Malawi 2024 Trip Update

Pastor Stanley working on the Kingdom Building Centre

Dear Friends,

As we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, I find myself thinking about how very blessed we are. I think of all the others whom I have met in other countries and on other continents even, especially those who are just trying to survive on a daily basis. Over the years, I’ve made many friends within the refugee camp at Dzaleka, near Lillongwe, Malawi. Each time I have visited, I have tried to share with them the love, hope and joy that only Jesus can bring as I emphasize to them that anything they see or hear me doing, or saying, they themselves can do once they have made Jesus Christ of Nazareth the Lord of their lives. My heart is to train and equip my friends, so that they might fulfill the destiny which they themselves are called to by the Lord Jesus Christ.

This past year has been a year like no other. I found myself going on a short notice trip in February to Malawi, with my good friend Pamela whose father had been sick. I originally met her father, Ron, on my first trip to Malawi in 2017 and We became good friends. I had hoped to return to Malawi and visit him where he lived in Northern Malawi, but things never quite came together for that intention to be fulfilled. So when I got the opportunity to go with Pamela in February, I was really excited for the chance to see him again. It seemed that a confluence of events was coming forth straight from the heart of The Father; I could visit and pray for Ron’s healing as well as see many of my Malawian friends while also giving support to my friend, Pastor Stanley who wanted to bring forth the first Kingdom Building Centre in collaboration with LifeLight Kingdom Communities.

I must confess that I was overwhelmed while on the trip in February; overwhelmed by how incredibly HOT it could be in Malawi, overwhelmed to see a good friend so sick, and overwhelmed with excitement as to what the Lord was doing. Pamela and I prayed for Ron on numerous occasions and he improved in a miraculous way - he even walked the whole way out of the neighborhood where he was staying despite huge holes and ruts from the earlier rains. We were amazed at his newfound energy and enthusiasm! I was also excited to visit with many of my friends no matter how brief the visits were. I was given a wonderful opportunity to bless many through the generosity of many who are reading this now as well as through the Lord Himself who blessed me so I could bless others as well.

As soon as Pastor Stanley returned to the Machinga area (Southern Malawi), he began to work on the Kingdom Building Centre. He made great progress on the foundation for a good portion of the Centre.

He also chose to bless many in the village with bags of maize. Now, I have to confess that I was not altogether pleased that some of the provision I had given to him went to bags of food. It was not until I returned to Malawi in September that I actually met the people of the village where the Kingdom Building Centre is being constructed. Although I knew most in the village were Muslim and I knew that Pastor Stanley was allowed to buy choice property at a fair value despite them knowing he is a Christian Pastor, what I did not know was that back in February there was hardly any food and the maize which the villagers were blessed with more than likely saved some from starvation. Boy was I humbled. I cannot truly think of a day when I had no food, can you?

I was blessed to make another trip to the land I love at the end of August. We spent three weeks there and were able to cover a lot of ground ranging from Lilongwe to Nkhotakota Village along Lake Malawi to the southern region near Zomba and Blantyre. After we left Malawi in mid-September, Pastor Stanley got busy once again and completed the walls of the Kingdom Building Centre using the huge piles of bricks he had bought in February when people were dropping their prices so they could buy food.

Pastor Stanley also blessed the villagers with 23 bags of maize - out of his OWN resources for his family!

I share all of this with you to let you know some of the wonderful testimonies coming forth in Malawi despite the famine there. My deepest desire is to see the provision for the roofing materials come in so we may complete the Kingdom Building Centre in partnership with Pastor Stanley and we can continue to disciple the villagers there.

Our friends in the village holding the Bibles Pastor Stanley gave them.

Many of the villagers gathered with us to celebrate and worship while we were in Malawi in September and about 27 of them gave their hearts to Jesus, including the Village Chief, a very capable woman who I am blessed to have worshipped with.

I hope you celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with friends and family and I wish you the very best Holiday Season. Thank you again for your encouragement and support, sending hugs, Ede (aka Faith)

May God always meet you in your moment!