Jesus Loves Malawi February Newsletter, 2012

December - Our second Christmas here was just as strange and unusual (by Canadian standards!) as the first one. There are very few decorations in the stores here. The weather is hot and rainy in December, and the country is turning lush and green. So, getting into the Christmas spirit takes some effort. Christmas music on CD and a good childrens story helped. So did the extra decorations brought by Oma and Opa (Steffis parents) back in November. In order to find a Christmas Eve Candle Light Service we drove all the way to Blantyre (1.5 hrs.), and it was so nice to sing the old Carols (in English!) with our Lutheran brothers and sisters. But a highlight for our family was once again 'going up the mountain." Two friends of ours, Mr. and Mrs. Carr, who are retired agricultural missionaries, live in a village up on Zomba Mountain. They run games and sport activities for the children and young people of his village every year on Christmas day and always appreciate people helping out. It is the highlight for hundreds of people there, and draws many visitors. The prizes for the childrens races are simple pens and notebooks for school, but you should see the competition! Steffi and Sarah helped by distributing the prizes, and Dean helped by being a judge. Our children got involved by running in the races. And afterwards we enjoyed a lovely British tea with Mr. and Mrs. Carr on their patio overlooking southern Malawi. It wasnt your typical North American Christmas Day. But it was one worth remembering for many years. January - Drought, Wind, and Floods: January was very hard on some of our churches. Very early in the year we received a call from one of our pastors asking for prayer because strong winds had toppled one side of their church. Later we were in a village to do some lay leader training and show the Jesus Film. The pastor there showed us their very stunted maize plants (corn). After receiving early rains they planted their crops. But then no more rain came. The seedlings withered. With the next rain they planted again. But once again there was not enough rain, and the plants died. Most people there had planted four times. That weekend turned out to be very wet, but we didnt complain. Instead we thanked God and asked that the rain would continue coming. But with hunger season already under way, and no hope of an early harvest, it looks as if people are going to be surviving on very little for a long time. The very next weekend we received a message from a pastor in the far South, where our brothers and sisters had the opposite problem. Standing water and heavy rains in that area caused many houses to collapse, as well as one corner of their church. Thousands of people not too far from there were displaced by flooding, and all their gardens and crops were washed away. Help eventually arrived, but life was very difficult for a time. And, due to the unsanitary conditions, there has been a severe

outbreak of cholera. As if that wasnt enough, all of these difficulties have been added on top of rising prices, failing economy, political unrest, and various strikes. Most of our people are not directly affected by the political unrest since they live in remote villages. But, in general, the problems are pervasive and affect every sector of society. For example, the government run hospitals have been severely hampered by drug shortages, power outages, water outages, and strikes. Imagine a hospital going without water for a week, or an ICU unit without power! Transportation costs have risen sharply, and the rising cost of food affects everyone, especially the poor. The price for maize, Malawis staple food, rose 50% overnight when the govt. raised the price at their warehouses. So, Malawi needs your prayers, that God will provide for the people here, and for leaders to have wisdom, temperance, and foresight. February - In Feb., Dean taught an intensive course (double classes in half the time) at Great Commission Bible School on how to study the Bible, using the book of James. It was a difficult subject for most of our students, as it introduced them to a structured method of thinking more deeply about the meaning of the Bible based on its own context. The pace was stiff, but by the end of the course we all had a better understanding of the book of James, with its many treasures, and a few more tools in our toolbox so that we can be workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth. The highlight at the end of the module was to see two of our students graduate after years of hard work and sacrifice. Most of our students have families who stay behind while they come to Lilongwe for four weeks at a time, three times per year. Concern for their families weighs heavily on them while they are away, as their families may face illnesses or financial hardships without them. So graduating is so much more than an academic accomplishment it is a culmination of many acts of courage, faith, sacrifice, and commitment. Another bit of good news came to us from one of our pastors in the southern lowlands. Many people here have never been to school, and cannot read. We had given this pastor a digital recording of the Bible called a Talking Bible. Pastor January brought us a report and three pictures showing three different listening groups gathered around the Talking Bible. And he says that many more people are interested! Praise the Lord! Please continue praying for the people of Malawi and their pastors, that Gods Spirit and his Word will deeply penetrate their hearts and change their lives.
Once again we want to thank each of you who support us in various ways. Our presence here would not be possible without your persistent prayers and faithful giving. We trust that God will bless you in ways that you could not imagine. Yours in His Love,

Dean and Stephanie Babcock Christopher, Jonathan, and Sarah