Plastic bags are: cut into strips and crocheted into handbags, stretched over wire to make a toy kite or decorative flowers, woven into doormats, gathered and rolled into a ball for a child’s toy.

Glass bottles are cut in half, sanded down and used for drinking cups.

Rubber tires are: cut into thin strips and used as strapping to secure loads on bikes and minibuses, cut into chunks and wired together to make doormats, used to make slingshots, fashioned into sandals, cut into thin strips and used to secure bamboo fences.

Soft drink bottle tops are strung together with wire to make musical instruments that you shake or strike, made into earrings, fashioned into baskets and wall decorations using wire.

Tin cans are: pounded out to make cooking pots or pans, used for bug proof food storage.

Scraps of wire are: used for assorted musical instruments such as a bass or guitar, made into a children’s toys such as a wire car, motorcycle or gecko, strung with beads and woven into baskets, used to make beaded flip flops thongs.

We began to learn about many interesting aspects of Malawian mission work.  There are approximately 135 churches, of which 80-90 are vacant.  There are about 15 national pastors serving selected missions throughout the country.

Our HAC (Humanitarian Aid Committee) met with members of the HAF (Humanitarian Aid Fund) committee of the LCCA, Malawi Synod, at the Lutheran Bible Institute (pre-seminary training) campus.  Missionary Paul Nitz (Field Coordinator for Malawi),  Missionary Steve Lawrenz, Pastor Chikwatu (synod president), Mr. Banda (medical assistant and presenter for the Mobile Medical Clinic), and Jennifer Lee (nurse in charge of the clinic) represented the HAF. 

This year the classes are being conducted at the LBI.  Almost 50 Zambian and Malawian pastors, together with about a half-dozen missionaries, have come together for a week of learning, discussion, and fellowship.

When Paul Nitz, field coordinator of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Malawi Synod, heard that I was coming to Africa with the Humanitarian Aid Committee, he asked if I could stay on an extra week to teach.  That is what I am doing right now.  I’ve just finished the second day of a week of teaching.

Africa also appears to be a land of interesting contrasts.  While a national pastor rides in our vehicle talking to or texting someone on a cell phone, a woman 100 yards away is washing clothes in the river. People walking, biking, and using an ox-cart contrast with an occasional motor bike. A family sits under a tree (which serves as their sitting or living room) next to a grass hut, while a short ways  down the road we see a mud hut with an attached satellite dish (although this is quite rare).

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On Tuesday afternoon we visited St. Peter Lutheran Church in Lusaka, where the youth group meets regularly for tailoring classes.  A youth group in Zambia consists of people ages 13 – 35.  The tailoring group meets Mondays and Tuesdays from noon to 4 pm and Wednesdays from noon to 5 pm. Each session begins with a devotion and prayer.  On Wednesdays they conclude with an hour Bible study.  A good percentage of the current attendees are community members who are learning about Jesus right along with the member youth.  A tailoring course will last from 4 to 6 months, and then another one begins.  The leaders of the youth group practice intentional evangelism with the guests from the local neighborhood.  A bore hole (well) also provides fresh water for both members and non-members of St. Peter’s.

Another very effective means of showing Christ’s love is through the Home Based Care ministry.  At St. Peter’s, five women and three men have been trained to provide care for both churched and unchurched people in their neighborhoods.  In addition to caring for their bodily needs, the HBC representatives also bring comfort to the sick and dying with the promises of God’s love and care.  Mrs. Josephine Daka, Mr. Chihana, and Mr. Samson provide dedicated leadership for these outreach efforts at St. Peter’s.  The gifts of American WELS members to the Humanitarian Aid Committee help support this kind of ministry throughout Africa.

Our trip to Lusaka, Zambia, went well. The Lord blessed us (Prof. David Valleskey, Kent Raabe and Tom Hering) with safe travel, and on Saturday morning, Jason Paltzer, the Lutheran Health and Development Program Director, was at the airport to greet us. We are truly enjoying the hospitality of all we meet connected with our missions in Lusaka.

After settling in a bit, we traveled about 25 miles east to the town of Chongwe, where we visited members of Malembo Onse Lutheran Church. Malembo Onse means “All for God.”  Here we saw our first borehole (well), which was originally drilled in 2004 with the purpose of providing fresh water for the church’s study center where pre-Bible institute students can receive theological education. The Lord willing, these students can eventually enter the Seminary to become pastors.  Members of this congregation have also begun a self-help project of raising chickens.  Another interesting way that Malembo Onse members are building bridges is through the operation of a home-based care project.  Numerous members, mostly widows, have been trained in the area of basic health care and then find opportunities to provide in-home care for people in their church and in the community that suffer from chronic illnesses.  In addition, the care providers offer prayers and share the good news of Scripture with those they serve.  We are learning several other ways in which additional aid may be able to more effectively support their efforts.  Mr. Phili, the Church Council chairman, was very gracious in showing us their facility, explaining their work and answering our questions. (more…)

Our rainy season has passed and the grass is turning brown.  Flowers are fading, the air is cool, the wind is picking up, a few trees are dropping leaves and I suppose autumn is in the air - technically anyway. There are no colored maple leaves lining the yards, Indian corn, hay rides or spiced apple cider to reinforce the season though.  It seems hard to acknowledge May as fall. I still refer to this time of year as “spring.” However in the southern hemisphere, near the tropic of Capricorn, and in the British school  system, this is hardly spring. Summer vacation for us was in December. School is in session until July and the temperatures will keep dropping. (more…)

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