April 2010 Southern Malawi Ministry Centre Update
"The clear blue skies with intense sunshine return once again over Bangula as the rainy season draws to a close. The rains have not been much to brag about this year, at least here in the southern district of Malawi. In fact, the lack of rain has caused great concern among thousands of families who have had their crops destroyed by the drought during December and January. Some fortunate enough to have found more seed, have persisted, planting again, yet have very little to show. It looks like it will be a difficult year, again.
"We are used to difficulties here. It seems as if we have faced a never-ending stream of challenges over the past seven years here in Bangula. We have learned, and are still learning, to keep looking up, just as desperate as those who suffer around us, to the unlimited, resourceful, compassionate and faithful Father in Heaven who wants us to cry, Abba. Faithfully, each time, God hears our cry and graciously provides, pouring out his blessing on the poorest of the poor, and draws many into His family.
"Many people hear about the disaster stories but are unaware of the day to day ministry and developments that have taken place. Joanna has encouraged me to write an overview so that you, supporters and friends, will have a better understanding of what’s happening at Iris Africa in Malawi.
'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen' Ephesians 3:20-21.
"I hope you will be encouraged, and join us in giving praise to God. Tyamike wa Mulungu!
[Patrick and other boys in the shadow of a towering Baobab tree.]
Bible School: Established September 2003
"We continue to train 50 pastors per class, three times a year. They come from all over Malawi. While in session, they live in dormitories at the mission base in Bangula. Most of them are very poor subsistent farmers. We provide each pastor student with transport as well as money to supplement their family’s needs during the time the pastor is at school, otherwise, they would not be able to attend. They come with very little – some arriving with only the clothes they are wearing. We provide them with basic needs such as soap, bed sheet, bug net, toothbrushes, as well as Bibles, notebooks and course materials. When available we give clothing and shoes from containers that have come from Canadian donors.
[Bible School pastors discussing a question togetherin the Christian leadership class.]
"We pray that our pastors are transformed by God, becoming Christian leaders with integrity and faithfulness, with faith and desire to begin to care for orphans and vulnerable people in their own villages.
"Since we began the Bible school in September 2003, we have served 1,030 student pastors (505 students in 1st year, 300 students in 2nd year, and 225 students in 3rd year).
Children’s Homes: Began September 2005
"There are now 52 children residing in our care (the oldest is 17 and the youngest is 1 year old). We have established four homes on the ministry base with 12-15 children in each. Malawian house parents have been recruited and trained to care for each home. We only receive children who are most desperate, meaning, both parents have died and there are no relatives or neighbours able to care for them.
[Two of our Iris children with their grandmother in front of their dilapidated house in Bangula the day we brought them home. Their caring grandmother died two weeks later.]
"We are currently developing a second children’s village on the ministry base in order to accommodate another 50+ children. Two of the four new homes are nearing completion. We hope to start bringing home new children by June 2010.
"We also support 60 orphans in the community in a variety of ways from providing monthly food support, clothes and medical help, to providing school fees for older secondary students.
"Twice a week there are children programs for community children. 150 children spend the afternoon with us playing games, doing crafts, listen to Bible stories and then enjoy a meal before going home. Many receive first aid treatment for wounds or sickness.
[Mo meeting with orphans in Chisamba Village after delivering a donation of maize, beans and soup.]
Children’s School: Since January 2007
"Iris Africa Primary School currently serves students from pre-school to standard 7. We will continue to add one level each year up to standard 8. This school consists of two school block buildings with eight classrooms and teachers offices. We have made provision for a computer room so that in the future we can involve computer training in the program. The school serves the children on the base as well as 15 others from the community. This school will continue to grow to accommodate up to 200 children.
[Visiting artists training the students drawing techniques.]
Church Ministry:
"Iris Africa has planted over 500 Partners In Harvest churches throughout the country in poor, rural villages. There are approximately 25,000 church members throughout the country. Our ministry team travels throughout each region encouraging the churches with Biblical teaching as well as weekly evangelistic outreaches in rural villages. At times during the year we host large meetings that are attended by thousands of people who camp out under the stars for three or four days worshipping, listening to preaching, and receiving prayer ministry. We transport people from rural villages in large trucks and feed them during the conferences. There are overseers appointed to each district of Malawi to provide leadership and accountability to area pastors.
[Youth choir dances at church conference held in a village in the Lilongwe area.]
Feeding Program and Care:
"Currently we have 3,000 families registered in our monthly feeding program – approximately 8500 people (5,000 of whom are under the age of 12). The Lord has faithfully provided food each and every month for the past six years. Recipients are registered and are the most vulnerable in the villages – widows with orphaned grandchildren, the elderly, crippled, blind and those suffering with HIV/AIDs. On the 15th of each month, people gather at our food distribution site in Bangula to receive food. It is most common for us to distribute maize and beans but at times we have been fortunate to receive containers filled with rice/soya meals, pasta, canned beef, energy bars, fruit cups, and cookies.
