#5 God's Plan, Not Ours
Would you walk 20km for a book?
This weekend, thousands gathered in Thyolo Presbytery from all across the countryside desperate to hear and receive the Word. Our team was stretched across more churches and more congregations than we ever imagined we would be - our plans fell to pieces more than once, but God was at work ahead and around us, and it was a powerful weekend of ministry.
We reached Chitsime CCAP, Thyolo after a trip of only an hour or so. It was a beautiful drive through the highlands of Malawi on a bright, sunny Friday morning.
This church was the meeting point for representatives from various congregations across the region - mostly village churches and prayer houses, many of which were quite remote. Miles stayed behind in Blantyre to recover from a severe cold, and spend some time reflecting upon and preparing his sermon for the weekend.
After the welcome and introduction ceremonies, which we have learnt are important formalities to every church meeting, we jumped into the Bible study method. Even many of the leaders who had gathered that day were without a Bible, though, and so we had packed some extra for these men and women.
Recipients were divided into four groups, each with a member of the team to take them through a demonstration study. Ben and Jean led one of the groups (with an interpreter to assist as many people are not fluent in English). Working through the prompts and questions on the bookmarks handed out with the Bibles, the combined knowledge of the group could be applied to the passage - an understanding that will only grow more and more as people continue to read the Bible and use this method.
We learnt that there is so much knowledge and access to the Word that we can easily take for granted in Australia. Some of these leaders, having never owned a Bible for themselves, were unsure where to locate each book and passage. It was humbling to once again recognise the depth of need in Malawi, to know that our mission is only scratching the surface of this need, and to have the reminder to be thankful for our abundance of resources in Australia.
People's questions were also revealing. One question was about whether one needed to ask the Abusa (minister) to forgive sins. Another wondered how long you should wait for God to answer prayers - and at what point it was accepable to seek answers elsewhere? There were many interesting questions and Bible teaching opportunities and we felt priveleged to share this time with Malawian Christians.
Importantly, the people confirmed that they felt confident to use the COMA method on their own. Our prayer is that God will use the Bibles and the COMA method to grow many in their faith and to strengthen the church in this part of God's kingdom.
Saturday morning we returned to Chitsime CCAP bright and early to meet our Malawian guides before dividing up into four teams to head out to church clusters for Bible distribution in both morning and afternoon. In total, we would be visiting 9 churches. As we counted out the Bibles in each car, we realised we were 22 boxes short - nearly 600 Bibles! Somehow, somewhere, there'd been a miscount. Meanwhile, the church building beside us had already filled with people - even though it was meant to be one of the afternoon clusters.
Putting our heads together, we made a couple of quick swaps to the teams and sent three of the cars off with enough Bibles for their clusters. Michael took the fourth car, heading back to Blantyre to collect the missing Bibles, while Tom, ST and Bruce began distributing Bibles to those gathered at Chitsime.
Hui's car, with David, Duan and Soyoung, was led by Abusa Aubrey to 3 different cluster points. Their long journey reminded them of the alpine region in Victoria, filled with incredible views.
Hui's personal highlight was meeting the congregation at the last station. We drove off-road on a dirt track for more than 30 mins, grateful for the sturdy 4-wheel drive hire car, well equipped to manage the terrain - though it gave free “massages” to passengers swinging us left and right, back and forward, up and down.
Crowds of people stood on either side of the narrow road, and finally Aubrey pointed us to a building without a roof and said "Stop here." The church stood, with walls and windows, but no doors. This was a prayer house - a small congregation served by the session and pastor of a larger parish. By Malawian standards, this is any congregation smaller than 200 members.
People started streaming into the building. Some ladies brought a large mat to sit on the floor, and some brought along benches from home for sitting. As we sat on chairs in front of the congregation, you could see rays of sunshine beaming over them. The weather was quite warm and we were glad to be in the shade.
There was a spontaneous outburst of praise after the presentation of Bibles to those who needed them most - though there were still many more without a Bible. We learned that one of these Bibles would cost a local around 40,000 Kwacha. With many people struggling to even put food on the table, this is completely unaffordable for the average tea plantation worker - earning only 90,000 Kwacha/month.
