Meeting Snoden's Family

We have just a few weeks left until we start our three month long furlough. I won’t go into all the details of what’s involved in planning a trip like this, but I will say it’s a bit overwhelming and requires all of our attention. That’s why, when we were invited to speak to a village outside of town this week, we thought the timing couldn’t be worse. The people there are listed as one of the 7,080 unreached people groups in the world by the Joshua Project. (That part about considering this bad timing is a confession. Clearly, this wasn’t an opportunity we were going to miss, and God’s timing is perfect, so we trust Him to work out the unfinished details of our furlough—even though we’ve lost a little sleep over the whole thing.) 

Snoden is originally from a village near Lake Malawi that is traditionally non-Christian. He has shared what he’s learned with his family, but he and some others have asked us to come and teach them more. Snoden said they’d heard the name of Jesus but didn’t really know who He was. John shared the Gospel with them yesterday, and there were questions. Just like in Acts 8, someone pointed out that their village is near the lake and asked why they couldn’t be baptized. The fact that it’s a ten kilometer walk to the water didn’t seem to be a deterrent, so they agreed to meet us there next week, when we can come back and spend another day with them. In the meantime, they’re going to their neighbors’ houses to share the Good News and to invite everyone who will come to hear about Jesus. 

Much like small town U.S.A. has a Christian church on every corner, this part of the world has a different kind of worship center every few miles. Despite that fact, one lady at the study said she knew what John was saying was true, even though they’ve all been taught other things. It seems Christianity may have brushed by this area, but it hasn’t settled in for some reason. Some say it’s because there is no water or electricity, and other religions don’t mind that like we do. I would like to say I’m not included in that camp, but truth be told, I like a hot shower and lights at night. However, if that’s what’s keeping these people from Jesus, I guess it’s time to do some camping.  

So, we plan to go back one more time before furlough and trust that God’s going to help us get our affairs in order before our departure date. We’re committed to the widows and orphans in the village closer to our home that we’re feeding and teaching on a daily basis. Now we’re also faced with a village an hour and a half away of unreached people for the Gospel. Both villages are connected through familial relationships, which means because we’re trusted by one, we’re also welcome in the other. It’s not something we could have orchestrated and certainly wouldn’t have concocted on our own. In fact, it seems like an impossible task to be involved with both. However, we know that if God is calling us to this work, He’ll equip us through His church. 

We ask you to consider giving a one time gift or to become a monthly financial partner. Our current needs include money to buy land and develop classrooms to teach Bible, English, literacy, and health—classes we already teach outside but need shelter for during the rainy season. We also need a larger, more reliable four-wheel drive vehicle to make the long trips on the rough terrain to get to both villages and anywhere else we go outside of town. We’ve already broken down twice and take that at a warning to begin the search.

Yes, I take pictures of everything. 😁

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to our reports, thank you for praying for us and for the people of Malawi, and thank you for listening to God’s call in how you might join us in this effort to take care of widows and orphans and to reach the unreached with the Gospel. And, thanks to those of you who are already invested in this with us!

Please send financial gifts to Westworth Church of Christ, 5728 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76114, c/o Malawi Mission Work, or you can give with a click at http://www.westworthcoc.org/malawi-mission/ Thank you, and God bless.

Jessie

This is Jessie and her baby Priscilla. Priscilla was a twin, but her sister died a couple of months ago from diarrhea. After Jessie told me that and we both paused—her to miss her baby and me to digest the matter-of-fact nature of a heart-wrenching story we often hear in this place—Jessie asked me to come with her to look at something. When we got to the other side of the house, she removed her head scarf to reveal what appeared to be mumps. Her neck was so swollen that the line from her ears to her shoulders was practically straight. When I asked her how long she had been like that, she said five years. Then I knew it wasn’t mumps. I asked her if she had been to any doctors. She had gone to the free hospital, but they said it was probably cancer and there was nothing they could do. They didn't run any tests. Then I understood why she didn’t take the baby to the hospital when she got sick. She didn’t expect them to do anything for her. 

I asked if I could take some photos to share with doctors I know. She said yes, and I told her I wanted at least one with her scarf on and Priscilla on her back that I could share with everyone else. She was happy to pose for me. 

The group that meets in the village has been taking a collection every Sunday for church expenses, one of which is medical care for the villagers. This week, we’ll be sending Jessie to a clinic where she can have a biopsy to find out why her glands are so swollen. She has three other children and is understandably concerned about their welfare, should something happen to her. We hope to receive good news from her biopsy but are very aware of the possibility that it may not be. Please pray with us that her condition will be treatable and that we will be able get her the help she needs.  

We meet people in dire need on a daily basis. Some are more open to our sharing their stories than others, but the number of people who don't have their basic needs met is staggering. One of our hopes is to open a small clinic where we can help meet the needs of the people in the village. Many times a basic health education is all that's needed, but other times it requires medical attention that, by our standards is cheap, but adds up person by person. Rather than settle for what we can do, we are asking God to do more than we can ask or imagine, and we know that will require resources. If you would like to contribute, any amount will help. We will be coming to the States soon, and we are looking for additional financial partners in this work. 

Please send financial gifts to Westworth Church of Christ, 5728 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76114, c/o Malawi Mission Work, or you can give with a click at http://www.westworthcoc.org/malawi-mission/ Thank you, and God bless.