Today is Roxana’s last full day in Malawi and tomorrow, at 15:30, she will be flying out, leaving Africa and the ministry of Hope for the Future where she worked as a volunteer for the past 3 months. Being Sunday, we all went to Kachere, where the church people showed their love and gratitude towards her. Those of you who had the privilege to worship with the church in Kachere know their love for Christ and for all the visitors that we have. Roxana was overwhelmed with gifts of love, everything from pumpkins to maize and chicken.
The children of Hope for the Future Orphan Care & Feeding Centre prepared a few songs and made sure they also let Roxana know of their love.
Roxana’s time in Malawi seems to have gone very quick and the reason is she kept herself busy all the time. She walked a lot in different villages, visiting people and making valuable relationships. In Malawi, that very thing shows love and appreciation and people will never forget once you visit them at their homes. She also worked with the children at the Orphanage and taught hygiene at Hope for the Future Elementary School.
One of the most important things she has done was to visit all the orphans and record up-to-date informations about all of them. That in itself is a lot of work, as she had to do a lot of leg work during the day and computer work during the evenings.
Above everything else, we trust the Lord had worked in her life, showing her the ministry, the work and the needs of the Malawian people, especially the spiritual ones.
All is left now is to pray that Roxana will continue to stay in God’s will as she will seek to understand what He has in plan for her for the future.
Hope for the Future will continue to receive interns that have a strong desire to serve God on a foreign mission field. Malawi is probably the safest country in Africa and Hope for the Future is a well known and established ministry that has the potential to provide the training required for anyone who wants to serve God full-time. We don’t seek to keep all the interns here (although we would definitely love to increase our team) that’s why we are happy to be a stepping stone towards other countries/ministries. As veteran missionaries on the field, we want to be used by God in any way for the spread of the Gospel to the ends of the world.
Today we visited again our church in the village of Likangala and we were blessed to be in fellowship with these sweet Brothers and Sisters of ours and with our Lord. The church service was short because the roof has not been installed yet and the sun was beating down on us hard. Last year, during the rainy season, the old building collapsed and, together with our guests from First Baptist Church, GA, we promised these people a new building provided they mold and burn the bricks. They did just that and we’ve helped them raise the walls. All that is remaining now is the roof, the floor and a bit of plastering inside and out. Lord willing, we will finish that before too late.
Like I mentioned, the church service was kept short, but the fellowship was sweet in the Lord. These people are grateful for the little they have and decided to bring the first fruit of this year’s harvest and thank the Lord for a good rainy season. At the end of the service, some of that maize was boiled and we enjoyed all together some boiled maize on the cob and boiled squash.
The message today was from Acts 24:14-16.
Pray for the funds necessary to finish this building so that the church will stand like a light in the darkness.
Every day is a new experience in Africa, or that is what I keep telling everyone that visits us. Mondays to Saturdays, we find new challenges but it seems like on Sundays, all these challenges have, all of a sudden, new proportions. The devil is fighting hard to discourage us, to slow us down and even to stop us, and it seems like most of his attacks are focused on the work with the churches.
Today we went to see Hope Baptist Church in the village of Milepa, some 1 hour driving distance away from the mission house. We’ve been trying to go there since last week, but the road has been closed by a broken lorry and there was no way around it. This time around, we got stuck in the mud right before reaching the church and it took us 2 hours to get the car moving again. This is the rainy season and people have been digging and loosening the soil, all which makes it extremely hard for our truck to go on. You see, to get to the church, we had to use the paved road, then use the dirt road, then reach the path way and then leave all that and drive on the field. We reached a point where there was barely a walk way, with grasses covering everything in front of us.
After 2 hours of pushing, digging and literally lifting the truck up in the air, we managed to get it moving again, but only in reverse. The road was very wet and soft and we didn’t want to risk another adventure, although we had another one since the rain started pouring down on us. We ended up having to walk to the church, reaching it completely drenched from head to toe.
Stuck!Really stuck!
