Prayer Letter: December 2019

Christmas carols in over 30ºC heat is a new experience for our family. This time last year I was headed home after spending 6 weeks here in Mzuzu, starting work and preparing for our big family move. Now Mzuzu is a second home to us. We have friends, colleagues, a local church, a house and a garden. It’s amazing how in such a short time you can form so many connections.

At the end of the year it is difficult not to take stock of achievements. While we’ve seen new projects start and some others grow, there are a great many other hopes that still lie unfulfilled. Last month I lead the devotion at our monthly missionary workers fellowship and reflected upon one of my favourite sections of scripture:

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

(Habakkuk 3:17-18)

The process of writing these letters always makes me want to share some new milestone or achievement. Perhaps because I want to look productive, or because I want these letters to be an encouragement to you. The truth is life and ministry here is no different to that at home. There are seasons of growth and harvest, there are times of labour and preparation, and there are times where we do not see the fruit we had hoped for. Yet we are joyful in God our Saviour.

I will end the year in the office still waiting to hear back on funding proposals for projects addressing corruption, gender based violence and access to justice. The uncertainty is a frustration to me but it is a bigger issue for colleagues who are unsure if their jobs are secure. Even more so,
we can clearly see the need for these projects in communities around us.

Looking back over the year, though, we celebrate the progress made in other areas. Communities affected by the overly aggressive tactics of large mining companies have stronger voices to fight for compensation. We’ve been able to build on our support for girls at risk of child marriage. We’ve seen survivors of gender based violence rebuild their lives and find financial independence through small business loans. We’re working within the city of Mzuzu to ensure the city council works for the benefit of citizens, particularly in managing waste and recycling.

We’ve seen God moving through raising up communities to address the injustices they experience, through opening opportunities, through facilitating ‘chance meetings’ and, above all, for sustaining us in all that we do.

Jacqueline has more time since Morven started nursery a few months ago. This has given her opportunities to branch out in her service here also. She’s supporting a fellow missionary from Canada who is producing a training manual to help prevent back injury, particularly in women who labour in the field and at home. Some of the team involved in the crisis nursery she has been visiting have branched out to start a new project to support families or guardians caring for babies who have lost their mothers, so they are not forced to give them up in the first place. Jacqueline is helping with the financial and operational aspects of getting the ministry up and running.

Eilidh is coming to the end of term here, with much excitement about her birthday. Turning 6 is a big deal and has featured in her bedtime prayers for some weeks now. She really seems to be thriving, enjoying school and has made a great number of friends. We’re rarely finished breakfast on Saturday morning before friends from the neighbourhood arrive and the day is taken up with playing teachers, building dens on the konde (porch) and getting covered head to toe in the red dust and dirt of Malawi.

Morven has found her voice now and her own independent spirit. She was definitely ready for nursery and took little time in adjusting to the new routine. She shares her big sister’s vivid imagination and, when not joining in with the big kids, is happy in her own wee world of play.

Tikusambira Chitumbuka, pachoko pachoko. We are learning Chitumbuka (the local language) slowly, slowly. We are having lessons with Mr Nyirenda, a retired teacher, a couple of times a week. We also have the encouragement of Kettie, Felix, Amos and Wiseman, who help us at the house. They are all good at challenging us to put our skills into practice.

As a family, we are looking forward to the arrival of Jacqueline’s parents in a couple of weeks’ time. They will be with us for two weeks over Christmas and New Year. I’m sure they’ll see a change in the children, but probably in all of us after a year here in Malawi. We hope for a time of rest and recuperation as a family, and for some new adventures as we explore a little more of Malawi during our time together.

We couldn’t reflect back on the year without giving thanks for the friendship and support evidenced through prayers, letters, emails and donations. Plans are coming together for our home visit in Spring next year, but in the meantime the support from afar has been a great encouragement to us. Thank you.

That just leaves it for us to offer you our prayers for a blessed and joyful Christmas. Everything achieved this year is thanks to God, who saw our world’s brokenness and made himself flesh to bring its healing. Those challenges that remain unfulfilled in our work, will only truly be resolved when Jesus returns. For now, we labour with Him and you together.

With every blessing for a joyful Christmas and a fruitful new year.
Gary, Jacqueline, Eilidh and Morven x