Be Found Faithful

Eric and I celebrated 21 years of marriage last Thursday. The kids felt bad for us at first because they said we were at missionary candidate school for our 19th and 20th anniversaries, and this year we couldn’t do anything because we don’t feel comfortable leaving the kids here.

BUT we had a plan! Eric had told everyone that we were “locking ourselves off for the day”…and we did! No one came asking us to do anything.

The day began with a coffee-date in our room with breakfast made by the kids. Eric had gotten me two wicker chairs for our room, and it has become our favorite coffee-date spot. A lot of times as missionaries, it can be hard to go on dates because you can’t leave your kids. What a blessing our little coffee-date spot is! I’m so thankful my husband encouraged it!

I don’t remember how much time we spent just fellowshipping, but I do know it was long and the kids didn’t come to the door once!!! If you’re a mom, you know how amazing that is!

Afterwards, we played games with the kids, watched a movie, they cooked lunch…and we took a few more coffee dates together. It was a sweet day.

We needed the rest to prepare for the busy weekend that we were heading into!

Saturday I had planned a meeting with the children’s ministry workers. I want to get them more involved in the children’s church and also thank them for their help. We helped cook a meal for them, then I had games and taught a SS teacher/helper lesson. I think the Lord blessed our time and helped give them a greater burden for children.

Originally, I wasn’t going to be going to Phokera on Sunday as the youth choir was going to go visit another church we’re helping before Phokera. We thought it would be too much for the kids and I. When an emergency came up, and the choir couldn’t go, Eric asked if I thought I could go. We decided to do it.

Because there are no fast food or premade foods, I got up early Sunday morning to prepare things to take on the road. I taught at our church from about 7-10, except for the hymns before we dismiss. Then we rushed home to use the restroom and grab everything. We immediately headed to the little church in Sorgium.

Because the Lord has blessed us, we were us to buy land for this little church. They put up a grass shelter almost immediately and have started meeting in it. They said that they hope to have a church built by the end of the year! They will mold and fire the bricks themselves. The pastor’s name is Eric.

Eric and Brother Shadrick were each going to preach, our family sang, and I taught a children’s lesson for one of the preaching sessions. I was afraid teaching through both would be too much for me. We had a sweet time of fellowship with their church.

Church in Sorgium
Church in Sorgium

We parked at a gas station halfway between Pastor Eric’s church in Sorgium, and Phokera to eat lunch because we didn’t want to eat in front of the church people, and in Phokera our vehicle is immediately surrounded.

Eric with Pastor Eric

As we sat parked, everyone who went by stared. Two boys in particular found us amusing and stood blatantly staring for at least 15 minutes, until we got out of the car to go use the restroom.

It was an experience for sure! The bathroom was outside with a brick wall “maze” and a little toilet room. It was better than any in the village as most of those only have a brick “wall” about chest high. As soon as we walked in, I heard rustling outside the window (opening in the brick wall). I kept the door open to somewhat shield the “toilet”, while everyone stood guard in the outside “hall” area. Beside the cement “toilet” was a bucket of water and a pitcher to “flush” the toilet with. I was SO tempted to fill the pitcher with water and throw water out the window at the rustler! The kids found this thought quite amusing. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

Pastor Eric’s grandson

Since Pastor Nelson was unable to go with us, Brother Shadrick translated for Eric and his daughter, Grace, translated for me while I taught the children.

It was an extremely full weekend, but then again, every day has been full since we arrived. I am so thankful that the Lord went ahead of us to prepare this place for us! I have always felt like the Lord had a place made comfortable for us so we could get right to work. Not only that, but we have places where we can come apart and rest. I cannot thank HIM enough! God always gives rest to His people as we follow Him.

Pastor Eric’s church

To each of us He has given a different responsibility/responsibilities, and grace enough to fulfill the task He has called us to. He doesn’t expect you to do what I’m doing, nor has He called me to do your task. One is not greater than the other, we are both only doing what our Master has called us to. Being a missionary may look more glamorous than piles of laundry and cooking meals, but all that is required of a servant is to be found faithful.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

A Life Lived With Purpose

Life here is so completely full. Every part of my day, every interaction, whether in my home or outside, feels like it has purpose.

