Please pray for the maize harvest in Malawi. According to the Famine Early Warning System, large swathes of the country are already “stressed”. Much of the Lower Shire is “in crisis” and Anna’s recent burglary reminds us that crime inevitably occurs more frequently when life is so difficult.
There is much to give thanks for following Anna’s recent ordeal, but still much to pray about. Please particularly remember the following matters:
Unbelievable. But true. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of our first experience of life and work for the Lord in Malawi.
We were young and inexperienced, but Gail and I were both feeling the unmistakeable weight of a burden from the Lord. Not particularly for Malawi, at first, but each of us had a very definite sense that the Lord was calling us to dedicate ourselves more fully to him. For many months it seemed that every passage we read, every message we heard, was a voice from heaven straight to our hearts. (How I long for days like those again!)
Anna asks that we pray for God to use His word powerfully in many hearts as the distributors take it and use it.
I had the perfect opportunity to review progress at the Saidi Building Project during my recent 3-week visit to Malawi.
As you may recall, in January a lightning strike and fire seriously damaged the msasa we built for the children’s work at Saidi. This really discouraged us at the time as the msasa was still not completely finished. However, with the Lord’s help and the passage of time we have got over the disappointment. The cyclone that followed caused enormous damage across the Southern Region of Malawi. Thousands of people suffered loss of their homes and/or their crops. Many have no means to rebuild and are still sheltering from the tropical rains in makeshift shelters of plastic sheeting. This puts the msasa fire in perspective, especially as some of our neighbours at Saidi we affected.
Although Stephen & Jim have been frustrated not to be able to travel as they had planned, nevertheless they have witnessed the Lord’s over-ruling hand.
On Saturday afternoon they had a “chance meeting” with a Christian Malawian couple at the B&B where they are staying. In conversation it became clear that they are able and willing to help with several practical aspects of the work we are engaged in, and we thank the Lord for the opportunity to meet them. It’s amazing to see how the Lord often brings some blessing out of our frustrations.
From Anna: Give thanks for a successful Bibletime revision session.
Note: Anna & Wati spent the past week in Lilongwe doing further editorial work on the Bible Time translation project. We are excited for the opportunities this promises.
Anna asks that we give thanks for the safe and successful distribution of thousands of pieces of literature throughout the country.
You can read more about the literature work in this post.
We love when our literature distributors tell us how they appreciate the materials we supply to them.
Anna just shared this letter of thanks which she received from a volunteer in Machinga. He who works to bring the Gospel to Muslim youth. We have edited it very slightly to make it a little more readable.
Brother Stephen asks that we join in giving thanks for journeying mercies and a safe and uneventful arrival in Malawi on Friday morning.
He aims to spend the next three weeks encouraging the workers there, reviewing SALT’s various programs, and making plans for the months ahead, in the Lord’s will.
