#8 That’s a Wrap, For Now

Dear friends,

Our main ministry may have been finished on Sunday, but with all that we had done over the last three weeks, and all the people we had met, it was inevitable that we would have some difficult farewells to make. There were people to see, projects to wrap up, and preparations to make for the return home.

On Monday morning, teams Mbawa, Duff and Dayspring drove back at a leisurely pace to Grace Bandawe in Blantyre to join the Ma Robert who had returned the previous day. Along the way we stopped at the Shire River to see some hippos, the Zomba plateau overlooking the countryside, and a place that held special memories for some of our team.

In 2008 Steve and Doug, along with some others from Australia, had been involved in a project at Mpita CCAP, putting a roof on the church. Knowing it wasn’t far from where we had stopped for lunch in Zomba, John suggested we take a slight detour to visit the church. Steve led the way, the route still familiar after all these years.

As we approached the church we were met by an excited group of village children who couldn’t quite believe that Bec’s hair wasn’t a wig. Steve was pleased to see the roof of the church still in good condition, and asked some of the locals if they knew Phillis, a local woman who the team remembered from their 2008 visit. The answer was affirmative, and someone left to go ask Phillis to come. While we waited we were greeted by some of the elders, deacons and other leaders in the church, who had just so happened to be there for a lesson being taught on agriculture. As is the Malawian way we exchanged introductions, prayed and sang together. Phillis arrived and remembered the men who had come to build the roof. She and Steve were delighted to see one another. She then took us to see the now complete church kitchen, which had been recently funded by the Presbyterian Church of Australia, before we had to depart.

Once back at Grace Bandawe, Tom, Miles and Bec were met by two women from Thyolo Presbytery. These women had come several days ago with Abusa Aubrey, bearing gifts for the team as thanks for everything we had done with them at Chitsime CCAP. They had decided the original gifts had not been enough and wanted to come back for the “youth leaders,” as they called Tom and Bec, and to give Miles something to thank his wife Robyn for making the cloth bags that had been gifts for all the Mai Abusas (pastors’ wives) that we had met. This meant a second three-hour minibus round trip for these women (public transport here is non-existent, but overcrowded vans crawl down the main roads, picking up passengers as they go). Despite our attempted assurances that this was not necessary, the women were determined, and we were thankful and humbled by this demonstration of gratitude.

Abusa Aubrey also came by again, this time with further gifts of Malawian tea for the team, and stayed for around an hour to chat. We discussed the mission work, the spiritual state of Malawi and the practical challenges of ministry here. It was clear that Aubrey is zealous for the Lord and His work. As many of our Australian mission team veterans age, we consider who will take up and continue this work in the future. On the Malawian side, Colin Mbawa has been a blessing to us all, and we could not have done this work without him, so we also are thinking about who we can add to our list of contacts, to plan future missions for many years to come. We were thankful for this opportunity to talk with Aubrey more.

Now we had two days to rest, pack and get ready to leave. But wait, there’s more! On Tuesday morning Steve, Ben and Bruce headed out to Orbus Mission School once more to look at what may be a future water project. Yes, the kids were there and another 20 tennis balls, 100 stickers, a soccer ball and three bundles of sugar cane (gifted to us previously, but we cannot take this on the plane) were given to them. With Ben’s work in sustainability and Bruce’s experience as a farmer, the two had put their heads together on our last Orbus visit, to come up with a system to improve the water supply and distribution at Orbus. Water is a huge expense for them and vital to the growing of the crops that help the school towards self-sustainability, and so Bruce and Ben took the opportunity to lend their knowledge and expertise in this area. They returned to obtain water bills and building plans with accurate dimensions to inform the efficacy of their plan. Once we return home, they will draw up proper plans to then send to the Blantyre Synod building department.

After Orbus, it was over to the Blantyre Synod building department for Steve with plans for a future roofing project at Njale CCAP to be quoted. Then Hui collected Leonard once more for further treatment, blood tests and x-rays at the hospital.

The morning finished, it was time for a relaxing, lazy lunch at Mandala House, a historic residence in Malawi. Then further catch ups and goodbyes in the rotunda at Grace Bandawe with various friends, contacts, staff and fellow residents.

Dinner on Tuesday night was a formal affair at Grace Bandawe with representatives from the Malawi Bible Society and CLAIM (Christian Literature Action in Malawi) Bookshop – our partners in supplying the Bibles and hymn books that we have been distributing. The representatives were eager to hear about how the mission had gone and encouraged by all our stories. We shared that over 5000 Bibles had been distributed across the three weekends in some of the most remote congregations. They were delighted to hear this, and we in turn were encouraged to learn about their work in supplying Christian literature to churches at as low cost as possible and their conviction in the importance of this work.

