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When someone mentions ‘going north’ in Ontario, we all think of heading to Huntsville, or perhaps Parry Sound. ‘Going north’ in Malawi generally refers to somewhere at the Lake. Lake Malawi is a huge lake which shares its shores with Tanzania and Mozambique as well. When Livingstone was searching for the source of the Nile, he spent a lot of time on or near Lake Malawi.
Livingstone was among the first missionaries to explore Malawi amidst malaria (without treatment available), tetse flies, encounters with wild animals and numerous other obstacles. When I log in at night, I often think of Livingstone, out there by himself without email or telephone, and sometimes without mail for as long as a year. His wife was in England much of that time, not knowing whether her husband lived or had died. How missionary life has changed with the arrival of email. It is so good to be in touch. |
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Well, as we loaded up to head north, I may have had a Muskoka trek in mind. However, that soon evaporated. We stayed in Blantyre overnight, after stopping for dinner with friends, and loading up on groceries. There are not many stores on route. The next day, we started north for real. Seven hours later, after switching the kids’ positions many times and pulling out every possible source of entertainment, we pulled into Ngala Lodge, a somewhat run down lodge on a beautiful cove of lakeshore. We swam, and watched the kingfishers dive for fish, marveling at the quiet beauty. The next day, we pressed on….another eight hours to Chilumba, where we would spend a week. |
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Chilumba is a small fishing village which has an airstrip, and hence, was chosen for our northern conference. We stayed in a big, old, and dilapidated house, along with about fifteen others. The house was right by the lake, so our kids were happy. They ate a quick breakfast each day, and then headed for the water and sand. My mum was with us, which meant I was free to go to more of the conference, as well as supervise meals for us all.
The first few days of the conference were very quiet, as the villagers were suspicious of a new, and small church, putting on a big conference. However, our own church members walked and were driven in from surrounding villages, and our numbers swelled. The local church had built a shelter and a stage, as well as a temporary shelter for a kitchen. The first day I went, I sat down with a group of women to ‘learn some Tambouka’, the language spoken in the north. ‘Muli uli? Ndili makora, kwa imwe? Ndili makora.’ That was about it, but at least I had made some friends. |
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| Every morning and evening, we gathered for worship (with incredible dancing), teaching from one of our team, and ministry. We prayed for many to be saved, forgiven, blessed, restored, and healed. One particular morning, we called all the children forward to be blessed. They came out of nowhere, wanting to be touched and prayed for. As I looked up, I saw that some of the children I had prayed for were waiting for more prayer. What keeps us from seeking prayer with that kind of hunger? In a single word, it must be pride. ‘I tell you the truth, unless you come as a little child, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’ I continue to learn by watching the children come. |
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| We enjoyed time with visitors from the States and Holland as well as Rolland Baker, and our fellow Iris missionaries from Dondo, Mozambique. It is always good to be part of a team again, sharing ideas, and asking questions. We slipped into a rhythm for the few days of the conference, and then quickly our departure day was upon us. We said goodbye to the beautiful lake and our new and old friends, and began the long trek home again. |
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On the way back we stopped at Nkhotakota, a pottery shop combined with a hotel. It was a wonderful place to celebrate our son’s birthday. We ran straight to the lake and enjoyed the huge waves on a sandy beach. The next morning, we all had a go at making pots on the wheel. All three kids got right into it, while Mo and I had a little more trouble. Perhaps we put too much pressure, or tried too hard. Perhaps that is just a little more about ‘becoming like a child’. We adults are sometimes too intent on making it come out right, whereas as kids are content to let it happen, and enjoy the process. We’ll go back to paint and fire our pots when we next get a chance. |
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While we were away, things were quiet at our home, and the break seems to have slowed down the activity at the gate. Although there are still many visitors, it is not as continuous. Some of you have prayed for Alucia, whose mother died earlier this year. Her father, Samson, is now caring for her, and she is doing really well. They come by for whatever help I can offer, and Alucia is now smiling and pulling herself up. This father has chosen to care for his baby girl at great cost to himself. It is a beautiful thing, to watch the love between them grow.
Margaret comes by every few days. I can tell immediately if she is having a good or a bad day. She suffers with epilepsy as well as a mental condition that leaves either elated or in despair. She had a dream the other day, in which a number of angels came to pray for her. They exhorted her to pray every day, and she would be healed. I have prayed for her since our arrival, and I am sure that God is doing this work in her. |
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So, whether we are in a big conference or an ordinary day, God is at work, and we are privileged to watch. As we put my mum on the plane to head home again, we wanted to go with her (in part), although we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than exactly where God has placed us. Thank you for your emails and encouragement. May you see God at work everyday. ‘Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be valiant, be strong! Let everything you do be done in love.’ 1 Cor.16:13. |
