Malawi Report

Monday, August 18, 2003

African Enterprise

“This is the Lord’s doing and is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23

Time is really flying and there is just too much to be done. It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of July. I must apologize though for being quite for some time. But as you know, I’ve found favor from God and I needed to make sure that I do not abuse the favor. For your information she is doing fine and we are beginning to settle down together.

STRATEGIC MEETING

Looking at the time we are in, AE Malawi together with the board decided to evaluate ourselves and see where we are coming from, where we are now and where we want to be in the next five years. We were so challenged as we were looking at the external environmental analysis facing the ministry in the areas of political, social, legal, economical, technology, and religious. We found out that we have work to do and we are trusting God that as we will be planning strategically we shall be able to reach out to the most needy areas. Out of this strategic meeting, a document has been produced and we hope to use this for the next five years. I would personally encourage other teams to consider having strategic meeting incase you haven’t got one.

SALIMA MINI-MISSION

In preparation for Nsanje mission, the team organized a mini-crusade in Salima District which is about 98km (1hr drive) from Lilongwe. Statistics shows that almost 45% of the people of Salima are Moslems and many are flocking to that faith because of hunger and famine.

Pastor Abel Sauti-Phiri (Administrator), together with Martyn Phiri (Technician) went and preach the gospel. Many people came to the Lord of which 3 were muslims and we thank God for the salvation. A follow-up programme was set to disciple these people.

NSANJE MISSION

From the middle of the lake, the mission went further south this year to a district called Nsanje. For my good friends who may not know exactly what this name means, it simply means “Jealousy”. Don’t ask me why but I guess there was a reason behind the name. May be you will discover as you read carefully, so don’t quit.

It was not easy at first to suggest this district for our next mission. Many of us were not so comfortable to go down that side. Nsanje is popular of two things that are not very favourable health wise and these are; the weather is extremely hot so much so that people would be surprised to see you preaching in your jacket. Secondly, it is known as a home of mosquitoes. I don’t think you’ve ever been to a place with mosquitoes like Nsanje. The statistics shows that “Christianity” is 70%, Islam is 10% and M’bona is 20%. M’bona is the worship of the ancestral spirits which is mainly done at the mountain or at the river.

Almost every year, the mighty waters from our biggest river Shire wash down tens and sometimes hundreds of people. The area is extremely flat and makes the waters in rainy season uncontrollable wiping the field and houses. This river is the home of crocodiles and of course many are considered to be man-made. I know that, may surprise you, but people through magic and witchcraft would “create” a crocodile and when they get crossed with you, they send it to you. Other people say that it can even come out from the basin, the water you use to wash your hands before eating. It’s unfortunate to see that while others are busy building ships we are busy building crocodiles.

Nsanje is a district whose people are gripped with the spirit of fear. Fear for the sudden tragedies and fellow man (witchcraft). I know you may be asking about this deadly disease. I tell you the people this side are not spared. I had a chance of speaking with one of the clinical officers of Nsanje District hospital and he openly said to me that Nsanje is one of those district up which until now people don’t believe that HIV AIDS exists. He commented that everyday not less than 4 people die at this hospital of which three of the cases are HIV related cases.

THE MISSION

Words cannot express enough how grateful we are for your taking time to pray for the mission. Believe me, your taking time to pray was not in vain and I wish one day you would come and witness for yourself what the Lord does when you pray. I tell you prayer knows no distance.

The campaign invited not less than 22 churches and the executive committee was established. I tell you it was not as easy to come up with the committee. We decided to conduct some pastors training three week prior to the mission. About 12 Pastors came in front during the session to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal savior. Nsanje people are called Nsena tribe, and this is the tribe that believes that you are only considered rich when you have two or more wives. I remember when Pastors were asked to vote for executive committee, one Pastor who got the vote of almost everybody was a polygamist. In trying to find out why he got a lot of votes people said the government in that area uses him to distribute maize in times of famine and people had no choice but to vote him so that they may be favored when that time comes. Nsanje is one of those places that is always hit by hunger and famine.

A week after Pastors training was counselors training. This were the people who would help in counseling those that will come to the Lord during the proclamation period. Almost 190 counselors turn-up for the sessions and after the preaching and the teaching 60 came forward to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. One of the counselor who came running in front said to one of the evangelists, “I am a Fisi, please pray for me that I may be forgiven”. Fisi in English is a Hyna. In Sena culture this person is very important. When a man dies in a village, elders believe that there is need to clean his family and take away the spirits of death from that particular family. Therefore, the Fisi guy is asked to go into the house where the man has died and sleep (have sex) with the believed wife the whole day before her late husband is taken to the grave for burial. This process is considered as cleansing process. Now this may give you an idea why people in this district are highly infected with HIV Virus.

We had with us twelve evangelists from Lilongwe and Blantyre who were invited for the campaign. By Friday July 18th, hundred and thirty counselors were trained and equipped for the mission. Entering the gates of Nsanje you would be greeted by the beautiful banners, which said “Nsanje for Jesus in the last days.” Nine venues were strategically sported as the venues for the evening rallies. Within the proclamation week, speaking appointments were made in different government offices, secular companies, hospitals, school and different places where people were in their natural groupings.