Inside my home, I purpose to be present and available. Sometimes this means just listening when my kids need to talk – or cry…even if I’m so exhausted that I can hardly keep my eyes open. The challenge is listening without them noticing that I’m tired or they’d stop talking. I know this is important for any parent, but I feel even more so for them as missionary kids. They have the sweetest spirits, but moving can be hard on kids – especially to an entirely different country and culture.

One night I failed at this. Anna was chatting with me and I began to fall asleep and started talking about still being able to cook. She started laughing and asking what I meant. I apologized and said I was falling asleep because I was so tired. She said, “It’s okay! I’ll just talk until you are sleeping!” And she did! This has now become the family joke – that Anna’s voice is so soothing she puts me to sleep.

Some days I have a slight desire to slow down, but it is only a quick thought because I know that I wouldn’t be happy with anything else! I would probably feel the loneliness and foreignness of everything more for sure. But the downside of this busy schedule is that my “free time”, or any quiet moments that I may find, are spent sleeping instead of writing. Which is why I’ve missed writing.

Last week we went to the area of the village where the lady who was saved from witchcraft lives. I’ll call her Miss S. Miss S. looked so happy to see us that she ran towards us and gave us each a hug! A large group of kids met us as soon as we pulled into the village. I didn’t have any children’s materials with me, but we decided to do a children’s lesson where we parked because of the group that had gathered.

Off to the side, some ladies stood watching and listening. You could tell we were amusing to them. Because they heard us greeting in Chichewa, they wanted to test how much we knew. One approached Lydia and asked her name. When Lydia replied, she quickly ran back to the group and they all started laughing. Another asked Anna her age and grade. They cannot get over that a white person is learning and speaking their language.

This week, our church group went back to that area. Miss S. went with some of our ladies. They were rudely turned away from a few houses because of Miss S. and some accused our ladies of being part of the witchcraft group because they were with Miss S. I think this discouraged them a little, but their husbands encouraged them with the testimony of Paul…not everyone believed he was changed either! In another part of the village though, a lady told Brother Shadrick that she could see a big change in Miss S and was going to come to the Bible study.

Meanwhile, Eric and Pastor Nelson’s group was invited over to their little homemade bar area. Some set up bars from their home, often with homemade beer. They play loud music and put bottles around to show that they are selling drinks. Eric looked at Pastor Nelson and asked, “What do you think?” His reply, “Let’s preach to them!” The men listened intently as Eric preached. He was not mean, but shared with them the verse that no drunkard would inherit the kingdom of God. As he did, one young man in particular hung his head. When they finished, he prayed to receive Christ as His Savior. He then left his drink to follow the men as they continued witnessing at different homes. Sunday, he showed up at the Bible study!

Many make professions. Almost everyone will pray, partly because of cultural politeness. How exciting it is to see that people are still forsaking all to follow Christ!

Many of you have been praying for a young man named Jeremiah. He was hospitalized and given antibiotics to help with the infection in his foot. After about a week, he requested to be released so he could come to us daily to have his bandages changed, as they were not regularly changing them. Because of how severe his wound is, I have not been helping treat him. I did get to speak to him for a moment, and I am praying that the Lord gives me the opportunity to witness to him. Thank you for praying for him!

It is 1 AM as I am writing this. Laying here in the quiet, different things that are happening are coming to my mind. But I should close for now, and if the Lord allows, write sooner next time.

If you have read this far, I do not take it for granted. Thank you so much for your interest and prayers for us and the ministry that the Lord has given us!

And know, that while you may not be in Africa where it’s as easy to see, but every interaction you have inside or outside of your home has a purpose. The Lord has you where you are for a purpose. Redeem the time, for the days are short, and you do not know what tomorrow will hold!

Grand Central Station

Finding a moment to jot down my thoughts has been almost impossible lately. We are the grand central station of this area for sure!