When we finished eating, the CEO of Malawi Bible Society gave a speech. Included, the words:

“One Bible – it will touch more than 5 lives! It’s an intergenerational worth you have passed on to Malawi, once people are transformed their families are transformed, and it goes on and on…

Not only did you raise the money, not only did you order the Bibles, but you came yourselves to deliver them! That’s a BIG BLESSING!”

Then it was Colin’s turn, and as he spoke about what the relationship between himself and John had come to mean, and about all the work they had been privileged enough to do together, some of our team were moved to tears. It has truly been an honour to serve the Lord the way we have. Despite our flaws, weaknesses and immeasurable inadequacy God has used our hands, hearts and words to give and share in something quite substantial of His Kingdom.

As the evening drew to a close, John shared another piece of wonderful news. Due to the overwhelming support from our donors, an incredible USD to Kwacha exchange rate given to us by Colin’s daughter Miriam, and God’s provision, we had ended up with a massive surplus in the team budget. John informed the Bible Society of what we had decided as a team to use this money for – to place another order nearing 1000 Bibles for further distribution. God is good, beyond what we could ever imagine!

Further conversations led to the sharing of the COMA bookmark, which the CEO assured us they would be able to easily recreate and print themselves. Groups prayed together, and it was a beautiful reminder and example that this mission was, and is, not a takeover of Malawi by the Presbyterian Church of Australia. We are not there to do it all for them, but as true partners under God. We in Australia have been blessed by great riches, and as God’s stewards we look to use what He has given us to further His Kingdom as much as we can. In Malawi the leaders have great passion and love for the Lord, and we pray that our assistance in resources will enable them to wield this love with wisdom to fruition of many more in Malawi coming to know Jesus.

Wednesday, our last full day in Malawi. With no official duties, various members of the team set off to their own tasks – climbing a nearby mountain for some pre-plane exercise and to enjoy God’s creation; catching up with friends; studying in preparation for a return to uni; and some simply sitting, enjoying some final hours of African sun and each other’s company.

Yet God’s work is never finished, and we discovered one more way that He had used our visit. Diane’s friend and long-time translator, Lyca, who also works in prison ministry, had been busy over the last few days making bags out of beautiful, vibrant cloths for the team, selling each bag to us for 5000 Kwacha (around 5 AUD). Many members were keen on this opportunity to purchase gifts for family and friends or for souvenirs for themselves, and she had decided to stay up all Tuesday night to make the bags. On Wednesday she informed Doug and Diane that she had not expected such interest, and that as a result of our purchase of so many bags she now had money to return to theological college, something she had been unable to afford for a long time. So much so, that she would be able to start studying again the very next day! How wonderful that something so simple was able to make such a huge impact for this woman, a woman truly after God’s own heart.

On Wednesday afternoon we were invited to Colin’s house for a short home service and to take communion together. This was a lovely time of mutual encouragement and partnership, and a beautiful way to officially farewell our Malawian hosts.

After, we went out for dinner together as a team, and the time was spent in wonderful fellowship and sharing of stories, highlights, thanks and encouragements. Reflecting on our mission it was clear the way God had built our team to include people with all kinds of different experiences and expertise, and that He had used this to help us make the most of our short time here. Where one person had seen a challenge, another had seen an opportunity. Where one had found a problem, another had been able to solve it. When wisdom was needed, there were older, more mature Christians there to provide it. Where energy was needed, we had younger bodies ready and willing.

As we sit here on the plane travelling home, it is unbelievable to think of all that God has used us for in such a short time. Many of the ways in which He provided for us endlessly are clear, and we are sure there are many more that we cannot see. When we arrived in Malawi we quickly saw the depth of need of these people, both physical and spiritual, and we felt our inabilities and limitations keenly.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Each day we have seen this verse put into action, as each day God has opened our eyes to the needs and opportunities before us and equipped us for the work ahead. Over and over again, we have been encouraged, challenged and humbled, a cycle that can only teach us to rely on God more and more. We have impacted the people in Malawi, yes, but we have also been grown and changed. And we pray that our words here from afar will also have had some small impact on you, dear friends, to encourage you in your walks with the Lord. Your prayers, well wishes, and support have helped us more than you could know.