Sunday November 10th, 2013

Njuli, Malawi C. Africa

What a glorious Sunday morning, a day set aside to worship the one true living God and to be with the household of faith.

The church building was as clean as a pin and again as always the singing and prayers were beautiful. I have found you don’t need to understand the words of a song to know someone is singing to the Lord making a joyful noise.

The mood was a little subdued but the comments and announcements were upbeat and the prayers on my behalf were heart felt and both the congregation and I were a little sad my visit had come to an end for this year. Great expectations for next visit, they have set them high.

Rackson finished the 5^th chapter of Galatians keying in on the fruit of the Spirit, it was very uplifting to sit there and see the looks of pleasure on the faces of the people, they love to hear about God’s love for them and the hope they find in His Word.

As I had told them last week that I was going to pray with them instead of preach to them this week and that is what I tried to do. We briefly touched on the prayer of Jabez and how many of our prayers are for physical needs and things we need or want as compared to prayer that dwells on prayers for the Spiritual blessings God pours out on us daily. We spent the remainder of the time on Psalm 23 and the blessing of a personal Shepherd, the lack of wants, the rest provided, the coolness and safety of still waters and the wiping away of all tears (Rev. 7:17), healing of my soul, bring light to the valley of the shadow of death and removing that fear as He overcame death, for leading me, for anointing me, feeding me, blessing me all the days of my life and while I worry about my house here on earth HE has prepared a home for me in heaven forever. And that is the tip of the iceberg when praying about your spiritual blessing but they got the point and so did I.

After standing in the door and shaking many, many hands the service was brought to a close and I and the Family came home. A sad but beautiful day the Lord had given me. See you all soon the Lord willing.

Because of the Cross, Bro. Chuck                                 

Friday November 8, 2013

Nsanja C. Africa

And I hope this is my last adventure in Malawi. We arose early to start the day. I hit the rain room right at 0500 and felt pretty good for about ten minutes. Rackson banged on the door at 0530 and said we needed to eat and get ready to leave as we needed to be at Dave’s house by 0630. We had left the lorry at his house yesterday and he had it all loaded and ready for the drive to Tengani which is about 30 K north of Nsanja. We had oatmeal, toast, orange juice and two cups of hot coffee and were on our way to Dave’s.

Dave needed to take many boxes of tracts and material for building shelves to hold the tracts at the new compound. Our purpose going was to get some pictures of the compound and personnel working there and send to John Fullford back in the states so he could see what he is coming back to at the end of his sabbatical. Also he asked Rackson if he would try and locate home / house to rent while building a home on the new compound, he would need for about a year. We added that to our itinerary and were about ready to set out. I was still feeling a little under the weather but ready for a new adventure, little did I know.

As we left the plateau the temperature was mid 80’s with a light breeze and our lorry had air conditioning. As we descended into the lower Shire Valley we were in the low 100’s and it was early. We got to the compound in a little less than 4 hours of hard driving with only one water stop. Things were going well and all the pictures I needed were taken, the lorry unloaded and I was well pleased as it was HOT, I don’t mean hot I mean HOT and all I wanted to do is take a look at a house or two for John, (did I mention I l love John and his family?) and was glad to do something for them as they have taken very good care of me in the past. The place was in Nsanja about ¾ hour drive south. When we got there we were met by a woman who would take us to the place. We went and once again I took the required pictures and it was done. Dave’s wife packed us a lunch so we choked them down with a cool bottle of water and were on our way, not so fast! Dave’s mission was not over he needed to pick up some lumber he had proposed to buy and the guide was there to show the way. Having to have a guide was a clue that we were heading into something and I was right. We were in for a long drive over some of the worst road I have ever been on, it made the Burma Trail of WW2 look like interstate 10 on a Sunday afternoon. Once we left the main road, always a bad idea, we started up 13 miles of BAD road to this mythical lumber camp. 90 minutes later in the hot part of the mid-day we got there and while loading Rackson got the people together and preached the gospel to a group who may never have seen a missionary let along a white missionary. Did I mention it was a little warm up there? We could see Mozambique which was less than a mile from where we were. I was ready to leave while I still loved John.

On the way down there were some spots in the road (so called) that we needed extra weight so we paid natives to ride in the back for added traction while crossing damp stream beds. The lorry was in granny low as the road was so steep going down we were afraid of loss of control. Low RPMs means no air conditioner as it is a direct drive system, love the Chinese. After another 90 plus minutes we were back on the main road and heading home to Blantyre which was another 4 plus hours. Not so fast! We were on the road no more than 30 minutes and hopes were high and I was beginning to feel like I might make it and BOOM we blew a right front tire. After much discussion on how unhappy we were, it was mentioned that if you have to get a flat this was the best place as it was level ground and not on the mountain pass we just left, yes God is good. We did have a spare and jack and lots of lumber so in about 30 minutes we were on the way home. We made one stop for a cold drink and headed out. I have never been so hot and tired and dirty in my life.  It was this hot in Saudi Arabia and this hot and dirty in Vietnam but I was 40 years younger and thought I was invincible, my how time changes your thought patterns. We got home well after dark picked up our van and drove home to a hot shower and a soft bed. I hope John gets boils.

