six people, ten puppies

We have just seen number ten being born. Lassy, our German Shepherd dog, became mother in the last few hours. There might be more coming… Watching her fills me with amazement and awe. These creatures know exactly how to do all the pre- and postnatal care, just by themselves! Our kids are exited too. Happy birthday to… yeah, we’ve got to come up with ten names yet…

It was good to start Bible study again, prior to the church service, yesterday. A Malawian brother shared some experiences from growing up in one of the main churches of Malawi. It illustrated the need for revival and sound teaching even in this established and well organized church. For many years, he could not attend his congregation, but his mother paid his church contribution. According to the books, he was a good church member. At one stage he found out that his mother stopped paying, so he thought to make up and pay for entire year. That, however, drew the attention of the leaders and he was disciplined for absence. What does it really mean, to be a faithful Christian?

Malawians also see the journey of faith as a journey on a bicycle. Here, having lots of hills, biking means you often get off the bike, pushing it up the hill and later on speeding off the hill without having to do anything. Sometimes you put effort in being a Christian and after effort there is time to relax and just cruise...

Once again we were reminded of the sad reality of many Christians going to church for the wrong reasons. Number one reason is not the pure desire to hear God’s Word but to make sure you are seen so that the church will make your funeral a big event. “Funerals are nice… lots of people, lots of food, surely the deceased must be in heaven with so many people respecting your funeral.”

We are so much in need for reformation and revival. We pray God will use us to carry out Gods Word in such a way that it touches the hearts, wakes people up and gets them into action to be reformed. This is probable a worldwide need!

Well, Malawi is struggling. From different directions we hear ‘this is how it started in Zimbabwe’. God knows where this is heading and we just pray for His mercy upon this land. It is tough to be in the queue for a whole day or night in order to get fuel for the car. We even have a maximum of 25 liters (which means we will run out very soon and stand in queue again) and we have to drive very carefully. Instead of picking up the kids from school at their own knock-off times, letting them wait for hours so we combine all the necessary driving etc. It also limits people to carry out their / our ministries. Instead of doing mentor visit’s every month, reducing it to every quarter, etc. Fuel price have gone up with 60%...so everything else too! This is not manageable for many people and the suffering starts. Stocks are running out, not just in the grocery shop (no sugar, no flour, no milk…) but also medicines. You can imagine the consequences!

When I walk on the streets in our neighborhood I get stopped many times, ‘please, give me food’ or ‘please give me clothes’… Of course, the Bible says something about that and the question is how we should give ear to God’s command to give away one skirt when we have two. It is common here to just trade and I like that better than just handing out stuff; even if someone trades a few tomatoes from his garden for a good quality skirt or blanket. In the past months I have gotten to know Samuel. He sells paintings. I don’t buy his paintings because I need them but to help him. He was born healthy but at an early age lost his hands in a fire. He didn’t choose to sit and beg all his life. He made an effort to learn how to paint with his mouth and feet. He married, has children and maintains a cornfield to provide for his family. When I bought another painting last week he told me he finally got enough money to buy fertilizer for his cornfield. He hopes to yield enough to even sell some and have money to buy school uniforms to send his kids to school. There are many disabled people here, due to lots of deceases (like polio), fires, poverty, insufficient / failing medical care etc. A program where they are being taught to be creative and find out how they can make a living would be wonderful.

It’s time to check my laundry. It is hard to get things dry in this extremely humid rain season. The heavy downpours remind me of our first rain season in Africa, 2006! My, that was an experience in the bush without a proper house… Well, I want to make sure the bedding for our visitors will be dry and not moist and moldy! We are expecting three visitors from the US this week! We are excited and looking forward to host them (hoping they won’t mind all the noise and hassle a family with young kids produce…). It was also an opportunity for me to send a ‘wish-list’….particular medicines, alum to make play dough long lasting, real crayons (they sell crayons here but that quality…no fun for the kids to try to color a picture when the crayon doesn’t make any color on the paper…and that can be said about anything really, quality of things is very very poor and so disappointing to give the kids a present when it breaks within an hour…we were spoiled people). 

I managed to find some useful materials for the children ministry I will be leading this year in the international church we attend. It needs a lot of adjustments and when there is power I will try to work it out. I am excited about it and pray for wisdom to teach the teachers and children. For now, I send you our greetings and wish you all the best!