Carelinks | Australia

In Queensland we spent three days with brother Jafari, who was baptized in Namibia in 2003 by the Versters from South Africa. Older readers of Carelinks may recall our visits and work in the refugee camps of Malawi and this bore great fruit. For not only was Jafari baptized but in due course his wife sister Beatrice, and they have between them 14 children and a grandchild. Brother Marcus has mailed them literature in the various camps they have been in, in Swahili and French, and now this has all come to bear fruit.

All 17 of them are now in Australia, living in one fairly small bungalow. Along with Phil and Miri Worsnop, Mike and Betty Flaherty and Ray Wheeler we were pleased to baptize four of these many children, brother Leon and sisters Zabibu, Riziki and Flora, it was also Flora’s birthday. The word “joy” comes to mind; they were really so happy. Ray, Phil and Miri have visited them several times and hold regular Sunday School lessons with them and also teach them English. Jafari still has the copy of Gospel News magazine with the photo of his baptism dating from 2003 and has carried it with him through all his various sojournings in refugee camps before reaching Australia.

It’s quite interesting just from a human experience point of view to observe how this wonderful family of 17 function together, with children everywhere... how many chickens it takes to feed them... etc. They are desirous to fund another relative to come and join them from Congo, and also to send funds to other converts in Congo to build a shelter under which they can hold their ecclesial meetings. We are open to donations towards this. And even with child support, it costs a lot of money to feed and clothe so many mouths. You can see a video of it all from the link at the end of the article. It’s well worth the watch just to catch the spirit of joy in Christ which exudes from these people, Congolese war refugees now safely in Australia after so very many traumas. The scene on the beach at Moreton Bay was so similar to the scenes seen recently on the beaches of Italy when we likewise baptized African refugees. The same Lord is at work from Italy to Australia and His work somehow bears a common hallmark.

Baptisms in Queensland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGERxJ-Pmjk