And They Were Added to the Church

What an exciting day yesterday was…and extremely busy! We had our first baptism in Nyamula and have officially organized the church.

We all loaded up into the back of the truck around 6:30 AM. It is quite cold for this time of year down here, so we were bundled up in thick sweaters or coats. It has been around 63 in the early mornings lately. While that might not be cold for some, it is freezing for us as we are usually still in the 90s this time of year. It may get this cold for a couple days in July, but not in May. I am very thankful for the cooler weather though. It gives me a little bit more energy. The heat can be quite harsh on the body, and I feel myself aging under the stress of it. (Though that could just be because I am aging…but we will just say it’s the heat.)

When we arrived in Nyamula, a group was already waiting for us. Some ladies were still walking down the road with a few buckets of water for the baptismal, but it was pretty much full when we arrived. You could feel everyone’s excitement!

We had a first Sunday morning service there and took the offering. The way in which the offerings are given always fascinate me. While singing cheerfully with the congregation, those who have offerings bring them to the front and put them in the basket…or if it’s a chicken or bag of corn, it is set beside.

Following the service, we circled the baptismal and sang. Thirty-two people were baptized yesterday! We are excited to see the Lord work in this church!

From now on, we will meet in Nyamula from 7-9; then we will go to the Phokera church at 10 for services. They are both about 15 minutes from our home – but on opposite sides. Sundays will be even busier days now!

The girls and I have enjoyed many baby snuggles lately. This completely makes our day when we get the opportunity to hold a little one, and ladies are beginning to notice that. We got to hold at least 3 babies yesterday.

Also recently the Lord has brought ladies into my life who try to communicate beyond the basic greeting. It seems like it has taken forever for that to happen! I am greatly enjoying the limited fellowship! I still speak poorly, but little by little I am learning. This is Rhoda. She is one of those ladies who tries to communicate with me, partly because she knows that we adore her little baby girl. Slowly, maybe we can build friendships. But I also know that the Lord moves people in and out of our ministry and lives for different reasons. All we can do is just minister to and enjoy those He has in our lives us at the moment.

“First I’m Going to Sew Your Wound”

A little one sat in front of me with a wound on his leg.

“Don’t be afraid.” I told him with a big smile as I poured some water on a gauze to wash his wound. “First I’m going to sew your wound.”

I realized what I had said when I saw the look of terror on his face!

An easy, but terrifying in this case, mistake to make.

You see “to wash” in Chichewa is “kusoka” (Long “o” sound); and “to sew” is “kusuka” (the “u” says “oo” as in “tooth”).

That poor little guy! Thankfully, my mistake was corrected and he sat patiently, though somewhat warily.

I still struggle greatly with the language. I am sometimes disappointed that I have not progressed further. I think this is a burden of most missionary wives as we are busy with our first ministry – home – and don’t have the ability to focus on language studies as much as we would like. But little by little, we progress.

One day I may be able to speak fluently, but even if not, I know that I have focused on what was most important.

His Strength Is All I Need

Resurrection weekend was an exciting time around here. We planned a “3-day” conference with the church plants in Nyamula and Phokera, the church here, plus two other churches associated with this ministry. When they have conferences, there is singing and preaching throughout the days, and singing late into the night. We did not stay out as late as them.

I decided to organize a 1-Day VBS on the Saturday before Resurrection Sunday. We taught lessons in the morning and afternoon, had games and snacks. It was very busy, but fun!

Both Anna and Lydia had the opportunity to teach, and Brother Shadrick always helps a lot. He is very good at keeping order with the kids, but in a way that the kids still love him.

I wasn’t sure how if I have the strength to make it through the weekend, but the Lord always seems to give enough strength!

There are so many ministry things going on, and I want to be part of them all, but it can be tiring. Some days I think, “I just can’t do it today. I don’t have the energy. My body hurts. I need to stay back today.” But God always gives enough energy and strength to go on. More than that, God always gives me a blessing.

One of my greatest blessings is babies and little ones, and the Lord has given me a lot of babies to hold recently! I have greatly enjoyed it.

Another is when a little one is not afraid of me and snuggles in. I love that!

Friday was one of those days. My body was hurting and I felt so weak. I thought about staying home from Bible study, but I always get a blessing out of it. The girls are teaching there so I don’t have to do much. So I went.

There is a little guy there named Jo. I say little but he is too heavy for me to lift for long! Well, little Jo has burns on his feet and he was in pain on Friday. I wished that I could help poor little Jo. I couldn’t do much as I had run out of medical supplies. Because people kept accidentally bumping his feet, he had moved outside the area the kids are meeting in. I couldn’t do much, but I took a wrap and spread it on the ground beside him then sat next to him.

