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Dear Friends,
Greetings to you all from the Warm Heart of Africa! In this newsletter we reflect on the first part of 2015 and consider where God is leading us in the months ahead.
The year got off to an eventful start with the devastating storms that battered and flooded Malawi. We include a special report here on how, thanks to the generosity of our friends and supporters, the Hope Missions team were able to respond to the needs of many families who had lost their homes, possessions and supplies of ufa (maize flour) to the floodwater.
We are also excited to be able to report on the difference the 'Talking Bibles' are making to outreach, enabling many who can't read to hear the Word of God. We are also delighted to report on the building of a church at Chapendeka.
None of this work is possible without your partnership with us, we thank God for your support.
Annie Mkandawire
Project Director
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Moving on After the Floods
Following the floods and storms in January the Hope Missions team were able to mobilise quickly to provide relief in the affected villages, principally in Kayabwa where the nursery school was washed away and many families were affected.
The first phase of relief was the provision of blankets, maize, beans, buckets, basins, plates, soap and salt to those whose possessions and food supplies were ruined or swept away. Construction work was also undertaken to strengthen the nursery building at Lemesi by providing flooring and other cement work and maintenance of the latrines.
The second phase of repairing and reconstructing community facilities is ongoing. Lemesi nursery school is now completed, children have started using it and the community is very grateful. Another project is installing proper cement flooring in the small section of the church building at Kayabwa for the nursery school children to use (as the nursery school building was washed away) and the construction of a permanent church building in Chapendeka after their temporary structure was destroyed (read on for more on this).
Our heartfelt thanks go to those individuals who were moved to support this relief work.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Drought following the floods
Early this year the problems faced in our communities were the result of too much water. Ironically now the problem is drought: the rainy season has come to an end prematurely, leaving crops wilting in the field, so farmers and families throughout Malawi have lost their anticipated harvest.
This is a nationwide problem which poses a serious threat to Malawi’s food security situation for this coming year. The market price for a bag of maize is already climbing steadily as demand is increasing, with a dwindling supply. There is no quick fix to this problem and we ask that you pray for the nation at this time and in the months ahead.
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Talking Bibles make the Word of God available to all
With help from the Evangelical Association of Malawi we have recently started distributing 'Talking Bibles' in the villages. These provide a practical and user-friendly alternative to the Chichewa language Bibles we have distributed previously, as in an oral culture where few have had the opportunity to complete their education many people were finding the Word of God inaccessible.
The Talking Bibles make the Scriptures available to anyone who can listen. They are lightweight and portable, similar in appearance to a transistor radio, and allow the listeners to hear the Word chronologically or select individual books and chapters. They are proving to be an invaluable tool and have enabled our ministry to chiefs and community leaders to take off. We currently have 12 local chiefs meeting together every Monday for a Bible study, many of whom go out to hold satellite meetings with others in the community, regularly reaching in excess of 60 people.
Hope Missions would like to be able to purchase more Talking Bibles to enable us to reach more villages with the gospel. Please get in touch if you are able to make a donation or undertake some fundraising towards this.
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Chapendeka's New Church
Following the loss of the shelter in which the new church plant at Chapendeka were meeting we are pleased to report that with kind support from our partners at Star Hill church in Louisiana we have been able to build a new permanent church building.
The success of this project is not just about the erection of the building and the provision of a permanent structure but also how it has brought the whole community together. The villagers have provided most of the labour themselves, working tirelessly to clear land, burn bricks and provide water for the construction.
The photos here show the original temporary structure that was lost, the Hope Missions leading prayer over the land prior to the start of the project and the construction of the new building with active participation from the villagers.
The community of Chapendeka are so grateful for the timely support and it is hoped the new church can be a blessing to all around.
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