Though the devil tried to fight us, we ended up having an amazing time of fellowship, with some great people that really love our Lord. This church is the most remote I have ever been yet, but the people are one of the most amazing I have ever seen. Their love for God was evident and the fellowship was sweet. They didn’t have much at all and it was even raining in the little grass building but, as one of their songs said: “Though we don’t have riches, we have Christ”.
Being 2 hours late was not a problem, as the service started with the blessed songs that always lift your spirit up. After the songs and the choir, Roxana shared a bit about her life, letting people know that we all serve a Mighty God. The Word of God today was from Psalms 19:7-11. The key verse was verse 10. Speaking about God’s law and His commandments, David said they are “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” I encouraged these people to value the Word of God more than gold, as their faith, provided is genuine, is more valuable than gold. 1 Cor. 3 compares our good works in Christ like gold and our reward, in heaven, is to walk on streets of gold, with God, in eternity.
You see, though the road was very bad and we got stuck in mud for 2 hours, though we got soaked and then got cold, our time together was sweeter than I can even attempt to describe. These Brothers and Sisters of ours live the words from 1 Peter 1:6-9 every day of their lives and teach us that genuine faith is not tied to air conditioning, comfortable chairs, electricity or harmonized music. These people have nobody and most of them have never even see a white man before. Who is going to bring them God’s love if not us? Who is going to share with them the Good News if not us? Romans 10:14-15.
I was telling Roxana on the way back home that I would always rather be in places like Milepa than any other comfortable church in Romania or elsewhere and, I tend to believe she shares that same view. This is where the need is and these are the people that have not heard yet. More than the so many physical needs, there are many spiritual needs and I, for one, want to repeat Isaiah’s answer to God: “Here I am! Send me.”
Soaking wet!Roxana sharing her testimony.Preaching the Word.
Every day in Malawi is special, because every day we have new chances to serve the Lord and serve the people in Malawi in unique and effective ways. When it comes to days like today, a Sunday, the opportunities are even greater as I have the responsibility to open and share the Word of God with the nationals. It is my duty to bring them God’s Word as He leads me to do it, preaching the Gospel to the lost and teaching the Christians to live in a godly manner.
Today my task was harder than usual; a couple of days ago, the pastor from our church in this village (located about 2 hours away from the mission house), called us and told us that life in the village is tough. Nothing new for us, as we are seeing it daily, but this time around, this toughness had a new meaning for him and for us. Pastor Maere told us that his people are dying of starvation and begged us to give them even a little bit of food. Last year we have taken tons of maize to this village, as their gardens were affected by the lack of rains, but the need is still there and is still great. January and February, although being the first two months of 2017, are really the last months of 2016 in many ways; you see, March or April are the two months that mark the beginning of the harvest which, in itself, bring new hope to the people in rural areas. Although in 2017, the Malawian people still suffer due to 2016’s rainy season or lack of it.
One thing I truly appreciate about these people is they also try their best to work and provide for themselves. The pastor, for instance, has gone far away from home to look for daily jobs in order to bring some food home. His family stayed without food many days as he was gone but this seemingly good thing is also damaging them in the future. As he was away, looking for a few dollars every day to feed his family, he wasn’t able to properly take care of the garden. His maize plants are clearly smaller than others, but what choice does a man in his position have? If he takes care of the garden – they die of hunger. If he provides for the family – he ruins his chances for a good harvest.
The food situation is only one of their problems. The other is the water. As you very well know already, these people have to drink water from unsafe places. We have tried 4 times to drill a well for them, and will try once again, but water is so scarce here.
Today it was a special day because the Lord allowed us to help them in ways that truly make a big difference and impact in their lives. We took food with us and water filters donated by someone in the US. For a few more weeks, at least, these people will be taken care of and will have some time to prepare for the next two weeks of tough times. Next month, Lord willing, we may be able to get them some food again, all while praying for a good harvest so that these problems may cease for at least a while.