At first, he moved a little away. I just rubbed his back and said, “Pepani, Jo.” (Sorry, Jo.). The next minute, he was half leaning on me and sleeping!

I have always found that God gives the most comfort to me when I am struggling and depressed when I comfort others. Even though I was still physically exhausted, I came back encouraged – not because someone had given me something, but because I had given of myself.

Yes, there are times when we just need to rest, but I’ve found that the Lord always provides those times when I need it. He makes it so that I have no choice but to rest. Many other times, though, He just wants me to continue without strength, to give comfort when I feel the need to be comforted, and I will find that my strength is not needed…HIS STRENGTH IS ENOUGH. HIS STRENGTH IS ALL I NEED.

Little Jessica

Recently the girls and I went on our own little excursion to visit a young lady named Sophie.  She married one of the young men named Aakim.  He helped us a lot with the youth ministry at the Tengani church and now helps in the main church. 

Sophie is one of the only Malawians who has come to visit us by herself a few times.  She is so sweet, and we always enjoy her visits.  There never seems to be that awkwardness from the language barrier with her. She is patient with us and  genuinely appears to enjoy our company.

About a month ago I received a message from Aakim that Sophie had a baby girl, and they named her Jessica, after me!  I almost cried when I heard that they were naming her after me.  Lydia and I sewed dresses for little Jessica and off we went.  

We each enjoyed holding little Jessica.  She is a pretty, little doll!  But that’s no surprise as her mom is very beautiful as well.   After about an hour, we headed home. We still cannot communicate fluently, but it was refreshing to make a visit on our own.  

I look forward to watching little Jessica grow up.  I pray that she will one day trust Christ as her Savior and choose to serve Him with her life. 

Mrs. Trouble & Mercy

“Amayi Mavuto!” I heard Mercy yelling.  

When I turned my head to look, there was one of the ladies at the church holding Mercy’s arm and her little tote bag while Mercy struggled to get away from her. 

What does “mavuto” mean? Trouble.  Mercy was calling this lady “Mother Trouble, or Mrs. Trouble”.

Why?  Well, we had a verse memorization contest that particular Sunday.  Those who could say all 17 of the memory verses that we had been working on earned little bags of chips and lollipops.

Immediately after coming from class, I was surrounded by mothers telling me to give their child some.  This happens every time I give something out.  I always explain that they need to say their memory verse in order to receive it, but they always try anyways.

So there I was surrounded by mothers asking for chips and sweeties. I was trying to pull myself away from them to go help those who were asking me to help them bandage their wounds when I heard Mercy yell out, “Amayi Mavuto!”

I looked at Sammy quickly and said, “Sammy, go help Mercy!”  

But by that time, Mercy had escaped from her captor.

When we got home, Mercy told us the story…she was teasing Mercy and telling her to give her chips. (Though she might have been somewhat serious.)

This particular lady, Joyce, is very faithful.  She always enjoys teasing Mercy by trying out new phrases and questions on her.  

Ever since then, anytime Joyce greeted Mercy she would run and yell out, “Amayi Mavuto!” 

Joyce has been working to win Mercy back so Wednesday she brought Mercy something that they call a cucumber (though it is huge and tastes more like an unsweetened melon).

Mercy came to me the other day and asked if she could earn a little bag of chips to give to Amayi Joyce.  She was so excited to secretly give it to her today…definitely secretly because she didn’t want 10 other ladies chasing her! 

Flooding

I have a special prayer request.

On Tuesday, Eric took Lydia to a doctor appointment. She was diagnosed with a kidney condition called nephrotic syndrome about two years ago and had a recent relapse after a sickness. Usually I go as well, but because I have sick kids at home and it was just a checkup to make sure the treatment was still working, I stayed home. We are also in rainy season and I was slightly concerned about both Eric and I being away from home.

Everything went smoothly and the doctor said her doctor said that she was responding well to treatment. After grocery shopping, they began their trip back down the mountain.

When they reached the bottom, they discovered that the bridge had flooded. So they turned back around until they could pass. The photos are aerial photos Pastor Nelson sent me of that area.

We had hoped that maybe they could return on Saturday, but have learned that the road has washed away in several areas and will be impassable until at least sometime next week.

Would you please pray that the Lord will allow things to be repaired quickly? There have been times when we are blocked off from town for a couple weeks to a month.

We are praising the Lord that He protected them and that they are in a safe location. Thank you for your prayers!

God Cares

God is so good to us.

He knows everything that we go through and gives the grace needed for whatever we face.  

Sometimes He shows His care for us in big ways.

But often we can feel His care the most in the little things.  

One of those ways happened last year.  

I had run out of face powder.  Tragic, I know.  

I know it’s vain, but I still like to put on a little makeup each day – even though I’m in the middle of nowhere.  It makes me feel more like myself. 

