God Is Good

Two weeks from now the team will be over the Atlantic on their way to Johannesburg for the 2016 Partnership of Hope Mission trip. The team is made up of Pastor Scott, and wife Bess, Pastor Angie, Kay Oliver, and the Halfpop family, Cary, Julie, Kelby and myself.

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we returned from our 2015 trip. The 2016 itinerary will take the team from Lilongwe to Mzuzu. We will visit and dedicate at least 2 of the 4 boreholes,(wells) that the AFUMC funded in 2016. A new venture on the itinerary for 2016 is to visit the Dzaleka Camp for Refugees. It is very difficult to imagine living conditions worst than the Malawi folks have in the Villages.  In the camp, there are 18,000 refugees that have located in Malawi. Lord, please guide us.

2016 the Tailoring School will graduate 11 ladies, bring the total to 70 ladies that graduated since AFUMC took over the sponsorship of the School in 2009.  Praise the Lord.

The Itinerary includes 2 day at the Farm, which each year we see miracles taking place. We will see the process made with raising pigs, expanded irrigation, solar lighting and bees to name a few.

Each year it is exciting to see the team bond together, with lifelong experiences.  It is 2 weeks of being removed from our comfortable surrounding and see how people without the comforts of life that we take for granted, have a much greater Love for our Lord. We do not experience the life of the villagers, per say, as we stay in lodges that have heat, cooling and running water. (Sometimes even hot) and plenty of food to eat.

Many times, I am asked, why go? I can’t answerer that clearly, other than saying “I must” My first time in Malawi, I asked, “Lord, what am I doing here, what can I do? I am not an evangelist, a preacher, what can I do.” It seems the response I got was to “come back”. Now after 6 times, I still ask the same question, but also knowing that I am a part of a great ministry, that is following the Great Commission “Go and Make disciples of all nations”. We are saving lives with clean water for the body, Teaching 70 ladies a skill, which they can use to support their families, as well as teach their children the same skill. The farm is producing crops to feed people, but also teach others the Permaculture way, (Permanent Agriculture) which utilizes all of the resources that are available there. All these things lead people to the kingdom of God.  Churches and schools spring up at the borehole sites. There is a church at the farm which is expanding. In 2014 a nursery school was built at the farm.  The ladies at the tailoring school also are exposed to the Methodist beliefs.

It is an experience that I recommend to anyone, as it will show you how blessed we are.

God Bless

Len