Because of the Cross,

A dusty but pleased Bro. Chuck

 

Wednesday November 6th, 2013

Blantyre, Malawi C. Africa

Some things that happen in Malawi are funny and some not so funny; this one depends on what side of the door you are on.

I have not been feeling well the past few days as I have been coming down with a cold. A cold is not fun in Pace, Fl so you can guess how much fun it is here in Malawi. Anyway I have been having night sweats due to fever. A few days ago I told Grace I needed a wash cloth, she did not have any she thought I would like to use so she had Rackson buy new.

She gave me the new wash cloths the other day and I have been using them in the morning when I get up sometimes in the shower and sometimes as I bucket wash. While not feeling well I have been paying attention to all my functions as Sheila mentioned parasites like I needed that to worry about. Anyway I had noticed in the morning that I thought I was looking a little yellow around my eyes and my face in general. It went away and then I noticed it again today as I was feeling sort of poorly. To tell the truth I was a little fearful as back in the late 60’s I had Hepatitis and thought I was a goner, spent a loooong time in the Navy Hospital San Diego. I had that same yellow skin cast.

What is the funny part you may be asking? As I was showering this evening I watched in great joy as I was wringing out the soap from my wash cloth how yellow it was. It was a cheap cloth from Patel’s that Rackson bought and the dye was being washed out in each use, now I know why on some days I was turning orange.

If I live through the mystery meat, fever, goat teeth in my food, the thought of parasites and now yellow dye on my wash cloth. I will be home soon and maybe I will have some stories to tell. Some might even be true. Tomorrow bible study at Njuli.

Till later, be good and be safe.

Because of the Cross

Bro. Dusty Miller

Pictures of Choir and Conference!

 

 

Miss Bosco recites Bible verses

Rackson Jr. recite Psalm 23

Chief Doctor and Rackson

 

Skit

 

 

Sunday November 3, 2013

Malawi C. Africa

BWBM, Njuli

If days get better than this I am not sure I want to be there ‘cause this one is one for the books.

Church started right on time with Bible study, Rackson presented a fine, fine lesson from Galatians 5:16-20. I do believe he got us all. I hope next week we get to the fruit of the Spirit, I like a happy ending.

Prior to preaching there was announced there would be a special event by some of the younger members of the congregation little did I know what was coming. Rackson Jr. sits just in front of me and when youth director Patel (first or last?) stood up so did Jr.  and another young girl a Miss Bosco. They stepped up on the platform where Jr. recited the 23 Psalm from memory and Miss Bosco recited various passages from Ecclesiastes and from the first chapter of John. When they were done there was much clapping and shouting and that noise only the women can make with their tongues, unbelievable is all I can say.   

After a few special songs by our groups the Church Choir with their new uniforms gave us 3 songs, the singing sounded much better with the new uniforms I think.  It has long been the wish to have new uniforms and now Bible Way Baptist Ministries have their colors, soft blue and white so on special occasions such as funerals (a BIG deal here), visiting other churches to sing, special meetings and Sunday service Bible Way Njuli will be recognized.

By now it was time for the offerings to be taken so the choir had another opportunity to sing. Rackson took this time to make announcements and recognize visitors. The village Chief (Chief Doctor) was introduced and given time for comments. He had very much to say about BWBM and how much impact it has on the village. It was so glowing that even I got a little embarrassed. The Chief introduced his boss the Village Headman (he has many villages he is responsible for) and the first thing he commented on was the amount of children in church (about 60) and how that is a testimony for the parents as the village will do better with children going to church instead of hanging out at the market place. He complimented the church on the building and said he had never been in a church like Bible Way.

Rackson continued and I believed he gave thanks to everyone starting with from Adam to Zelda for the success of the Bible Conference, by this time I was in coma. After a few more songs and special music the “man of God” was given time to bring the massage, we were already an hour past regular time of dismissal but is was a special Sunday with dinner on the grounds and we had many visitors so I preached to them “What Shall Be His Name” from Isaiah 9:6 and we covered those five names. At the invitation many came forward, some to confess Jesus as Lord for the first time, some to repent and to ask for the prayers of the church and some to place membership. It was a great day to be in Christ.

The last goat had been butchered and dinner was on. I told Grace I could not eat goat one more time so she made me pasta and tomato sauce with beef? So she said and a banana fritter.  After about 90 minutes of fellowship and a thousand pictures of the choir and family pictures of the church leaders it was time to call it a day. Church was from 10-4:00 p.m. and it was a long day and I was very tired and in need of a bath. God is good and when we got home and unpacked the water was hot and flowing and the lights were working and I cleaned up and after recounting the blessing of this day and going to bed.  Next week is travel north to Monkey bay to see Joseph and his work and then down to Nsanji to check on the work for John Fullford’s ministry-more adventures later.

Because of the Cross,

 Bro. Chuck