you name it

The man at the immigration office knows us by now. Every now and then, Cees goes there to fill the forms, talk with the agents etc… trying to pursue a work permit for us here in Malawi. Finally the man asked his question. “Why do you actually want to move from Zambia to Malawi? Everyone knows Zambia is doing much better than we do. I don’t understand!” True, Malawi is not doing well at all in different aspects, but that can never be a reason to neglect a country from mission work. Some think missionaries should not go to area’s with malaria, but can that be a responsible vision for mission work? Malaria and Aids, poverty and neglect, economic crisis, shortages of many resources – it’s all prevalent around us here. That doesn’t keep us from doing what God calls us to do! We pray the Lord for extra grace and patience to work and live here and we thank Him for the blessings we are receiving.

Last Saturday we went to Zambia to fill up on Diesel and try to extend our visa at the border, with the whole family. It was good to be in Zambia again and we met with some of our ‘old friends’ and were able to bring one of Cov.Coll. students with us to go home. It was wonderful to receive a phone call from Nelson Banda, Covenant College cook. His wife Ida delivered a healthy baby boy.  It was so funny how the name giving went. Months ago, when they told us about the pregnancy, they shared with us their wish to name the baby after one of us. When the boy arrived, Nelson went to tell Marjanne (colleague) that little Cees was born… Meanwhile we received the news and when Cees heard it was a boy he worried about the name. “They cannot give the poor child my name, in case, I will suggest them to call him Moses” (Ida and our little Moses have always been very close, he still calls for her sometimes) So, Cees sent Ida a message and when Marjanne went to the Banda house to see little Cees, she got to see little Moses instead… Nelson looked puzzled and Ida explained that Reverend Cees sent a message to call the baby not Cees but Moses (which is a common name in Zambia, the name Cees always put smiles on the Zambian faces and nobody ever told us the truth why).

Our research is progressing. There are many good options and visions and we just pray for God’s guidance. Also for us and the church to have a shared vision about the way we can minister best to this country. We also pray for generous hearts of God’s people to support the work of God’s kingdom in this poor nation. We would love and be willing to commit ourselves to God’s calling, training and equipping people to carry out God’s Word, even to the unreached in the remote villages around us. But without financial means we won’t be able to complete this task. Some people tell us to make known the needs to develop and realize His work. Maybe it’s soon time to do so. For now, we ask your honest prayers. Friends, this is a crucial time for us as a family and church, we need the Holy Spirit to follow the Lord. Thanks!