The college is in its final week before it breaks for a month. We are looking forward to a month off…though we are already beginning to fill the calendar with other events. Eric has been very encouraged to see the pastors putting into practice and talking to others about what they are learning when they go out witnessing and preaching.

Our front porch has been a favorite spot for a few of the ladies now to play games. Their favorite is UNO. Recently we were all playing when Eric arrived home with jugs of drinking water. Here, carrying water is women’s work. When he started bringing them in the house, the ladies exclaimed in shock, “Amayi!!!” I can’t remember what they were saying but understood that they couldn’t believe that I would let him carry it himself! So instead of fighting with them, I got up and grabbed three jugs. Eric, of course, wasn’t having that, so he went out and grabbed the rest quickly. I heard something about the Abusa (pastor) carrying water.😆

Mercy got to be a little Malawian one day when we were out witnessing. We were walking when Maureen said Mercy was tired, (though she was not showing any signs of that) and told her to come. She then proceeded to wrap Mercy to her back. Mercy protested at first, but you could tell she enjoyed the ride!

Everyone is finally over all the sicknesses. What a blessing that the Lord helped us through that! With all going on, I forgot to mention that Milo had kittens! Of course it had to happen right when sickness was at its worst, AND she chose our closet to give birth in. They are growing and doing well. They just turned 4 weeks and are starting to play a little. The kids are loving it, but I don’t know how we’re going to give them away!

The water is still not working properly, but we’ve been able to manage a load of laundry almost daily and usually “real” showers. That’s what the kids call it when we have running water instead of bucket showers. The man who installed the system is supposed to come tomorrow. It has not worked since he installed it a month ago.

I have been assisting in our little first aid station. I never thought I’d be able to help in this area! I have always greatly struggled with cleaning wounds and blood, but the Lord has given me great grace to assist in this area and even a desire to help. I still don’t enjoy cleaning wounds and making little ones cry. I always bring cookies to try to soften the pain slightly. This has also given me opportunities to witness to those coming.

I have one young man in particular that I would appreciate your prayers for. His name is Jeremiah. His infection was so severe that we were unable to help him. We gave him transport money to get to the hospital about an hour from us. Today when I asked Brother Shadrach if he will get the help he needs down there, he said it depends on if he has money or not. Another lady had gone down with an infection and died a week later. We have someone going down to check on him. Please pray for this young man, especially for his salvation!

The brevity of life is so visible here! One day people are here, the next they have entered into eternity. You can feel the urgent need to share the Gospel with each person you meet – as you do not know what tomorrow holds for them!

Just last week a group of 32 people from Phokera were canoeing over to Mozambique for work when a hippo attacked and flipped the canoe. Thirty people died. A man who attends our Bible study saw it and said it was a very tragic sight! He said none of those people attended the Bible study…but how many had we witnessed to and how many truly were saved? We won’t know until eternity.

It has been a blessing to see the change in the lady who was saved in the village. Every time we see her now, she has a big smile on her face and asks for tracts to pass out. How amazing it is to see the change Jesus makes in a life!

The little ones who practice witchcraft have not been back to church since I mentioned them. One finally returned on Sunday. I was very happy to see him! Please continue to pray for these little ones to be saved! It is still so difficult to fathom little ones, only 8-10, practicing witchcraft!

And pray for us that the Lord would help us to open our mouths, be the witness we need to be, and give us the words to see. For we know not what tomorrow holds!

🌸Happy Mother’s Day!🌸

🌸Happy Mother’s Day!🌸

I was only able to get a picture with the girls because Sammy is sick today. Soon I will take a picture with my boys.

They were all feeling bad that they couldn’t get me anything for Mother’s Day. There are no stores nearby…but I already have everything I want.

For five years I prayed for a baby, and the Lord blessed me with 6….plus hundreds more here. I truly am so blessed!

Anna wrote me the sweetest note, and though I’m undeserving of her praise, it was the sweetest gift! Sometimes it is so humbling to be a mom knowing that they are watching us!