[Woman's name is checked as she proceeds to receive food gifts.]
Farming:
"Food security in southern Malawi is a real problem and most people suffer annually with hunger. Sporadic rains, droughts during planting seasons, and poor farming practices all contribute to low yields. This 2010 season has been a disaster. After planting, there was a prolonged drought during December and January causing complete crop failure. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (www.fews.net) has reported that dry spells have destroyed field crops in 13 southern districts in Malawi, our district of Nsanje having suffered the worst.
"We have been able to sustain the maize and vegetable gardens on the Iris Africa base with irrigation. These fields continue to serve as demonstration fields to people in the community. Two times a year, we host workshops with qualified instructors from Farming God’s Way (www.farming-gods-way.org) who challenge local farmers to re-think their farming practices. On the base, we have seen positive results from adopting the principles taught. Recently, we hosted a farming workshop and had 80 students including pastors, village chiefs, and village farmers.
"It is our desire to become more sustainable here in Malawi and therefore have been more aggressive with farming. In Chipita Village, in the highlands 15 km from the Iris base, we planted 2 hectares of maize in early February when the rains finally started to fall. Here we are dependant on rainfall as there is no means of irrigation. This crop continues to grow well. Currently, we are trying to acquire another seven hectares of land near the ministry base in order to increase our crop production.
"We have also planted 800 jatropha plants with the aim to develop bio-fuel for vehicles and glycerine for making soap. This is an experiment with the hopes that this will lead to another sustainable program for Iris Africa.
[Participants at a 'Farming God's Way' workshop hosted by Iris Africa learn new planting methods.]
Aquaponic Fish Farm: Since November 2009
"It is very exciting to have the new Aquaponic Fish Farm development on the Iris Africa ministry base. Kelvin Sitati, a Malawian who was trained at Morningstar Fisheries in Florida, USA, is the manager. Jeff Hageman and team from MFM spent six weeks at the end of last year constructing this project which was funded by Canadian donors.
"The first fish were introduced into the tanks in November from the local Shire River. There are two different varieties of talapia that we are raising, Nile Talapia and Mozambique Talapia or Blue Talapia. The latter is preferred as it grows faster. Now five months into the program there is still so much we are learning. We are taking great care establishing this artificial eco-system. The breeding tanks have been producing fry since January. We introduced the first generation of ‘Iris Africa’ born fish into the grow out tanks a couple of weeks ago. There are now over 2,000 fish plus hundreds of new fry.
"Perseverance continues to be the theme in trying to be successful growing vegetables in this system. We were discouraged initially when trying to grow too much too soon before the water had enough nutrients in it to sustain plants. Several attempts failed. We are having some success now with lettuce, but more time is needed before we can declare a victory. Seedlings are grown in the ground beside the tanks, under shade cloth. The shade cloth produces excellent results, protecting the seedlings from the intensity of the sun.
"Kelvin Sitati’s teachable spirit and his prayerful submissiveness are wonderful characteristics that will surely lead this young man to leading a very successful and fruitful fish farm.
[Kelvin shows off some tilaia from the breeding tanks.]
Disaster Relief:
"When needed, and relief goods are available, Iris Africa responds with disaster relief. Our Steyr and Pinzgaur trucks are built tough to carry a load through challenging terrain. We also have two 16’ aluminum motor boats to assist during times of flooding. In past years, Iris Africa Malawi has helped victims of famine and flooding in both Malawi and Mozambique.
[Steyr truck loaded with boxes of rice meals.]
Facilities & Staff:
"Development of the Iris Africa ministry base in Bangula, Malawi began in 2003. In the beginning it was wild bush covered by endless termite hills. It has been exciting to see this wasted land come alive - transformed into fertile land for farming, and buildings established to facilitate Kingdom fruit. We now have over 80 full time employees serving in the ministry and 10 missionaries. Matt Smith (Canadian) is a builder and helps oversee our construction projects. Sue Silva (Canadian) is trained in early childhood education and helps supervise our primary school as well as providing care and programs for our Iris children, and children in the community, prison ministry and care of widows.
"LeRoy and Cindy Metzger (American) serve the ministry in a variety of ways including teaching pastors, overseeing community projects and evangelistic outreaches. Jerry and Linda Jones (American) joined our team last May and are providing leadership for the Iris Primary School. More recently, Rebekah and Daryl Martin with their two boys have moved from America to give leadership in hospitality. David and Joanna Morrison (Canadians) are the directors for Iris Africa in Malawi.
[Cecilia, one of the Iris children, stands in the midst of a healthy maize field at the Iris Africa base.]