The evening sun was going down, and the sunset was spectacular. From the unfinished church building we had an amazing view of the distant Mt Mulanje, and the Shire River, along which David Livingstone once travelled. The road back to the accommodation to Thyolo was as unforgiving as before. Hui's team arrived back safely a little after 6pm, and joined the other team members for dinner at 6:45pm.
In the Mbawa (sponsored by Donvale Presbyterian) John, Jean, Ben and Bec were directed out deep into rural Thyolo by Abusa Peter. With conflicting directions from the Abusa, several advisers he called and the locals, it felt a bit like a wild goose chase until we finally arrived at our first congregation about 2hrs later - to find the entire congregation away at a funeral. With around 200 Bibles for this cluster and no members to give them to, we felt at first a little despondent. However, we were met by the session of the church who explained to us the absence of the members and the importance of attending funerals as a community. We brought the Bibles inside the church, and prayed to dedicate them. We were encouraged by the fervour of the local session for the mission as they discussed with us how they could best go about distributing the Bibles themselves in the coming weeks.
After this, John quickly explained the COMA method on the bookmarks and Abusa Peter encouraged the session to use it, relaying how helpful he had found it himself the previous day in training at Chitsime. We exchanged gifts and then were on our way.
Many more difficult roads and confusing directions later, we arrived at our second church, much later than we had originally desired due to the road conditions. There we found hundreds of people waiting for us, sitting scattered all around the church in pokets of shade where they had been waiting for several hours, after many had walked up to 20km to meet us. They greeted us with joy and singing as we clambered out of the car (rather stiff and jostled) and began unloading the Bibles. The distribution in the end went well - every person on the session clerk's list was accounted for and we had more than enough Bibles. With a long walk ahead of the people to get back home, and sunset approaching, we were unable to run COMA fully, but once again John quickly explained the bookmark, and with an enthusiastic translater the people seemed to take it on board well.
Finally we got back in the car, apprehensive about more driving but thankful that we felt we had really been able to accomplish our mission to take Bibles into the most rural and isolated parts of Malawi.
Meanwhile, the Chitsime team had finished distributing Bibles and suddenly found the church empty, before we had had any time to even suggest doing a Bible study together. Though a little surprising, this did free us up to head to Thabwa CCAP - where we were actually meant to be for the morning, and where people were already waiting for us. We explained the shortage of Bibles to our guide, Abusa Meshach, and promised that they were on their way now from Blantyre. By God's provision, Meshach had a car, and could drive us to Thabwa right away, without having to wait for Michael to return.
At Thabwa, we were met by a packed church of more than 600 people. This church was a brick building with an earth floor, still incomplete. Many people had walked kilometres and kilometres across the country to gather, eager to receive a Bible. We apologised profusely for our lateness, and our arrival without Bibles yet, but we took the opportunity - after proper introductions - to share the training we had prepared with them.
Tom called for 12 volunteers, and with their help and Meshach's translation, explored the big picture of the Bible. In 12 steps, from Genesis to Revelation, from God's creation to Christ's return, the story of the Bible was broken up and summarised, with call-and-response repetition from the congregation as we went through. By the end, all 600 people were able to recite the 12 steps. Then, we applied these steps, taking passages suggested by the congregation and showing how they fit into God's story, and how all of Scripture points to and is fulfilled by Christ.
Although the Bibles were still yet to arrive, God had provided a visit from Lyca during the week, a translator and friend of the team. She had translated the 12 steps and the verses that go with them into Chichewa and so our local volunteers were able to read what she had provided.
Still, there was time to spare, so after a short break for some fresh air, ST stood up and led the entire congregation in a demonstration Bible study. Though normally quite nervous speaking in front of people, ST felt unusually confident and the congregation engaged well with her questions.
