God is Shining Brightly!

Cover: Mother and child in Bangula, Malawi

"Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence" (Isaiah 64:1, ESV)

Exploring IMC Around the World

We took a trip to see what God is doing through IMC in *******, Cambodia, Malawi, and Mozambique.  In each place we saw the goodness of God shining brightly amidst great darkness.  God’s kingdom is huge and diverse, and He is at work especially where we do not expect it.  He does not need us but delights to partner with us.  Open the eyes of our hearts Lord, so that we may know the hope to which you have called us.

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‍In *******, we had the privilege of worshipping with a group of leaders who do not usually have the freedom to worship loudly.  They came hungry for time with God and remained focused and alert the entire time we were together.  Any invitation for prayer caused a stampede as everyone flew out of their chairs to receive.  Every meal became an opportunity to impart and to receive.  Joy and sorrow mingled as God brought healing through his great mercy.  ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.’

‍Cambodia

‍In Cambodia, we met street children whose hunger was physical.  We visited the communities where Iris Phnom Penh hosts kids’ clubs and cares for families in distress.  These communities are crowded and often have insufficient sewage and water facilities.   We brought milk and prayed with a family whose youngest child is malnourished.  The mother had just walked to a shop to purchase a single diaper which she held in one hand.  Urban poverty is hard.  Garbage and overcrowding add to the problems.  The Iris team works against human trafficking by transforming communities through love, relationship and support.  I was so moved by their willingness to return repeatedly to dark places to bring the light.  IMC missionary, Jen Jewett, brings the light in the Chomno coffee shop, situated in the redlight district, offering excellent coffee and conversation to anyone who walks in.

Malawi

‍Malawi welcomed us home again.  I put the pool to good use on most afternoons, enjoying time with the children.  It was good to visit people in their homes on and off the base to build connections.  My Tuesday Ladies’ group still meets to pray each week and they were overjoyed to receive audio Bibles.  We met in the old church beside the site of a new church building. The fabrication of the open-web-joists for the new church continued during this visit, with the help of young men trained at Iris, another step towards our goal of completing this building in 2026.

Everywhere we went, hunger was evident.  Malawi is really struggling and prices of even basic foods are inflated.  On our final weekend, Rolland Baker and Surprise Sithole flew in to bless and encourage the church.  The weekend was full, with meetings for overseers and leaders, followed by a big Sunday service full of dancing and joy.  It is a mystery how joy and suffering are often found together where there is Christ.  

Mozambique

‍Our last stop was Maputo, Mozambique, where we visited the Zimpeto Iris base, started by Heidi and Rolland Baker in the nineties.  We were graciously hosted by Steve and Ros Lazar together with their amazing national team.  I was so encouraged to meet many Iris graduates now working at the Iris base.  We saw leaders mentoring young people all over the place, in the kitchens, in the workshop, in the auto-shop, in the sewing room.  We walked around the Maputo garbage dump, where God first expanded David’s heart for the fatherless in Africa.  Same dump, twenty-three years later, garbage has grown into a mountain.  People live and work on that mountain, searching for cardboard or plastic to recycle, and hungry for God.  Every time we stopped, people gathered around, between the dump trucks and excavators, to hear about Jesus and receive prayer.  Where God is, even a mountain of garbage becomes a holy place.

‍Canada

‍Meanwhile, in Canada, Iris GTA is on the move.  Our team hosted the ‘First Responders BBQ’ at the York Regional police Headquarters in Newmarket, an excellent opportunity to bless and encourage our first responders.   The Fall Festival, for kids in the church community and different friends and neighbors, brought more than seventy people out to enjoy games, prizes and family fun.   Each week, there is a Men’s breakfast at Saints on Main in Stouffville and Sunday morning home groups.  Coming up soon, Iris Ministries Canada is partnering with several other missions to visit a Cree Nation community northeast of Edmonton.   David will join that trip and brave the cold!

God is at work in the world and in our villages. Open our eyes, Lord, to see what you are doing.

Thank you for being part of this journey with Iris Ministries Canada.

David and Joanna Morrison

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