Current News
Stop press: Julian and Caroline and John and Betha are now settled in their new homes in Dedza in the Central region of Malawi Malawi Mission In the last six years churches have been planted in more than 30 bush villages around Lilongwe and God is continuing to reach out into these villages.
News from Malawi Update from Julian & Caroline Lott September 2009 You can email Julian & Caroline familylott@africa-online.net Financial gifts can be made via Gloucester Community Church office@gcchurch.co.uk or The George Müller Charitable Trust ski@mullers.org Dear Friends "Pastor is this meeting just for the chiefs - can we not also invite the people of the village to come too? We have heard things that we have never known before." This was the final remark of a wife of one of the senior chiefs of Nyombe village after Andy and I spent two hours teaching the chiefs earlier this week. This was the first time that we had had the opportunity to meet with these men and their wives after it had been agreed that we would start meeting with them once a month. As we have previously reported most Malawians are at least nominally members of one church or another. Our basic message to this group was a mixture of parables and simple teaching – most of those present understood what we had to say and are eager for us to return at the beginning of October for another session, for they truly heard a message they have not known before. Last month we reported that we expected to have meetings with the villages at Nkhanganya, Nkwazi and Mzengeleza. In fact only the first meeting took place, and here very few people attended. (Photo 1 below shows Julian talking with some of the elderly people in that meeting).
The chief at Mzengeleza having been the one to invite us to come then cancelled on two occasions. We are not confident that he will call us again. The men at Nkwazi had another engagement come up that took precedence so guess which meeting has been postponed! In this respect this last month has been a very frustrating experience - a sign of the spiritual battle we face in just getting to the point where we can deliver the message of hope and reconciliation that the vast majority of the people here need so desperately. Happily we did manage to meet with two of the men we had met during our visit to Nsanje district in June (see photo 2). Malawu is in the front row on the left and Aroni is second from the right in the front row). We also gathered some of the men from Nyombe and from here at Dauya (Dedza) as well, and spent 3 days sitting on the floor talking and teaching. It was fascinating to hear from these 2, Aroni and Maluwa, as to what a difference it has made to their lives (and their families too) for them to have heard and responded to the gospel in June. Remember that these men have been church leaders for many years without having heard this good news! The disturbing thing is that they volunteered the information that in their opinion none of the leaders of the many other 'churches' and cults in their (very large) village of Nthondo are living in the light of God either – so what about their 'church' members? We have agreed to pay a visit to their village from 10 th September, and also across the border into Mozambique to the home of Masalimo, in order to bring the teaching to these men, some of the group that we met with in June, and such of the other „church‟ leaders of Nthondo who wish to meet with us.In the midst of this work we have managed to visit the lake and have a time of rest and recuperation with our youngsters, and Andy – a friend of Tom's who bravely is in the midst of a 2 month visit. Unfortunately, shortly after that visit we were given a new experience for us in Malawi – one of a medical emergency! We had to rush Andy to hospital with what turned out to be appendicitis. He received wonderful care and has made a complete recovery for which we thank God. Thank you too for everyone who prayed for him during those fairly traumatic days. Tom has now returned to England in readiness for his third year at university, and as we write Nicky has only got another 4 days with us before she makes the same journey. Later this month she will begin her university career at Exeter University, although her course is based in Falmouth, in Cornwall. We previously asked you to pray for Chilakalaka, the first of the men here to commit himself to following Jesus. He is continuing well and shows great interest in learning (photo 3 below).
Today he and John are out visiting those interested in knowing more. We meet regularly with him, his brother in law (Christopher Bema) and another man from the sawmill, Robert Cavalo, and his wife. We have in practice a young and very small church in this area. We understand that many others would wish to join us were we to have our own church building. So we are beginning the process of looking for land locally upon which we can build. For your information and interest, we have recently prepared a map showing the approximate position of the villages where we are working, as well as the homes of our key men. That map is attached to this letter. For prayer: Upcoming visit to Masalimo in Mozambique, and to Aroni and Maluwa at Nthondo in Nsanje district – we leave on 10 th September. Nicky's safe return to UK on 9 th September; Tom preparing for his new term. Finding land for a church building in Dauya (Dedza) With our love Julian & Caroline P.S. This morning we met the families of Chilakalaka and Christopher in order to prepare the two men for baptism. Whilst we were meeting someone set fire to the grass fence around Chilakalaka's compound. By God's grace we saw the first flames as the fence was incinerated and we managed to put out the fire before the fence lit up the grass roof of his house, or the engine of my pickup! Both would have been torched within a minute or two had we not seen the flames as quickly as we did. In reality little damage was suffered, but it could have been worse, a lot worse. I report this in order to show the risk that the men are taking in following Christ, and to request fervent prayer for their future protection. It appears most likely, although it is doubtful that we will ever know, that the assailant was attending a 'church' service in the local building in which a formal 'church' meeting took place whilst we were in Christopher's house. Website
Website – www.lottsinmalawi.org This newsletter is circulated by Steve Dorey – stephendorey@blueyonder.co.uk
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John and Betha