Finally, after getting briefly lost on the way back from Blantyre, Michael arrived - with Bibles, and with Miles, now recovered after a good night's rest. 608 Bibles were distributed to those gathered. The team then returned to Chitsime for a second time, to distribute another round of Bibles, and run the 12 steps again. Abusa Meshach, a minister now nearing retirement, was quite enthusiastic about this teaching, calling it an eye-opening experience, particularly for the average congregant.
Altogether about 2,500 Bibles were distributed across Thyolo Presbytery that day by our four vehicles. Reflecting back on this number, our team agrees that if even one person comes to salvation by reading the Word for themselves - our trip will have worth it. As Abraham prays in Genesis 18:23-33, may even 10 be saved! Yet our God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20), and so we pray that every one of these people would come to a deep and saving faith, and would be able to share this with many others around them.
5:30am on Sunday morning, we were woken with the news that the Dayspring (Hui's vehicle, sponsored by PWMU) had a punctured tire. Immediately, we were thankful to God for keeping us safe the day prior, the tire surviving until after we had returned to our lodge. Together with the night watchman and local mechanic, Michael attempted to change the tire; only to find it stuck fast even with the car jacked up and the nuts removed. Finally, after those who were awake prayed together, and prayed over the phone with family back home, God answered our prayers! Steve wandered out, barely glanced at the wheel, gave it a single solid kick, and off it came. Indeed God is good, and provides us with all our needs, protecting us along the roads after the sun has set and delivering us to do his work each morning!
Steve had a quick breakfast, loaded up his Toyota 4x4 dual cab, and travelled with his team up a dusty track, passing people walking; riding bikes; chewing sugarcane; carrying goods on their heads, and babies on their backs. Through the market they drove - through a crowd of 50? No, hundreds, on either side of the road, selling their wares. Slowly, slowly, carefully, they drove through.
Steve, Doug, Diane, and David landed at Chitsime CCAP once again, where they were welcomed and toured the grounds. A new manse is being built, but they need funds to finish...
8.45am we entered and were warmly welcomed as special guests (a humbling experience). Seated at the front, we participated in the service. After more introductions and thanks, the choirs sang and offerings were encouraged from each group within the congregation. The session clerk spoke for 10 minutes, more prayers, more welcomes, and dedications.
We spoke to the children gathered on the floor. 50? 100? 150? Who knows! They listened intently, wide-eyed. Steve taught the creation story, then pulled out a doll - a child has been born, the saviour has come! There was great excitement, lots of noise and lots of pointing.
More choirs sang, followed by readings. Finally, a sermon on the lost son (Luke 15) - all being translated. Translation doubles the time every teaching takes, but all were intent and listening. The whole congregation recited the Apostles Creed off by heart. A prayer was said, and then for 10 minutes all individually prayed out loud. A final song and the service closed at 12:15pm. As guests, we were ushered out into the vestry. Wow, time goes. It's good to worship together!
John’s team, with Ben, Jean and Bec, had a long day of mission work - leaving the lodge at 8.00am and driving along rough bush tracks to find a remote prayer house. To be specific: we were assigned to the Mulimo congregation of the Matumbo Parish of the Presbytery of Thyolo Highlands of the Synod of Blantyre - that’s easy enough to remember, isn’t it?
If you’re interested in numbers, let's work backwards:
- the Synod of Blantyre has about 31 Presbyteries;
- the Presbytery of Thyolo Highland has about 15 Parishes;
- the Parish of Matumbo (served by the one pastor) has 4 main congregations and 8 prayer houses;
- the Prayer House of Mulimo CCAP has at least 400 members and a congregation on the day we visited of about 150.
When we arrived at 9.00am, we were welcomed in song by the Sunday school children - but no worshippers yet. The worship service began at 9.30am and finished at 1.30pm. It’s curious how it works - though we started with only about 30 people, people drifted in, bit by bit, an hour later… then two hours later… until the prayer house filled. Even though the service lasted for nearly 4 hours, it didn’t seem that long. Every part of the service is meaningful, and the time spent feels equal to the occasion. Time was given for preaching, and the congregation was very attentive to God's Word.