I mentioned that my task was hard today and that was so because of the message I had to take to them. You see, our water comes from a tap and our fridge is full. More than food, we have snacks, candy and chocolate. We have roof over our heads, good clothes and even vehicles. How can I go to these people and tell them that God is good? How can I tell them that God is fair? How can I tell them to stay faithful, while I’ve never experienced that degree of thirst or hunger?
But I can tell them all that, because it is the truth. You see, in every generation, God was looking for people to walk with Him, to be faithful and obedient DESPITE the state of those times. Noah walked with God and was blameless before the Lord in his generation (Gen 6). About David we read, yet again, that he served God’s purpose in his generation (Acts 13). In every generation God had his people that bore witness about Him, despite the depravity of those nations or the toughness of the times.
Today, in 2017, even if a village like Muheriwa, God is still looking for people to walk with Him, to be faithful and obedient and to bear witness for Christ. Why do we have a church in this village if not for the light of the Gospel to shine bright throughout the village?
My prayer is these people are going home and thinking about these things. As God took care of them, yet again, and provided food and water, I pray they see He wants their hearts, their lives, their plans and their ambitions.
Life is not fair and this world is not fair, but God IS fair. Times are tough and people are suffering because of our sin, but God is good and, through it all, He still holds the reins of the Universe.
That’s the thought that keeps us sane in times like this!
It is almost 3 weeks ago when Roxana, our new intern, arrived in Malawi to work with Hope for the Future among the people of Malawi. She’s been through a lot of ups and down (especially downs) but, through it all, she knows God is preparing her for the future.
These 3 weeks have been somehow tough for her, but she kept herself busy with the assignments given, bringing quality work and value to the ministry of Hope for the Future in Malawi.
One of the most important things she is doing right now is to get up-to-date records on all of the children we feed at our two Feeding Centres. More than just records, Roxana is visiting everyone, establishing valuable relationships with the guardians, taking note of their lives, needs and requests. Another very important aspect here is that she is also visiting the kids that are still on the waiting list. When the resources will be available, we need to be ready and know who needs the help the most.
She is accompanied in the village by Misozi, who is also her translator, and the teachers that work with these children every day. Although we’re in the rainy season right now and it is raining every day, sometimes for the entire day, these girls are doing it, most days for 7-8 hours/day.
Although we have been doing this record-taking business many times in the past, the truth is that it is extremely efficient and good to have someone dedicated specifically to this task.
It is the end of the year, actually it is the very last day of 2016 and, just like almost everybody else, I am also thinking about what we have done and what could’ve been done. More than anything else, we are looking back and counting the so many blessing God poured upon us and upon the ministry in Malawi.
This 2016 brought a new growth for Hope for the Future, actually I believe the ministry grew more than ever before. We expanded into new areas, we reached more people than ever before and none of this could have been possible without God and without you, who faithfully support the ministry in prayer and financially. Thank you so much!
Although it is very hard to shorten a whole year of activities, below I included just 1 picture from every month, picture that represents part of the work for that month. May that, though this post, our God should be glorified!
JANUARY
Last of 2015’s help with maize for the people of Muheriwa
In January we delivered the last shipment of corn for the people of Muheriwa. Their crops were washed away two years before and then dried out one year before. They were starting and, without this help, many would’ve died for sure. In this month we have also started drilling a water well for the same people, since there is no clean water anywhere. Friends of ours from Zomba went to South Africa to get our minibus.
FEBRUARY
The much needed minibus for the ministry
February started with our new minibus arriving from South Africa. After a week or so of running around and doing all the paperwork, we finally had it in our name. In the meantime, the drilling in Muheriwa yielded no results, so the second drilling started. In Kachere and Mpyupyu, we visited all the orphan children, noting the needs they have at home and ways we could help in that way, also. In the same month, we started the work on the Bible Seminary, here in Zomba.
