to be raised with a steel railing on top of the existing block wall.
Apart from that, when we complete the maize harvest, we want to build some simple staff quarters. If we can finish that on time, they will also double as dormitory accommodation for the conference.
SW perimeter wall (looking north)SE perimeter wall – the staff quarters will probably be constructed somewhere in this area
Brother Stephen will value your prayers as he begins to make plans for his next Malawi trip in February.
The fuel crisis seems to have abated for the time being, making a further visit viable. There are a lot of practical matters to take care of in connection with the ongoing development at Saidi, and plans to be made regarding our Bible Teaching Conference which we hope to resume in May, Lord willing.
God willing, Stephen hopes to be able to help with any Calendar distribution that remains outstanding, and have some Gospel meetings at Saidi.
With each visit, I am amazed at the on-site progress at Saidi. The Lord has been so good!
Recently, we have been working on a new office and printing room, as well as a maintenance workshop and store. Although it wasn’t possible to get these completed in the run-up to MGO 2022, we were thankful that the immediate priority of running water and a working toilet was accomplished – much to the relief of the visiting ladies, and some of the gentlemen too! We’re praying that both of these important structures will be finished soon.
Work continues apace on various aspects of the project at Saidi.
The Office (temporary apartment) & Print room has been roofed and first fix electrical and plumbing work done. The “scratch coat” will be plastered next week and should be ready for installation of windows and doors at the start of the following week (DV), with the plaster finish to follow thereafter. During the past week we placed an order for a 3KVA Solar PV system to provide the necessary power and are looking forward to it being installed as soon as possible.
By the grace of God, apart from the missed connection on the outbound journey, Stephen’s latest visit to Malawi has been without further incident. Please pray for the rest of his visit, and for travelling mercies as he begins the journey home on Wednesday.
Brother Stephen values continued prayer for his ongoing visit to Malawi. Much of his time during the week or more since he arrived has been spent around the Blantyre / Thondwe area, reviewing and planning in connection with the Building Project.
On Friday past, Stephen had a site meeting with a local architect, Jackson, who is formulating a proposal to help us further the work. Jackson is a lovely young brother-in-the-Lord, so please pray that this will be a very fruitful relationship.
Give thanks for help to preach each of the last two Lord’s Days – in Chichewa & English, and pray for a blessing upon the Gospel.
Brother Goodson asks us to continually keep him & his family in prayer. His responsibilities overseeing the building work at our construction site, and Anna’s nearby home construction, mean that he is constantly on the go. This is in addition to to the two weekly Bible studies he runs, and assembly responsibilities at the weekend.
Goodson is conscious of the need for divine protection as the building work on site mean that he and his family are susceptible to attacks from thieves. There is also the constant pressure of dealing with people who look to him for help in their time of need.