Plus, Lydia made me gluten free peanut butter cookies…I am blessed!🥰❤️

Mrs. Phil wore pink today too so she wanted a picture. And fun fact from Malawi , I learned that they celebrate Mother’s Day in October!

May They See A Difference

“A lot of people told me, ‘You’re going to miss out on SO much!’ But I don’t feel like we’re missing out on anything!”

Anna sat beside me on the front porch and shared this with me.

I am extremely thankful that my kids don’t feel like they are missing out or being deprived because the Lord has called us to the mission field! I am grateful that they want to help and have kept their sweet spirit, even if they are living a little different now.

Their joyfulness and songs are not only a great blessing to me, but also a testimony to the Malawians. They say that we are a happy family, that loves one another. It is so different for them to see as most homes here are filled with fighting, husbands beating wives, vice-a-versa, and even spouses killing each other.

What a testimony and light our families can be in this world where they have lost natural affection! It is only because of Jesus! May those around us and those around you see only HIM! May they see a difference!

P.S. Don’t feel sorry for missionary kids. They are learning true contentment in a way that wouldn’t be possible anywhere else. Because true contentment comes not when life is perfect, but when we can praise the Lord…even when doing laundry by hand.

Sammy’s photo bomb didn’t turn out the way he expected.😆

A Spiritual Battle

We were in the middle of our Wednesday night lesson, when suddenly we saw Eric and Pastor Nelson running out of the church toward us. “Move the kids! Move the kids!” They yelled. “There’s a snake!”

We quickly moved the kids. A snake slithered into the church during the preaching. Eric was sitting across from where it came and pointed it out. Everyone scampered back and the snake slithered back out. It ended up on the other side of the wall from where the children were. A minute later we heard everyone stoning it, then we saw them beating it with long sticks with brush on it (similar to a broom).

We finished up our lesson then all went out of the gate to see it. Max chopped it with a machete then burned it. Some said it was a black mamba, others a spitting colbra. Take your pick!😆

Many here are still without homes and crops are washed away from the hurricane. Corn last year was around $6. I believe it is over $20 now and they are talking about it possibly being up to $100 a bag! The Lord provided a way for us to buy some bags of corn for people. The needs are so great and we desire to help people as they face starvation, but it can be discouraging as they do not respond with gratitude. Instead, no matter what we give, their response is that we have not given enough. That is when we are reminded to take our eyes off men and focus on the Lord. We will get discouraged if our eyes aren’t on the Lord. We have to just pray and do what the Lord directs us to do, whether it is appreciated or not. But it is like that in any ministry.

I have recently found out that some of the kids asking for prayers are actually practicing witchcraft personally. One young one even admitted to traveling very far in the evening to attend a ceremony. My heart feels very heavy! Oh! May the Lord save them from satan’s clenches! May He reach them before it is too late!

A couple weeks ago one of our pastors was in an accident. They were directly told by someone that they had been “praying” to Satan for him to die so they could have blood for their sacrifice. The spiritual battle is so great, and we can feel the oppression from it.

Here in our home we have been struggling with a sickness that is going around. Everyone has been struggling with a lingering cough. Anna in particular has been hit hard by it and has been having fevers off and on for over a week. We did test her for malaria, but it seems like it will just need to take its course. I pray that it won’t be too much longer.

Amidst it all, our water system has broken again, the van battery and alternator needed to be replaced, we have been hindered from going to Phokera for 3 weeks, and the bank hasn’t allowed us to get the money we had sent over a week ago. I must admit with all that is going on, I have had a few moments of discouragement. But in moments like that, there is only one place to go-I run to my Savior! When I am weak, then is He made strong! What a sweet comfort!

Please continue to pray for us! And not only is us, pray for your missionaries who aren’t as vocal about what they are going through. They, and I, cannot always share what we are facing. But we desperately need your prayers as “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:23 It is a battle that can only be fought on our knees. Will you fight this battle with us?

The Lord Had a Reason

Eric & Pastor Nelson

We didn’t understand why, but the Lord had a reason.

