March 2007 Southern Malawi Ministry Center Update
Update: March 2007
Iris Malawi is active in feeding the hungry both physically and spiritually. As a result of the flooding this year we have had to increase the physical feeding. It is amazing how God has used people from Australia, Canada and the United States to provide food for his hungry children. The food seems to arrive just as it is needed time and again!
At our Bible school we are training up pastors to feed on the Word. We are delighted to have Brandon Walker and Cindy and Leroy Metzger helping us out at the Bible school. The pastors love to sit and discuss, asking questions about their reading. They are only with us for three months, but they grow dramatically in that time. It is exciting to send them back out into the villages, knowing that they are taking what they have learned into places where we would likely not get to. Our female pastors are thrilled to see their new dormitory going up. It will be good to have them living on site with us.
Our children’s homes continue to thrive. Of course with twelve children put together as a family, there are the inevitable squabbles and storms, but overall they are growing in love. Our two new children’s homes are just about ready, but we are continuing to search out the right people to parent these homes. In God’s perfect time he will put these families together, and we are excited as we press on.
Our primary school building is going up fast, and we are looking forward to a building where our kids can be trained in wisdom. At the moment the classes are scattered around the property wherever there is a covered area for them to sit. One group even meets in our garage. This school will eventually serve the community as well as our Iris kids, and so we are looking for the right teachers and a principal. Sue Silva has been invaluable in her help with the school and the children’s homes.
What is next? We have plans to build a kitchen/dining room facility next, followed by a medical clinic, staff housing, visitor’s dorm, warehouse for food distribution, as well as more churches and orphan homes in the villages. Building takes time and constant supervision, which is why we take on one project at a time where possible. Recently we were able to build new toilets at the local public school - a great encouragement to both teacher and students!