MARCH
Visitors from GA, walking through the African bush
Beginning of March brought a 3rd attempt to find water in Muheriwa. The borehole found water, but not enough for the entire village. As a result from February’s visit, we have now taken some help to the homes where the orphans are coming from, clothes, candles, non-perishable food and so on. In Zomba, we have just finished pouring the foundation for the Bible Seminary and had received the first team of visitors for this year. With them, we visited the poor and organized Evangelistic Camps in different villages around Zomba and the yearly Pastors’ Conference.
APRIL
Siyeni, the boy his entire village gave up on
During one of the camps with the team from GA, the villagers brought to us Siyeni, a boy who everyone thought will die soon. In April we took him to the hospital and, quite literally, saved his life. With our visitors we continued the ministry, organizing the very first Sports Camp, here at the mission house. Towards the end of the month, we hosted another team from the same church, who came to raise the walls of the Bible Seminary.
MAY
Hope for the Future Bible Seminary
In May we hosted the 3rd team of visitors, this time coming from the state of OK. With them, we organized a few more Evangelistic Camps and we visited the orphan children in Kachere, providing some necessary help. It was then when the thought of starting a Primary School came in the minds of the 4 teenagers. They saw the need and took the vision back home.
JUNE
Hope Baptist Church, Chamba
In June, the team from OK bought blankets and bed items for the orphans. Back in Zomba, we just started meeting with all the pastors, ministry that we now continue on a month by month basis. It was this month when we also started working with the beautiful people of Chamba.
JULY
Group picture after a baptism
July brought to us a wonderful way to serve the people, while obeying the Great Commission. We had two baptisms, one in Kachere and one in Chamba.
AUGUST
Operation: End of Cycle of Poverty
In August the Lord opened the door for me to visit the great USA again. I had the honor and privilege to share what the Lord is doing here with many churches and individuals. In the meantime, in Malawi, Stanley continued to take corn for the people in Muheriwa, providing the vital help for a hungry people.
SEPTEMBER
Mr. Chigwenembe working at the church
After my returning from the US, we continued to work full-force. First of all, we delivered yet another transport of corn to the people in Muheriwa, while surveying the possibility of drilling the 4th well. We will now use a bigger rig, so that we can reach deeper for water. Having all the money raised for the Primary School, we started sorting out the land, paperwork and then had the official groundbreaking ceremony. Hope Baptist Church in Kachere has been growing for years, and the need arose for the building to be expanded. In Zomba, the work on the Bible Seminary continued, and we had just put the roof on. Hope for the Future also bought a 2-tonnes for all the work. Towards the end of the month, our family took a short, 4-day vacation, to Lake Malawi.
OCTOBER
Feeding the poor
While building and working in Zomba and around Malawi, we could never forget about the poor among us, so the help for the people in Muheriwa continued. In Kachere, the buildings for the Primary School were raised, and the roof was put on one of them.
NOVEMBER
Siyeni, now a healthy child
The most important work is the people and the most important investment is in their souls. November allowed us to build a new church and visit many more. In Kachere, the roof was now installed on both buildings and the work shifted to the teachers’ offices.
DECEMBER
Hope for the Future Elementary
December brought the completion of the work in Kachere and the Official Opening and Dedication of the School. Roxana, our new intern, arrived to help us in the work. Together with many of you, we bought substantial gifts for all the orphans in Kachere and Mpyupyu.
Between the Bible clubs, evangelistic camps, sports camp, feeding centres, churches, pastors’ meetings, pastors’ conferences, Bible seminary, primary school, helping the poor, visiting the orphans, hosting guests, sharing the ministry, flying to the US, drilling wells and so much more plus raising a family, our hands here are full. Is there more to be done? YES! Can we do more? Humanly speaking, we don’t know, but if God says GO, we will!!! Do we need your help? YOU BET!
There could be more to write, more details to share and more experiences to mention, but my time and your patience are limited. I have exactly 30 minutes to get ready for the family vacation in a National Park. Yes, 2017 will find us among the animals of Malawi, enjoying the wonderful creation and glorifying the Amazing Creator.