A basic lunch of rice and nsima was served in the vestry, then the team returned home to the lodge by 3.30pm. On the way back we spotted several people walking with their brand new Bibles. It was a satisfying morning and satisfying weekend - mission accomplished! So many people were blessed with their own copy of God's Word. We ourselves have been blessed, meeting with our Christian brothers and sisters amidst the amazingly beautiful scenery of hundreds of acres of tea plantations among rugged hills and rivers, to a backdrop of the majestic and ever-present Mt Mulanje.
Now with a repaired car, Hui, Soyoung, Miles and Tom set off to Thyolo CCAP for two morning services, one in English and one in Chichewa. It was an encouraging day of worship! Hui was privileged to preach from Psalm 23 for the English service, and we presented the church with 3 boxes of Chichewa hymnbooks and a ukelele. A larger church, this one was nearly completed - a little work was left to be done on the ceiling, but the floors were tiled, and there was even a sound system with drums and keyboard set up. As is standard in Malawi, choir after choir performed and the praise team led the congregation in joyful chorus after joyful chorus. Mid-service, we were surprised (but excited!) by an invitation for the congregation to return later that afternoon for bible studies.
There was a short break for tea between services, then we returned for the Chichewa service. Appearing out of nowhere, over 100 children crowded at the front of the church to hear a kid's talk. With the help of attention-grabbing puppets, Tom told the story of the lost sheep from Luke 15, illustrating how much Jesus, the Good Shepherd, loves each one of them, and encouraging them to listen to His voice.
With the interpretation of the 2nd session clerk (it's standard to have many clerks on one session here), Miles preached from Mark 15 on "passing the baton." Just as Jesus was passed from Sanhedrin to Pilate to soldiers to be crucified, so as Christians we are to pass the message of Christ as the ransom for many. Miles used the illustration of a stick, used as a relay race baton, to physically pass the message on. There was some confusion around the translation of a "ransom," so Miles gave an example. When driving in Malawi, we need to be careful not to run a chicken over, or the driver would have to pay for eggs that the chicken would have otherwise laid. This was received well. Thus, Jesus has paid the price for our sin, and Miles reflected that our bodies do not belong to anyone else apart from Christ, for he created us, redeemed us, and dwells in us. So, how then do we live?
Thyolo CCAP is a city church with a large membership working in government departments, banks, schools and offices. We were invited to their beautiful and spacious manse for lunch after the two services. There was a beautiful spread of nsima, rice, chicken, veggies and bananas.
We returned to the lodge briefy to drop off Soyoung and pick up some resources for the afternoon, then Tom, Miles and Hui returned to Thyolo CCAP at 3pm. By 3:30pm, around 60 people gathered and Tom led them through the 12 steps, then divided them into 3 groups for demonstration Bible studies. Conveniently, Abusa Meshach, one of our Saturday guides, was the local pastor and so was alongside us to enthusiastically take part in the teaching and studies. We found out that in the past, this church had met regularly for Bible study on a Sunday afternoon, but this had dwindled in recent months and people were no longer coming.
Tom's group worked through Mark 1:16-28, thinking about who Jesus is, what Jesus has authority over, and who Jesus came for. It was striking how similar the questions and concerns and responses were to those that would come up at a typical youth group study back in Melbourne. As most of us tend to, there was an instinct to jump to an answer from another part of the Bible, rather than from the passage in front of us. As we neared the end of the study, one man raised a concern: "How can I teach if I'm not sure if I have the Holy Spirit?" So, we looked back at the passage. Jesus teaches with authority, and we can trust what He says. He has told us that He will send us a helper, and He assures his disciples in Matthew 10 that the Spirit will speak through them at the right times. We turned together to the parable of the sower, and discussed different responses to hearing the Word, landing on 1 Corinthians 3:6 - assured that ultimately God will provide the growth.
Most of the group could speak English quite well, with one member translating for the rest - and elaborating! It was encouraging to see members of the group who took the questions and ran with them, and were keen and capable to take on this study method themselves once we leave.
Praise God for a great weekend of ministry with everyone in the team working harmoniously for the glory of God.