Developments on the Iris Africa Ministry Base Since 2003:
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Over 6 hectares of property in Bangula, Malawi
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3 bore holes with 20,000 litre water reserve capacity
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Electricity including 200 Kva transformer and 45 Kva back up generator power.
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3 dormitories for pastor students (including 1 women’s dormitory)
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2 classrooms for Bible school students
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Pit toilets with showers and clothes washing station for pastor students
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4 homes for children’s homes with central kitchen (Children’s Village #1)
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Morrison’s house with small garage for vehicle maintenance
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Missionary house (4 individual apartments for missionaries)
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Guard house and 1.1 kilometer brick security wall around property
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Container storage (6 x 20’ containers and 3 x 40’ containers) with loading dock and lift crane
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Primary school building for grades 1-4, another for grades 5-8 with teachers’ offices
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Administrative office (for director, operations manager and administrator)
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Satellite internet
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Kitchen, eating area, and large hall for church services and assemblies
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Playing field with soccer goal posts
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Demonstration fields growing maize, vegetables, and fruits
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Vehicles: 3 Pinzgauer trucks, 2 Steyr 4 Ton trucks, 1 Toyota Dyna lorry truck, 5 Yamaha 200cc motorcycles, 1 Toyota Surf, & 1 Pajero Sedan.
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Irrigation pond (also used to ‘cool off’ and for children’s swimming lessons)
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Iris Africa has provided metal roofing for 30 Partners In Harvest churches throughout Malawi.
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Iris Africa Malawi also owns land near Lilongwe (central region) and in Chilumba (northern region). In Chilumba there is a pastors’ office and meeting room, and church built by Iris Africa.
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Bore hole on Lilongwe property.
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Visitor accommodation at Iris base (sleeps up to 20 people)
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Staff house for Timothy Makwalo and his family (director of Bible school)
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Electricity sub station (for directing electricity to developments on extended property)
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Aquaponic Fish Farm (with breeding tanks, grow out tanks, and vegetable growing tanks)
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Missionary Housing – house for Daryl & Rebekah Martin and their family
[Aerial view of Iris Africa base in Bangula (photo taken July 2009).]
Developments Currently Under Construction: (Iris Africa base in Bangula)
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Children’s Village #2 with four homes and a kitchen (to accommodate another 50+ children)
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Outdoor children’s playground
[New house for girls in Children's Village #2 at Iris base under construction (March 2010).]
Planned Developments For The Future: (Iris Africa base in Bangula)
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Additional Primary School classroom for pre-school class, as well as library and tutoring rooms.
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Food distribution facility at church compound in the village (food storage, office) plus stage and facilities for large church gatherings
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Agricultural development involving irrigation
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Maintenance garage for servicing vehicles and carpentry shop to train people in community
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Warehouse for short term storage of relief food for distribution.
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Pastors’ office and meeting room on Iris property near Lilongwe for central region ministries
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We also have friends in Australia and Canada who are volunteering their time and expertise in developing a plan for a Bangula water reservoir to facilitate an irrigation scheme for the region. Although this development is still in the early stages of collecting data, it generates some hope that one day in the future there will be a greener Bangula with less hunger.
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Pinzgauer trucks to replace the existing aging vehicles
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Jatropha press facility and bio fuel storage
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Soap making factory/facility
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Bakery
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Basketball and netball courts
Greatest challenges faced on a daily basis:
"Enduring high temperatures, dust, sickness, poverty, and hunger continue to plague the southern district of Malawi. Progress through development is slow when corruption lurks. Poverty holds people captive when they continue practicing witchcraft, promiscuity, and drunkenness. People are very open to Christianity, quick to respond to the Gospel of Jesus, but slow to change their traditional ways and beliefs. The majority of believers in the church have a very shallow faith. Much discipleship is needed.
"Finding trustworthy leaders with integrity and faithfulness to delegate areas of the ministry to is another challenge. However, we are encouraged by the growth we have experienced after years equipping and training the nationals. There are many Malawi nationals now in senior positions.
"Here are a few examples:
Peter Nkhoma (Operations Manager at Iris Africa)
Timothy Makwalo (Director of Iris Africa Bible School)
Manuel Alli (Manager of the food distribution program)
Chenella Mkandawire (Administrator)
Lameck Peters (Bible school administrator)
Hedson & Fanny Nsitu (Iris Children’s Homes senior parents)
Henry Kenanson (Bible school teacher and pastor)
Kelvin Sitati (Fish Farm manager)
"Change is happening one person at a time. We recognize that transformation of character is a slow process. We continually depend on God to sanctify us all by the power of Holy Spirit through and through.
"To be continued as the Lord leads."
[Iris child content, happy, full of life, and enjoying being loved.]
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