When we were in the city for monthly groceries, I decided to check a little shop that had beauty products.  I knew that it was highly unlikely as I’ve never seen lighter makeup here. 

As I approached the counter, I was warmly greeted by a young lady asking how she could help me.

Smiling I said, “Do you have any face powder?” 

“In YOUR color?!” She asked.

Even though I could hear the disbelief in her voice, I just smiled and said yes.  

She almost rolled her eyes and I could tell that, even though she was looking, she knew there wasn’t anything in MY color.  

Then slowly she pulled out a box.  She opened it and with a silent, shocked expression turned it for me to see.  

It was just my color!!! (Which is VERY light. Haha)

“Perfect!” I said. 

It truly was the perfect powder.  

Every time I looked at it I was reminded of God’s care for me.  

It was something so simple, so silly, yet God had someone accidentally order a wrong shade…just for me!  

Has God done that for you?  

My little friend who gave me a hug just when I needed it.

Draw Me Nearer, Blessed Lord

I read a book a few years ago called Humility: The Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray. I recently found it on Podbean and have been listening to it in the mornings. I cannot recommend it enough. It is powerful and convicting. I could listen to it daily as I am in such need of humility!

The Lord has been working in my life since we came to the field showing me my great need of humility. He has exposed that I think more highly of myself than I ought to think. I am not Christ-like nor have I died to self like I should have. He humbled himself to the cross, yet I am offended by the attitudes of those who don’t treat me as I think they should.

Again and again I have been brought to Moses. The Bible says he was the meekest in all the earth. This was said of him as others rose up against him – against God’s chosen leader. He did not defend himself or tell others that God had chosen him. He humbled himself to the cross.

One of the most Christ-like attitudes we can attain is that of His humility, and yet it is probably the hardest as we must battle our prideful flesh!

Again, I highly recommend the book or the reading of it on Podbean.

Humility: The Beauty of Holiness by Andrew Murray on Podbean:
https://www.podbean.com/pi/pbblog-52x2q-166ddb

Beauty in the Mundane

Sometimes in the mundane routine of life you can lose how amazing your surroundings are. Everything just feels normal. But when you pause for a moment, you see it.

We walked down the path to make visits, we approached a little house. It was almost hidden by the tall grass surrounding it. The mountains towered in the background. A small girl, no more than 3 years of age, greeted us. She said that no one else was home. Just as we turned to leave, her dad came down the path toward us.

After greeting us, he quickly brushed aside the debris in the clearing under the tree, got a little stool for me to sit on, and a potato sack for the girls.

As Brother Shadrick and the man sat on the tree root talking, I couldn’t help but think of how amazing and different this scene was. I was wishing that I had my camera! Yet I know that I wouldn’t pull it out as I feel pulling out a camera causes you to lose connection with them; and it definitely is a distraction. But I was wishing that I could capture this scene!

After greetings, I had the opportunity to witness to the men, then Brother Shadrick witnessed to him. This man frequently passes out tracts, and both his brother and wife attend the Nyamula Bible Study, but he does not come. Even though he would agree with us, he had the knowledge of salvation but has never personally turned to the Lord. He did not make any decisions that day, what a blessing it would be to see this entire family saved and on fire for the Lord.

It is the time of harvest here and many are harvesting their millet and sorghum. Then they lay it out and beat it with sticks. The kids asked to help while we were waiting for our ride. It was fun for a minute, but they said they wouldn’t like to do that everyday.

Kids seemed to come from everywhere to watch, yelling, “The azungus (white people) are beating the millet!” They found it amusing. But then, they find everything we do amusing!

Finally Baptized!

How excited I was for her! She had waited so long, and now, she was finally getting baptized!

Agogo* Fatima greatly desired to be baptized at the first baptism in Phokera, but only because she wanted to be a member of the church.

She tried getting into the baptismal, going from one side to the other, but she did not believe that she was in need of a Savior. In fact, she seemed to think she was more righteous than God.

She was angry at Him for taking her children and thought He was cruel and unjust.

It broke our hearts to see how earnestly she wanted to be baptized and how angry she was at God. She is very old, and we prayed that the Lord would bring her to salvation before it was too late.

What a day it was when she came and admitted that she was a sinner in need of salvation!

Finally, the day of the baptism came. The ladies had to work hard to prepare for it by carrying buckets of water to fill the baptismal.

Twenty-three were baptized that Sunday, and while all were exciting, her baptism was special. Holding back tears, we watched her step into the baptismal. She is not stable on her feet and fell forward, but thankfully, Pastor Nelson was able to help her regain her balance.

Since her salvation, she looks for me at every service to greet me.

Due to health, she has been missing more recently. What a blessing it is that she trusted Christ before it was too late!

*Agogo means elderly or grandpa/grandma