A lot has to be done in 2017 and we invited you to pray with us and, if you can, be a part of it! Help us serve in Malawi and invest in the Malawian people. This investment has eternal rewards!
Thank you to every one of you for everything! God knows what you have done!
Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
The question in the tile of this article was asked by Hudson Taylor, to a room full of people, sometimes towards the late 1800’s, in England. Just like today, in those times many Christians saw foreign missions as something of a less importance to the church and missionaries as individuals who, at best, love to travel to weird places. In worst case scenarios, missionaries are seen as crazy people, irresponsible towards their family and running away from a regular 8-4 job.
The same Christians, most of them pastors of that time, could not believe their ears that some heathen fishermen would let a man drown because they were too busy fishing, while they sat passive as millions die eternally in hell.
Sadly, not much has changed today when it comes to this twisted perspective upon life. Any of us, followers of Christ, are shocked when we hear somebody died because of someone’s negligence, while we can care less if thousands go to hell every day, being eternally separated from God. What is more important? The body or the soul? When have we become so blind to the real needs of this world?
In a previous article I shared about our new intern, Roxana, who is coming from Romania. Knowing a little about what she is going through during this time of preparations, my mind was flooded with memories of when we, as a young family, did just that. As if the whole preparation was not fearful and stressful enough, there were some that felt they had to use their gift of discouragement in order to make things even more difficult. Several Christians questioned our call to Malawi and wondered if we were not supposed to actually stay in Romania? Others had other ideas about what God’s plan for our lives could be and it seemed, more often than not, that those who do little or nothing for the cause of Christ are experts in giving advice.
I’ve always welcomed and enjoyed answering sincere questions regarding our call to Malawi. After all, it is an opportunity to show how great our God is and how many amazing things He has done in and through our lives. I do remember, though, on at least a couple occasions, when that question was meant in a sarcastic way.
Sarcastic person: Do you have a special call to go to Malawi?
Me: Do you have a special call to stay home?
Hudson Taylor was addressing a church in England just before going back to China to continue God’s work of spreading the gospel to those who had never heard. He was explaining how there were regions as large as England that had not one preacher and then he said this… “It will not due for you to say that you have no special call to China. With these facts before you you need rather to wonder weather you have a special call to stay home. If in the sight of God you can not say you are sure you have a special call to stay at home why are you disobeying the Savior’s plan and His command to go. Why are you refusing to come to the help of the Lord again of the All Mighty? If however it is perfectly clear that duty not inclination, not pleasure, not business, detains you at home, are you laboring in prayer for those needy ones as you might? Is you influence used to advance the cause of God among them? Are you means largely employed as they should be in helping forward their salvation?“.
I read this words years ago and I found them to be very convicting. No, there is nothing special in coming to Malawi. No, there is nothing special in being a missionary. From the Bible, I believe that is actually the norm. It has to be a special and unique call to rather stay home and do nothing for Christ. It must be a special gift to be on the side and mock, ridicule and discourage others who want to obey Christ.
I don’t know where God may want you to serve Him, maybe China, maybe Malawi or maybe even home but, until everyone is saved, Christ’s call stands.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…
This year, for the family holiday, we spent a few days at Lake Malawi, a beautiful place, unique in Africa and in the world. When we got to our lodge, the hosts let us know that the waters may be infected with bilharzia but, we can go ahead an enjoy our stay, everything can be treated quickly and safely.
The waters of the Lake were amazing and the multitudes of fish unique to this lake were enough to make us take the risk.
Bilharzia is a parasitic disease, caused by a worm. It affects the intestines and the urinary system first but, since it lives in the blood, it can affect other systems also. There are different species of the parasite; some will affect the lungs, others the brain, others the spinal cord or the central nervous system. Though not immediately fatal, bilharzia is a chronic disease that can seriously damage the internal organs.
