#6 Reflections

Dear friends,

Our mid-week reflection is a shorter one this time, as our team have spent much of the week travelling. We have been privileged to enjoy the beauty of the Malawian countryside, and to encourage and be encouraged by ministries across the country. As we write, we are preparing for our final weekend of Bible distribution - split this time in two teams, across the presbyteries of Livirizi and Chiuta. Plans are hazy and communication has been difficult, so we are uncertain as to what the weekend will hold. Nevertheless, trusting God we set off first thing in the morning to our first distribution and training centres.

We arrived back in Blantyre on Monday, passing along quiet roads and empty markets for the Independence Day public holiday. Tuesday all but one of the team enjoyed a day at the Majete Wildlife Reserve, guided by a friend from the CCAP’s education department, where from a safe distance we saw elephants, hippos, crocodiles, birds, impala, kudu and even a lone giraffe.

On Wednesday, the team sprang back into action. Miles and John left at 7am, headed for Lilongwe. Only stopped once for a license check, we made good time and met Chaplain Andrew Kamponda at Biwi Triangle. Andrew then took us to Kamuzu Barracks where we had lunch cooked by his wife, Linda.

The discussions over lunch were revealing regarding the extent of Andrew's chaplaincy work in the Malawian Defence Force. As we spoke, it became clear that Andrew has had to support the force through some very tough times - and been through tough times himself. However, the care Andrew showed for those under his wing was great, and his chaplaincy style resonated well with Miles’ own.

Gifts were exchanged with Andrew's family. Present were two of their three children, Tamara and Precious, with the third, Joy, at school. Andrew took us for a tour of the base, and of the CCAP church at the barracks. We left a box of Chichewa Bibles and a set of bookmarks with the study method outline on them for use with the soldiers.

Much was learnt and shared. Defence chaplaincy is a unique field of ministry, and at times, not for the faint-hearted.

Meanwhile, a team had set off towards Neno Girls’ Secondary School. This is the second of the Malawian schools closely supported by the Presbyterian Church of Australia, with strong ties to the Presbyterian Ladies College in Melbourne. Over the years, PLC students have had the opportunity to visit and spent time with the students at Neno, and PLC regularly raises funds for their Malawian sister school. As PLC parents and board representatives, the team was led by Ben and Jean, with Hui, Soyoung, Duan, Bec and Tom in tow.

The drive was long and windy, along roads so new they hadn’t been built yet. We passed by steamrollers and remote villages, climbing high into the mountains, finally reaching the school at an unmarked spot on the map. Steve was with us, our repeat guide from the Majete trip, and we were deeply appreciative of his directions and introductions. We were well received, and after an initial meeting with the principal and her leadership team we met the girls and had a tour of the school.

We presented the school with stationery and sporting equipment, carried as a gift from PLC. Along the way we had stopped at a market to purchase 20kg of beef and 250 bananas, and we delivered these to the school kitchen. Neno can rarely afford protein for the almost 200 girls boarding at the school, so we were glad to bless them in this small way - though the market had been an experience in itself!

Our visit has been poorly timed with the school calendar, with many students midway through their exam season, but those who were available were eager to meet us. With over 100 girls squished into a large classroom, Tom and Bec took them through the big picture of the Bible in 12 steps and then led a Bible study on Mark 1:1-11. The girls were put at ease by the younger members of the team, and they were quick to engage. They paid careful attention to the 12 steps, many asking for a printed copy to keep for themselves afterwards, and it was so encouraging to hear their responses to Tom and Bec’s questions during the study.

Praise God that these girls were so hungry to read God’s word. The girls were all given bookmarks, and we left more with the head teacher to give to every other student and teacher that wasn’t in our session. We wish we could have stayed longer but we had a very special and worthwhile time. Neno is such a beautiful school and we give thanks to God for the way that this school has grown throughout the years.

Duan's reflection:

“Now these Jews (In Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” - Acts 17:11

How special is the word of God? It is God’s very word given to us and it is such a privilege that we have a God who speaks clearly to us through His word. And when we have God’s word in our hands and in our own language, how beautiful it is to read God’s word and hear Him speak to us through the power of His Holy Spirit. This has been a great privilege and joy to see during our time in Malawi.

We can’t express how beautiful it has been to see people pray, read God’s word, chew over it, ponder it, dig deeper into it and apply it to their lives. What comes to mind during our time has been Acts 17:11. We see that when the Berean believers receive the word of God, they are eager, and they also examine God’s word (daily) to ensure that what they have received is true. It doesn’t matter where you live in the world or what language you speak or even what age or gender you are. When you read God’s word and His Spirit is at work, you cannot help but be transformed. During our time in Malawi thus far, people have been blessed by reading God’s word. They have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. And we pray that they may continue to dig deeply into the eternal well that is God’s word. In God’s word, we have the words of life. We have the message of the gospel that transforms and changes lives forever. May God continue to transform our hearts and lives as we read His word and may He also transform the many people in Malawi who have the privilege to read His word daily with their own Bibles.