A nice party

After waiting a week, we were finally able to collect our long-awaited luggage from the airport. Everything had arrived safely. Well, now we had no excuse to wear the same clothes for a week. Which we don’t really mind, because then you don’t have to keep thinking about what to wear.
Finally, we could read from our own Bible again instead of the Gideon Bible from the hotel. Another lesson learned: always carry your Bible in your carry-on luggage (even if you have a night flight).

Last weekend, our friend Uiliam and his team from Brazil arrived in Malawi. It was another wonderful get-together. The next day, we rented a minibus and, in true African style, crammed 24 people and luggage into it and sang our way to the conference in Chikwawa, a town in the lowlands. That’s where the conference and baptism service would take place.

The services were held under a few trees near the local pastor’s house. It was decided to teach the men, women, and children separately during the day so that they would feel more comfortable.
Among other things, we were given the women’s group to train. How simple it can be. Sitting in the shade on a tarpaulin on the ground, with the occasional chicken parading by with her chicks and a few goats bleating as they passed by.

The ladies were completely absorbed and drank in the words about being precious, identity, being one with Jesus, and the power of words. We also had them proclaim: I am loved, precious, and blessed.
Since they love to sing and dance, we had them compose a new song with these powerful lyrics. Within five minutes, a song was created and the celebration became even greater.

Of course, things in Malawi are not as structured as we are used to. Everything always turns out differently! So we too are constantly trained to be flexible.
For example, the car that was supposed to take us from the hotel to the conference suddenly had an oil hose explode in the morning. Or the planned break from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. easily ran until 3:30 p.m. because preparing the food with two giant pans simply took a long time. Anything is possible.

On the last day, a baptism service was held at a nearby reservoir. More than 20 people wanted to follow God completely and were baptized, including 10 pastors. They were immediately taught how to baptize others. It was a big celebration.
A lot of training is still needed to help people grow in their relationship with God and walk with Him in their daily lives. But that is why we are here.

Uiliam has left again with his team to hold conferences in various places in Mozambique, and we are going to train leaders in small groups so that they themselves become strong and can then train the believers. What a privilege and wonderful work it is to be able to pour into people’s lives.

It is wonderful to be able to use your talents to bless others. That is why it is important to do what you were designed to do. Because then everyone can flourish.
Don’t waste years doing what you weren’t designed to do. Time is precious.

Arjan is also happy and can use one of his talents. The week before the conference, Byson presented us with his problem. He doesn’t have a job, but he has learned how to make different types of liquid soap, such as dishwashing liquid, floor cleaner, toilet cleaner, etc. There is enough demand for these products, but things kept getting stuck.

By sitting down together, they identified the stumbling block and how it could be easily resolved. He simply lacked a plan. He simply lacked a plan.
Arjan was able to help him with a simple business plan and point out where he was going wrong. The light bulb went on, Byson was extremely grateful, and we gave him some start-up capital.
The very next day, he received an order for 24 liters of floor cleaner and 20 liters of toilet cleaner. With these new insights, the plan can now be put into action.