The disease is also known as snail fever, because the snails in the water carry it. Lake Malawi as experienced an increase in number of these snails, mostly due to overfishing around the shores. Those fish would normally keep the snails under control. Humans get infected when the larvae enter the body through the skin. They then develop into adult worm that live in the blood, being transported to the liver, lungs or other places. As adults, the worms will release more eggs inside the body, which will then be eliminated usually through the urinary system, thus restarting the cycle.
The initial symptoms may include fatigue, fever and chills, muscle pains, cough, diarrhea, most of which I’ve been experiencing lately. Left untreated and by the time the eggs pass into the urinary system, it can cause bladder damage, kidney failure and even bladder cancer, not to mention death.
The second week of December represented 3 months since the infection and when the treatment should be started. The right medicine for it is called “Praziquantel” and our doctor recommended that we only take it before going to sleep. Most of the side effects have to do with the release of the contents of the parasites as they are being killed and the immediate immune reaction from the host.
The reason the doctors recommend the medicine to be taken at night is because it will temporarily affect the central nervous system, causing dizziness and headaches. Other possible side effects: abdominal pains, diarrhea, sweating, fever, rashes, lower back pain, cardiac arrhythmias and hypotension.
Due to our doctor insisting on several occasions to take the medicine only at night, we have decided to go the safe way and only 2 of us to take it on the first night; in case something were to happen, we needed one of us, the adults, to be alert. Two dizzy adults would not be good in case we had to take ourselves to the hospital due to other severe side effects. Lita and Aimee took it the first night and Jessica and I last night. Ethan is safe as he didn’t get in the water.
From my own experience, I can tell you that this is not as bad as it sounds, probably because we have gone through the treatment according to the recommendations. After taking the pills last night, I started having some mild headaches and I could feel myself becoming more and more drowsy. Once in bed, though, I felt asleep right away. In the morning, I could feel a bitter taste in my mouth, but otherwise I feel fine. The pills were very bitter and we only have to take one course.
Praziquantel is very effective, even in cases of severe infections, leaving no worms or eggs behind. Other medicines used in the past would leave the eggs untouched, raising the risks of future reinfections.
Looking at the infections and the side effects of the medicine, one may ask if the risks are worth it? The answer is yes, especially if you live in Malawi for a long period of time. There is not much to do here as far as entertainment goes and a trip to the Lake without experiencing the Lake is pretty much a wasted trip. The Lake is gorgeous, the water is very clear and the millions of colors of fishes will fascinate you. Just like malaria or other tropical diseases, bilharzia is best accepted as a risk and treated when necessary.
Yesterday, December the 7th, we had the Official Opening and Dedication of the Primary School in Kachere, an event highly anticipated by all of us here at Hope for the Future. I have written about the School in Kachere many times and you know how much we prayed for it. Now, it is opened and we are ready to start!
We had many guests at this event, from local chiefs all the way to representatives of the Government of Malawi. We were blessed to have Pastor David Rivers of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, and his wife, who came to represent the church. They are the ones who raised the funds, through 4 teenagers: Mackee, Mabry, Landon and Blake.
Other present guests: local village chiefs from close to 30 villages around Kachere, the village chief of Kachere, a group village head, T/A (Traditional Authority) Kuntumanji, Counselor of Zomba, the PEA (Primary Education Assistant), the DEM (District Education Manager), the DC (District Commissioner) of Zomba, people from the village of Kachere and surrounding villages and friends of ours from Zomba.
It was a great day where we gave thanks to our Lord for everything he provided. We had speeches, dances, songs and good food. Parents were advised to send their children to school, while pupils were told to attend classes and take their studies seriously. We were happy to hear that both the local authorities and the Ministry of Education will be on our side, helping us with everything they can.
The event was covered by the local TV station, a local radio and a local newspaper, and we expect the entire nation to hear about Hope for the Future Elementary. More than that, we hope others will think about education and ways we can all help these children to unlock their future.
I am uploading some photos from the event here, but you can find the entire album and some videos using the links below:
