news from malawi
BOYOLE
I have been looking in the Bible. “And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs”, “and Moses took the rod of God in his hand”.(Ex 4:13 & 20) We see that the Israelites were taken out of the hands of the Egyptians, through a very small thing. (Ex4:2), “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘What is that in thine hand?’”. “We all know that we can not keep the flocks without the rod, which is used to steer the sheep whenever they are going astray. So through Moses’ rod, vast multitudes were blessed, plus himself. Many brothers and sisters are not content with the resources they have, but do we realise that when these are used correctly under divine guidance, we can achieve exactly what God requires us to do. Reading the Bible will help us to understand that we have all we need to live our lives, provided we pray to God for guidance.
Bro Alexandre Banda
BUA
The signs indicate the coming of Jesus is near because in most countries people are being affected by hunger, disasters. disease epidemics, such as HIV/AIDS, political conflicts, corruption which leads to poverty among many countries, wars and many more. All in all whether we have joy or sorrow what we have to do is to say thanks for the amazing grace of God because He never forsakes us. We also give thanks for Gospel News to all nations, which many brethren and sisters have benefited from, as it really exhorts us, builds us up and encourages us to be faithful, for even though we may never meet in this life we are all journeying together to the Kingdom. We must be watching and waiting because it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. So, Brethren and Sisters, let us look forward to Jesus’ second coming, but not be impatient about it. As we all know, prayer always needs a lot of patience, we cannot expect an answer immediately, we may all have to be patient a long time before our prayers are answered. It may sometimes be God’s will that our requests are not granted, but through our continuous prayers we may come to realize we are being given another opportunity for something much more than than what we are asking God to give us. However long a time it might be we must wait patiently, for the Lord will never forsake us and will always hear our cry. Let us also be patient for the coming of the Lord and show our desire for his coming, through our deeds and in our prayers to our heavenly Father. My thanks to all who make it possible for so many to have Gospel News to all nations, may God’s blessing be with them in all their labours of love.
Sis. Bertha Khonje
CHINANI
I give thanks to the Lord that my bicycle is now mended and I can visit other brethren and sisters. My wife’s right arm and leg are lame, if she wants to ease herself I usually lift her on my back which is a heavy task for me. It would be nice to have a bicycle trolley so that I could take her out, but for me that is financially impossible. Talking about myself as a Christadelphian, I have to let you know that I am a real and true Christadelphian even though you were told that I am not. But to me I do not become much worried with those false words. What I know about myself and my God in heaven is that I am a true Christadelphian and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I swear I shall die a Christadelphian, no change at all. Visitors from U.K. visited us here in Malawi last year. I am still waiting for the parcel of books which you have sent to me by sea.
Bro. B. Chipala
Photo: Bro. B. Chipala (Cinani)
CHITALA
When you complete producing the 16 section book for foreign English learners let me sample a copy. It could be useful for my grandchildren, whose English is very sub-standard. Judging by the eyes of flesh, 2005 was a very difficult year for most countries in Southern Africa, especially Malawi. The media did blow up out of proportion some of the problems, however. The extent of famine in Malawi was never near anything you see happening in Sudan or Ethiopia. Besides, most western countries sent aid (some of which was diverted by the politicians). Our own brethren and sisters in the Christadelphian brotherhood did send us aid. So in short, the Lord let us through the year. We started this year with very good rains and a good crop – then came armyworm to devour most of the vegetation including maize. I think the main problem is that we pretend not to see God’s hand in this. Psalm 24:1, King David acknowledges that "The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” In the book of Amos are recorded judgments on nations because of their transgressions. They may be ancient nations, but we are all similar to them in that we were created by the same Almighty God and do transgress just like they did. Why shouldn’t God mete out punishments if it would help us look to Him for solutions to our problems? Amos 5:16, “Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Lord says this: There shall be wailing in all streets and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! Alas! They shall call the farmer to mourning and the skilful lamenters to wailing.” This must happen, and it is what is happening in our age. My contract with the Ministry of Agriculture ends soon so I hope to write more frequently than in the past as I will have plenty of free time once more, God willing. In my previous letter I said nothing about receiving the books you sent some months way back because I hadn’t received them! Now I have received them I convey my heartfelt thanks. Some of the friends who wanted Bible Basics are in my home district of Mulanje and will, God willing, take them home.
Bro. Ignatius Maluwa
DZALEKA
You will remember I was at the Refugee camp in Namibia and you helped me there. I am now in Malawi and life is still very difficult. I was baptized in February 2000 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Bro. Isaac Nagaheba
JALI
I thank God for the blessings He is giving me. Last year I got married. Recently she has been baptized and now we have got a one year old boy. The Bible Basics Calendar helps me do the Bible readings. Would you do me a favour? Apart from Gospel News, send me two booklets, namely on ‘Spiritualism’ and ‘Do you believe in a Devil?’ Lastly greetings in the name of Jesus Christ to you brother and all those you share smiles and break bread with. I am very happy to receive Bible Basics but I feel sorry to hear from you that there is an increase in postage from this April. Let me put an idea on rabbit production. If they were kept in a wood shelter each female would be kept separately from one another and then males put together just for a while for reproducing and move them out from females for feeding. Here in Malawi we do feed them locally. This is the way rabbits are kept. To me I can say this idea is mostly welcomed.
Bro. Lucky F. Mbalale
KAIINGO
I have been down with malaria since early December last year but thanks to God am still kicking. I have the pleasure to inform you that I have passed the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE), which is equivalent to GCSE, with passes with credits in seven subjects including English and Maths. If I got two or more distinctions I would apply for a place in the University of Malawi. Now having failed to reach the University requirements I would like to do a computer programming course if all goes well. This will in future help me translate the Gospel News from English to our vernacular languages such as Chichewa, Tumbuka, Lombwe etc. The sun rises and sets, evenings come and dawns break. I always look at the sky waiting to see the coming of the Lord Jesus, as he said he will. How I wish he would come today and take his lambs. May God’s Kingdom come. Acts 12:1-25 talks more about persecutions that believers faced. We hear that James was killed by King Herod. What do we learn on this chapter? We learn that the Church shares in Jesus’ suffering. Remember in the time of Stephen, he also died because of the name of Jesus Christ and we hear that while he was stoned he saw the glory of God. This means that everyone who dies in the name of the wonderful counsellor will see the glory of God in the future.
Bro. Davis Madolo
KASUNGU
We are now settled in Central Fellowship. We have cleared everything and we are now on the mailing list in UK Central Fellowship for the magazines. I received a letter from Bro. David Nightingale in which he expresses his views of receiving us into the fellowship. He is very happy with us. You know how painful it is to lose friends whom we have known for years and how tough it is to make new close friends. So you are the first close friends of our ecclesia as you have encouraged us very much. We would have been lost without your effort. We are very strong now that no-one will be able to disturb us in this new fellowship with the Central. We have received messages twice from Bro. T. Muleso of Lilongwe Ecclesia that they are willing to pay a visit to our ecclesia. I know you know this Brother. God has blessed us with good rains but our fields were attacked by army worms, so we are now planting again. We have received help from the Government - that is medicine that we should spray in our fields. This will take a very long time for everybody to be assisted.
Bro. Harmony Ntchalachala
LUWANI REFUGEE CAMP
Concerning the activity of the Ecclesia from the time of our first meeting on 15.10.2004, the Ecclesia has been pressing ahead with new-born – that is to say new believers, or members, of our Ecclesia. These newly-created ones want you to visit them. The needs in the Ecclesia are,
An Ecclesial hall (we meet in the open air)
Swahili and French Bibles
Swahili and French hymn books
Books for Sunday School lessons.
N.B. We beg you to help us both spiritually and physically, for we are suffering a great deal in this country where we are refugees in Malawi. Firstly, the climate is really unfavourable. As far as food is concerned, the amount given by the H.C.R. every month is not enough! Also, because of the lack of variety in the food, many among us are falling ill with anaemia! We should also like to tell you we have not enough clothes or shoes.
Bro. Jafari Amisi
MANGOCHI
Thank you very much for sending me a book entitled “People we meet” and sensitising me of the dangers of cutting for foreskin in old age. Definitely I do support your opinion and you are of course assisting us in the way forward to the Kingdom of God. God bless you all! I was an Anglican since I was born in 1965. From 1990-1993 I was doing my priesthood course at the Anglican Theological College where I met a man known as Malekesa, a Christadelphian, who was working as a cook. He asked me three questions to be answered at a later date.
1) Which scripture supports the baptism of infants?
2) Where in the Bible do we find the baptism of sprinkling?
3) Which scripture mandate payment before baptism takes place?