🚩Disclaimer🚩

➡️This post deals with some tough topics, like witchcraft, which you may not want to read out loud with little ones. (My own children do not know all the details.) I try to not go into detail, but please use discretion.⬅️

Eric only had one lesson left to complete in his Bible lessons, but we have been hindered from having the Bible study in Phokera due to weather. Today we found out why.

Due to a sickness going around our family right now, I was unable to go with him. As he headed out the door, he turned around and said, “Pray for us! I’m finishing up this particular lesson today and it deals strongly with salvation! Pray those who need it are there!” Little did we know!

Today, satan sent another hindrance. They couldn’t get the vehicle started! They fiddled with it, tried different things, but it just wouldn’t work. They prayed, and the Lord got it working!

In Phokera, James, one of the faithful men, was out passing tracts when he met a lady. He convinced her to come to the Bible study today. She sat and listened intently. When Eric closed the message, she immediately came up and said that she needed to be saved today. She was only 29, but due to her lifestyle looked much older. As they sat and talked with her, tears poured down her face. She began to share all the wickedness she had been involved in. My mind cannot even fathom! She was not only involved in things like prostitution and human trafficking, but she was also heavily involved in satanism, including human sacrifices. She was now covered in sores because they threw some type of water mixture on her when she refused to sacrifice her oldest, 14 year old son. At the time that James came to her home, she had a bag of pills in her pocket and a rope hung with the plans of taking her own life.

I get chills just thinking about how satan almost had her! What we saw as hindrances, God had it planned for Eric to do that particular lesson on that particular day! Pray for this lady as I’m sure she will be experiencing many attacks. Pray that she will have a peace that she’s never had before, a peace like no other. Pray that the Lord will completely transform her life and others will marvel at how God works! May she be another maniac of Gaderrah, another Mary Magdalene!

And remember to pray for your missionaries! We don’t, and can’t always share every detail of every problem, but there is a great spiritual battle that we are facing! Sometimes it comes in physical sickness or discouragement from nationals, but it is not a battle of flesh and blood that we fight! It is a grave battle with principalities. We have gotten a glimpse lately, and it is great! The only way that battle can be fought is on our knees.

From the Mouths of Babes

Internet is frequently poor, which is why I can’t always post weekly. I usually type out what I’m going to say ahead of time and then when I get it to work, quickly copy and paste. If I still have internet, I can reply to some comments and messages. I have noticed at times that when I like or reply to your comments that it didn’t go through. So, please forgive me if I miss something. Each of your comments and messages are a blessing!

We got to experience something new this week…a Malawian private clinic.

Abigail had been having some strange fevers and we had been advised to take her in for some bloodwork. She is, thankfully, doing much better now.

The clinic was definitely different than ours, but clean. While I was there, I greeted a group of ladies with “Good Morning!” in Chichewa. They were shocked and started giggling. One lady in particular found it amusing and said, “Most English people only say, Moni!” And “How is it she can speak like she was born here in Malawi?!” I thought maybe I shouldn’t try to say anything else or my poor Chichewa would be found out!😆 But I couldn’t help it and interjected a comment here and there, to which they always broke out in laughter saying, “She understands!!!”

Today during at the end of children’s church I decided to take prayer requests. Everyone here (well, around the world it’s human nature really) people seem to care only about themselves. No one is willing to help a neighbor or let the poorest have the food, they each want it for themselves. I told the kids that’s not how Christians should be. The Bible says in the last days men will be lovers of their own selves, but God asks us to look every man not on his own things, but also on the things of others. So I want them to begin praying for each other.

As they shared, I also wrote down their names. I wasn’t sure what to expect. In America kids ask prayer requests for everything! I thought I would possibly get a request about hunger as many are struggling to find food after the flooding. I wasn’t prepared for what they would request, or if they would feel comfortable sharing any requests. The two top prayer requests were for safety from witchcraft exposure in their homes/villages and the other was for nightmares, which I would guess is related. My heart just broke as they shared. If you think of it, will you please pray for these young ones (and I’m sure many more) dealing with this influence? Here are a few specific names you can pray for, a young man named Made, and some young ladies named Natasha, Esther, Eyanko, Takondwa, Tadala. I have them for such a short time! Praying that the Lord protects them when they are away.