OPENING RALLY

Like foxes into the field, the evangelists were scattered in different churches taking up the morning services. Testimonies were heard as a result of the ministry in these different churches.

As time was clocking to around 1:30pm Nsanje town was filled with the noise. Fortunately, this was not just any other noise but churches had agree to match from three different corners of Nsanje heading to the main venue. This was the first of its kind to see Pastors and their members from different denominations matching and singing songs together. As these groups were converging at the Prison ground for the main function, people were already flocking. Joyful choruses were heard and I tell you people of Nsanje can sing.

Approximately, 4,500 people were gathered for the opening rally. People from higher authorities graced the occasion. Looking at the big crowd that was gathered there, of which almost 75% were young adults. Looking at those young people, Stephen Lungu could not do otherwise but to share his testimony. Then he invited Rev. Lazarus Chakwela to share the gospel. About 190 people came forward to receive Jesus as their Lord and personal saviour. Although the meeting ended at 4:30pm it was a surprise to see people still hanging around for counseling which went up until 7:00pm.

During the proclamation week, 9 venues were sported for night crusades. Almost at every venue, hundreds of people were gathered to hear the word of the Lord and many people were coming to the Lord. During the week days, the evangelists we busy in working places and open markets sharing the good news.

CLOSING RALLY

A thought came to my mind that may be people would not turn in their multitudes as compared to the opening since they must be tired by now. Little did I know what a big surprise God had for us. People came almost twice as they came on the opening rally. It was a time full of joy and testimonies of the greatness of the Lord. Pastors could not believe what their eyes could see. You could literally hear miles away that something is happening in the area. The place was dusty and the sound of music made even the chiefs to dance.

Mightily, the gospel of the kingdom was preached and 215 adults came to the Lord. As the time was clocking 6:00pm the crowd could not go and were asking for some more. There was a great celebration that went up to 7:30pm and many people felt the proclamation week could have gone on for two weeks. We thank God for what he has done and is still doing in Nsanje. Two weeks from now we shall be going back there for follow-up. Please keep on praying that those that have come to the Lord will grow in him and serve him.

TESTIMONIES COMING OUT OF NSANJE.

ON HER WAY TO DAMUSCUS

A woman who was on her way to kill her friend met the gospel and she was dramatically changed. She had a friend who was happily married but then she also fell in love with the husband. The only way she could do to make sure that she get full hold of the man was to poison her friend so that she may die. She went to a witchdoctor to get the charms, which she was going to put in her friend’s food. Wondering at the noise and the music that was coming from the market place, she branched to see what was talking place and that was it. She heard the gospel and was changed.

HYNA MAN
One of our evangelist who happened to have grown and raised in Nsanje had a passion for the people of Nsanje. When he heard that AE was heading for Nsanje he asked if he could join the team. He was given one of the night venues and he preached in his language. People were amazed to hear him preaching in their difficult language and challenged them about the supper power that is more that the powers of witchcraft. As he was coming to the close of his sermon, a man came sweating and said “I need this Jesus you are preaching.” He was a man who had gone deep into witchcraft so much so that any time he could change into hyena and robbed other people’s cattle.

OVER 90 YEARS IN DARKNESS

One of our counselors witness to a man who was over 90 years old and accepted Jesus Christ. The old man was field with joy and wondered how come all those years he never heard anything about Jesus. The man could hardly walk because of his age but insisted to become one of the counselors so that he may share the truth to his fellow old men.

JESUS AT THE DEM OFFICES

DEM stand for district education manager. As we were booking some appointments for our evangelists to come prior to the crusade, this was one of the areas where we got strong resistance. The authorities at this place denied completely saying that they had nothing to do with the gospel. As we were going out of the office, one of them called us back and was like said “anyway since you are church people we will just give you 10minutes and just for one day.” On the appointed day, we sent our evangelist and shared for 10 minutes. As he was about to sit down one man shouted at the back, what shall we do then? Tears were running down the chicks as he started pleading with the people that they must let the preacher man proceed. All of them were in favor and all of them gave their lives to the Lord except for the Manager. After seeing what had happened the manager asked the preacher to be coming everyday up until the crusade finishes. Praise the Lord!

POLICE OFFICER IN-CHARGE

At the Police force, the officer-in-charge called for the evangelists to come and speak to the officers. After the massage was shared, he then called the evangelist into his office and asked for a sinners’ prayer. He was led to the Lord and then invited the preacher to his house so that he could share the gospel with his wife who was sick. The evangelist went and the woman who had been sick for a long time got her instant healing and the officer in-charge asked the evangelist to be coming to station everyday and to his house.

MIRACLE BABY

As our evangelists were preaching at the hospital, they came across the woman who claimed to have been bewitched by the witchdoctors. She sadly said it was her 8th year without a baby. Every time when her pregnancy was due, she could not have the baby. She was prayed for and the next day was her day. Praise the Lord she went out a happy mother and named the baby “Miracle.”

“SO MANY MIRACLES THE LORD HAS PERFOMED RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES MAY TO HIS NAME BE ALL THE GLORY”