January 2011 Southern Malawi Ministry Centre Update

"I would say that we are in a season of shifting gears, or perhaps more specifically ‘the teenage years.’  Funnily enough, God has given us a prophetic picture in our own Iris children, who are blossoming all around us into young men and women. They need a lot of tending and encouragement. They need continual prayer, for purity, and for a hunger for the things of God. They need stimulation. At times, they need to be pushed to do something that is hard. They need forgiveness, both given and received. They need dialogue, and, most of all, they need love.

               [Fun with balloons]

                [Dinner for our Iris kids]

"Likewise, our ministry here in Malawi is in the teenage years. We have begun the work which God laid out for us to begin. We have built 6 children’s homes and a seventh is in the foundational stages. We have built a Primary School. Our first group of Standard 8 students will graduate this June. We have developed a Bible school to train and equip rural pastors throughout Malawi. In every area we have been able to work with fantastic Malawian leaders who are more and more able to take the helm. Now, we choose to become even more intentional in mentoring these leaders. We moved an entire house of boys to the new village (which is on the other side of the property) so that we would have an experienced set of house parents there to lead. The majority of our Bible school teachers are now Malawians. While Alison Walker (an Australian) gives leadership at the Primary School, we are investing in our Malawian teachers all the time. Kelvin continues to lead at the fish farm, and we are making progress.  Farming is yet another way to become sustainable, and David Walker (Alison’s husband) is out in the community developing relationships with farmers who are willing to try ‘Farming God’s Way’. We do not want to raise beggars. We want to equip labourers. It is a very tricky line to walk, especially when we have so much to give in terms of clothing, shoes, food, and resources.   

"Please pray for wisdom as we raise up teenagers, in our house, on the base, and throughout the ministry."

                [John Michael, Mo and PJ]