We went to the village today (Sunday) but because it was about to rain, we sat with the adults for a short lesson. Near the end, I noticed the kids pointing at Isaac, so I decided to bring him out for a little while. (Isaac is my little puppet.) Within seconds I was surrounded by at least 50 kids all wanting to touch him and shake his hand! I thought, “Oh no! I’ve started a mob and I’m sitting down unable to get out of the way!” 😆 Thankfully I was able to safely excuse myself.

I shared earlier that missionary life is boring, in that often it is just being faithful, plodding through a similar routine. But it is definitely not considered boring if you count all the unexpected things thrown in! We came home today to find out that someone had climbed the wall during the night and stole all the grounding wires. We’ve had one week of water and electricity (which has barely been shut down- we’ve been told because of the holiday). It is not the funnest part of being a missionary, but it’s a common part of missionary life.

Really, we’ve only had minor inconveniences here and there…so light compared to some! But it could still bring discouragement. Outside of the Bible, I have found missionary biographies to be a great source of encouragement and can agree with this quote by Amy Carmichael:

Amy Carmichael was “fortified and cheered” when she read missionary biographies. Their stories were “a sort of standing dose of mental and spiritual quinine.”

I am a slow reader as I don’t have much time, but I greatly enjoy when I have the opportunity to read. I am still reading a big biography about Amy Carmichael. Though there are some things she and I would disagree on, I have really enjoyed it – more the first part than the end.

Even if you’re not a missionary, I want to encourage you to read Christian biographies. Even if you’re a busy mom or not a reader, try to read a chapter here and there. There’s something about reading their testimonies which encourages you to lay aside every weight, run the race, and draw closer to the Lord.

Just Doing the Same Things

April 4, 2023

“Practical missionary life is an unexciting thing. It is not sparkling all over with incident. It is very prosaic at times.” ~Amy Carmichael

I’m currently reading through Amy Carmichael books and I always seem to find a quote stating my recent thoughts, though she puts it much more eloquently.

The routine, schedule…everything seems less than exciting, and definitely not glamorous! But life is so full! I have decided that I’m okay with that. We are boring, routine people who use to order the same favorites at restaurants…and that’s okay. God uses different kinds of people for different purposes.

The truck is being repaired so we weren’t able to go to Phokera. Instead we went out in our village, down paths that cars couldn’t get to. We did not find many home as everyone was out in their gardens. God still opened many doors to witness and meet people. You can see Sammy running to give out tracts in the pictures.🥰

It’s funny how shocked people are when they find out that we’re staying down here. They assume we’re staying up north, in Blantyre or further north. White people come down to offer aid, but never live down here (so we’ve been told).

When we greet them in Chichewa, they often are so shocked and it doesn’t register that we are greeting them in their language. They think it is hilarious once someone tells them!

The bulls and cows have been joining our Bible study on Sundays. Sometimes it seems like they’re going to walk right in the midst, but so far they go around.

The kids are usually the first to meet us. Sometimes kids around 5-8 will come carrying younger siblings on their backs. One little girl came with a baby who couldn’t have been more than a couple months. The littlest ones are a little scared of us as they have never seen a white person before. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes it makes me sad as I would love to pick them up and love on them!

Following the children’s lesson, I was walking back to the van carrying my puppet, Isaac, when I noticed an older lady staring at him. So I put my hand in and had Isaac “greet” her. Her eyes got big and she stared at his mouth in shock and started laughing. So I had “him” say as much as I could in Chichewa. She just stared at his mouth in amazement! Lydia and I were as tickled watching her as she was watching Isaac! We think she thought the puppet was actually the one talking!

And I’m excited to report that Eric was able to rig the water so that it works! We had an entire day of water AND electricity! I have been running the washing machine ALL day and doing as much as I could. What a great blessing it has been! Continue to pray that they can get it completely fixed and running normally.