It takes courage!

The sun was setting but mommy wasn’t home yet, still looking for a little ‘ganyu’ (work) to be able to buy ‘ndiyo’ (something to go with Nsima (maisporrige) like vegetables or meat (mice, caterpillars, termites, mushrooms). Boy (I don’t use his real name) was just starting a little fire in his dark hut when someone came in and blindfolded him. First Boy thought it was a friend joking, but it wasn’t. A deep voice said ‘come’ and pulled Boy outside. It seemed darker then dark for Boy. He was pushed forward, the man holding his hands had no mercy when Boy tripped with his bare feet over the treestumps. It seemed like ages when their journey finally came to an end. The ground felt soggy and the sound of dancing and drumming people made Boy’s heartbeat even go faster. Where was he? What was going on? Fear almost choked him as he discovered he had entered the secret grounds of the Nyau, the society of the spirits. ‘No, no, no, not me’ hammered a voice in him but there was no way out. His blindfold was taken off and he looked straight in the eyes of….his grandfather, the headman of his community. Suddenly he was surrounded and welcomed by masked men. Boy received his secret code, learned many secret words, rules and behaviour including ‘sexual education’. Boy was forced to initiation into the Nyau society. Now he got some assignments to prove his manhood (like stealing hot charcoal) and learned to listen to the advice of the spirits. At the final day he was shaved in presence of all the members to show childhood was finished now. Boy was now a man! Eventhough he was instructed to never say a word to non-members about it, to stop going to school (while with our help he had just started going to school) and not go to the Bible programs anymore, something, or I should say Someone was making him still go. Boy knows the price he might pay for disobedience to the Nyau authority; threats of all kinds. Being robbed (of what, he owns basically nothing that a school uniform), having to pay fines and most likely to be witched (witchcraft is a big problem here!). Yet, Boy still comes and was one of the wise men in our nativity play during our wonderful Christmas celebration. He is not the only boy who was kidnapped and forces to this initiation. Please pray for these kids, growing up with so much fear for spirits and who almost don’t have a choice then just ‘go with the flow’ of worshipping them. It takes a LOT OF COURAGE to disobey them and stand up for the Name of Jesus. But this example shows us that it is possible. How? God!

These 394 kids can never say they didn't know about Jesus the Savior coming to this world to save sinners!

What a privilege to enjoy Creation in Africa! This was new years eve...the quietest of all, we camped in this part of Malawi, being the only ones there since everyone else chooses the busy bustling places to celebrate.

On our way to Zomba platuau. Malawi is beautiful, especially in the rainy = green season, we love it!