These questions gave me a task of perusing the Bible, sleepless tension and different thoughts, at the end I had no answers. Early 1994 I quitted the priesthood course. On 29 May 1994 I was baptized and my wife Dorothy was baptized in 1996, a couple of five children all Christadelphian members. New stations are dying naturally due to non visiting of stations halls by councillors. When they are called to visit a station they cannot always go. Every councillor has ten stations on average, some of them are at a long distance, others at 50 km, 100 km, up to 150 km, meaning they cannot ride a bicycle there and back. It takes 2-3 years for a councillor to visit a station hall. I repeat stations are dying naturally. For instance, our councillor had fifteen stations but now has only ten, at the moment one of them is shaken, and will soon declined.
Bro. Morris Assani
MIGOWI
I am a boy of 27 years. I went to school from 1990. By the year 2002 I competed my education but I am remaining unemployed. I am in no doubt that God has done to me something of paramount importance. He has increased my knowledge of the Bible and now I am in a position to preach the gospel news so wonderfully to the multitude. I am married to a young lady by the name Manesi and she has a son of mine named Dickson. I also let you know that we have a baptism which will be conducted at our own church. There are 15 brothers and 6 sisters who are to be baptized. They are learning the promises of God that he made to Adam, Abraham, Noah and David. Lastly I am very much obliged for Bible Basics as well as the leaflets that you always send to me. I am very much benefited from this literature.
Bro. Symon Wanyekheya
MZUZU
The hunger situation has greatly affected us in the two months, January and February. There is no news of having maize in Admare, which is the main government marketing body. However, we hear that the government has imported maize which is waiting for clearance in Tanzania and Mozambique ports. In short that is the situation here. Once again I am really sorry for bothering you time and time again. Just for your information I didn’t cultivate my garden due to the poor health of my wife.
Bro. Sylvester Tembo
SALIMA
We thank our God for being gracious to us in giving us good rains this year, and though not 100%, the stand of the crop is very promising and we hope the situation is going to continue as it is. Yes, your observation is right that people tend to forget the problems they have passed through and not learn a lesson from them, but I think we should also take a stand to ring a bell during harvesting so that they take care and not take things for granted. You also mentioned about growing alternatives to corn. Others do, but not on large scale. They just make a few ridges of sweet potatoes, or, if close to marshes, a small plot of rice and so forth, whilst others just rely on maize. About goats, yes I have now learnt so many issues, good and bad, about goat-rearing, more especially as a group enterprise, like the ecclesia. Rearing rabbits is indeed good for both consumption and income but, I need to make a survey/research with veterinary staff for their guidance. Generally these are good in that they are easier to care for and they reproduce frequently, only that they are easily attacked by diseases. Another point is about “Introducing Bible Basics”. I have a good number of them in stock. These being in English, I fail to distribute them since the majority of the converts here are illiterate. I was thinking of having it translated as we did with Bible Basics. On 1April 16th, we had about twenty baptisms at Chatewa where three ecclesias met for Easter Bible meeting. We had a wonderful time; Bro.Emmanuel Mphambo also came to be with us. May I also bother you brother, I am in need of a Greek/English Interlinear New Testament Bible. I came across this title when I was reading a certain book. I would also love to have copies of books which explain about Satan, Elijah's heaven-going and Resurrection of the dead. I quite well understand about the Kingdom of God to be established when Jesus the Anointed comes again and I do not find any problem in explaining that.
Bro. George Nkhoma
Photo: Group of Sisters at Salima whoare studying in detail ‘Where Women have No Doctor’
SINYALA
If you could add an extra three copies of Bible Basics manual in Chichewa language I will deliver them to brothers and sisters or my ecclesia and Kadase ecclesia. Also send 3 Bible Companions. Let me know the truth from the following:-
Rev 2:15 says “So you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” Who are these Nicolaitans? And 2) The ark and the great flood (Noah) – Will the people destroyed by the great flood (when people failed to obey God) will they awake for judgment when Jesus Christ comes or have they gone for good? Thank you very much, God bless.
Bro. Henderson Sosola
TENGANI
I respect this correspondence because I have received your letter in which you enclosed the book known as Mfundo Zoowadi Zeni-Zeni Za Bukhu Lopatulika. I am very happy to hear from you at all times. When I read the book I was helped in my spiritual understanding and I also pray to God for the super things that you did to me to prosper in blessings from God himself. If you could come here I would be very grateful.
Bro Ereck Biyala
Photo: Bro. Harry Benito and family (Ulongwe)
