Southern Malawi Ministry Centre

The other day I took a walk in the back property where we have planted hundreds of trees over the last year. There are trees at all different stages, from tiny seedling to fully mature. Each tree must be cared for according to its present needs. The littlest ones can’t survive without regular watering and weeding. The more mature trees can use their established root systems to find the nutrients that are required.

Every children’s home at Iris Malawi plants a field. They prepare the soil, plant the seeds and tend the crops, and then they harvest and eat the produce. This year’s crop was disappointing. While we did receive rain, it was inconsistent and there were long dry spells in-between. There was also a pest which ate the maize leaves, leaving the cobs vulnerable. Still, there was a harvest.

[Iris children and parents planting seed in their garden.]

The Iris base in Southern Malawi is always growing and changing. The biggest development over the last year has been finishing the Joe Martin Skills Training Centre. This is our largest building project yet, and required many skilled hands and minds. It is a structure which is equipped with tools and space for teaching all kinds of trades. One of my personal joys was seeing David Dyck (mastermind engineer/designer behind many of our buildings) install the tools from his father’s workshop. What a legacy!

"My grace is sufficient for you.'" 2 Corinthians12:9

Christians in Malawi and in Canada and all over the world struggle to take hold of that promise. We are no different.  At times the pressure seems overwhelming.

[Children drenched in yet another downpour during the 2015 Malawi rainy season that will be recorded as one of the worst in its history.]