From Husbys - Wednesday

Our Tuesday morning began with a breathtaking view of the sunrise from the Burns’ kitchen window. Looking out across their spacious and very kid friendly backyard, across a valley to the mountains in the distance, we were reminded of our great Creator whose loving eyes are on everyone in all nations. What a privilege to be sharing God’s truths and His love with pastors, church leaders and children here in Malawi!

After Chet served us a delicious breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns and apple juice, we loaded into his pickup to head for the village of Mlengeni at about 8:30. Pastor Brian’s translator for the day, Pastor Kalolo, sat with Rich and I in the back seat. David, the Burns’ adopted deaf and mute son, rode in the back with huge cooking pans and other supplies for the women of the village to prepare and serve a lunch to all the seminar trainees and us as well.

We’ve been blessed by David’s joy and heart to serve. David was a blessing at our first Children’s Ministry Seminar yesterday, helping to turn flip chart pages and to pass out supplies. He especially appreciates the generous helpings of sema or rice and various side dishes served for lunch at the seminars, and so helped me finish the man sized portions I couldn’t finish yesterday. He was amazed Sunday afternoon at the puppets we brought for our puppetry seminar next week and was pleased to try holding and operating one of them. The men constructed a PVC pipe puppet stage frame which we enjoyed testing out even though the curtain hasn’t been made for it yet. David has been enthusiastically clapping along to the harmonica music Rich plays for the Burns’ children and is quickly learning to play the harmonica Rich gave him. He can’t hear conversation but is able to hear enough of the music to enjoy it.

Soon after arriving in Mlengeni yesterday, and while the church was being swept out in preparation for the Walk through the Old Testament Seminar, Rich played his harmonica for a small group of children. When Rich stopped for a breather, I asked the children to sing for us. A woman inside a hut heard me trying to say, “You sing,” and came out to interpret. She was able to convince the children to bless us with beautiful African music. We were in awe of small children who knew how to be the lead singers as other children chimed in with their parts. How beautiful! How God must be blessed by their praises!

And how we continue to be blessed by the African worship! The seminar began, as all will, with lively African praises. Though we can’t sing the Chewa words, we love joining in with the clapping, motions and spirit of worship. By the time worship, prayer and introductions were over, the small group had grown into a good sized crowd. I was privileged to get to sit among the women on their side a few rows back this time instead of up front as I needed to at our seminar the day before. Rich stayed at the back on the men’s side, often accompanied by children from the village who ventured inside to join in the motions that go with the teaching.

Some of the adults were a little more hesitant at first to join in the motions, but gradually warmed up to the idea. The motion based teaching couldn’t have been a better system for Rich and I not knowing the language. I was spellbound by Pastor Kalolo’s animated way of interpreting Pastor Brian’s teaching.. For those of you who attended the seminar at CCF, this one began with the beach ball demonstration and the diagram of the Old Testament structure. That chart, as well as posters Pastor Brian painted on Sunday of the books of the Pentateuch, were clothes pinned to a line strung across the front. It was fun practicing the motions with them to learn main events of the Old Testament. Pastor Brian connected well with the people and his first seminar was a great success.

Mid morning we broke for water and a snack of rolls passed out row by row. We drank bottled water, but the others drank from plastic cups we brought in the back of the pickup. Soon after his roll, Rich began having some stomach trouble that, thankfully, got better as the day went on instead of worse.

When I went to call Rich for lunch, I found him playing his harmonica in the back of the pickup surrounded by about 50 children all clapping in time to the music. By this time, Rich had developed the system of playing one song and then enjoying a song by all of them. And so it went throughout the rest of the day whenever he found an opportunity.

Even though he backed out of the meal at the pastor’s home, due to the previously mentioned stomach trouble, he was able to share in the visiting there. So far, our village meals had been served in the church buildings. This time, it was great to be in a home, though it was much larger and nicer than the typical. We enjoyed visiting with the several pastors in attendance. And the food was excellent, the best Malawian food we’ve had besides what the Burns have prepared.

Following lunch, Pastor Brian took questions from the trainees as the first day’s worth of Walk Through training was completed earlier. Most of the questions concerned marriage. God gave Pastor wisdom and he was able to direct them to the Bible for answers. May God lead these people to follow God’s ways in their marriages. This is very difficult in their culture and a great need for prayer.

Around 4:00, we all piled into Chet’s pickup again, only this time 13 extras hopped up in the back for lifts to their homes. Many had walked for miles in the morning to attend. Other attendees had arrived on bikes. One pastor rides his bike about 1 1/2 hours. Singing from the back of the pickup blessed us riding on the inside. Pastor Kalolo also thought of English hymns for Rich to play on the inside of the truck. Those in the back would bang on the truck when we reached their stop so Chet would pull over.

Near home, Chet stopped to buy vegetables at the huge market that stretched out along both sides of the road. Rich and I hopped out too to cross the street into the Mozambique side of the market just so we can say now we’ve been in Mozambique.

Entering the Burns’ gate is like coming to an oasis. Maggie, the dog, and the other 3 of the Burns’ 9 children come running. (look for more about the Burns’ children in a later blog entry.) They played baseball with Abusa Boone coaching until dark, which comes at 6:00. We feasted on another scrumptious Burns meal of chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes and peas. Then after viewing the photos, we tumbled into bed about an hour earlier than normal, very tired from the full and rewarding day.