A Malawian/American Engagement!

The engagement party for Lucas and Tiya was held on Saturday, April 1st right here at Rainbow.  Hundreds of people from all over the community, including dozens of chiefs, members of the Malawi Parliament, and other honored guests, were in attendance.  The above picture shows the festivities as they were just getting under way.

SM and Veronica

The Rainbow kids were given a little bit of money in order to have something to throw into the basket when it was their turn.  The whole party different people were asked to give money in support of the new couple. 

The chiefs, dignitaries, and other honored guests were seated in chairs under the tent.

Jeremy and I acted as Lucas' parents for the event.  Jeremy was asked to give a speech for Lucas. In it he welcomed Tiya to the family.

Lucas and Colins (one of the oldest Rainbow kids and Lucas' best man) just arriving at the party.

Nasson is Tiya's uncle but he has been her father figure since she was a small child.  He and Glory raised her as their own. 

There was an exchange of chickens from one family to the other.  Then a cooked chicken was brought out and they ate it together.  

Some of our oldest girls enjoying the festivities.

Glory holding baby J during the festivities.

Lucas and Tiya in their two different outfits of the day.  Beautiful!

The happy couple

This was the stage that was built for the engagement party.  There will apparently be three stages built for the wedding!  The wedding will take place on June 1!  

The pictures below got out of order but I hope you enjoy:

Tiya and some of the other girls entering the party covered with a chitinge.  Lucas had to pick which girl he thought was Tiya.  He purposely picked wrong a couple of times as he was told to do.  It was funny.

Some of the Rainbow girls and other girls dancing as Tiya entered again.

The fruit dance.  All of the girls were carrying baskets of fruit and they gave them to people who were asked to donate a certain amount for the basket.  We received the basket from Tiya. 

SM and CJ with Chief Nkhangamila and another chief (whose name escapes me).

Lucas and Tiya after the party!  Yay!  Success!

Jeremy handing the happy couple the money collected.  J was in charge of counting and sorting all of the money. 

Lucas and Tiya

Happy couple!

Battles and Truth

False religion
False Christianity
False teachings
False doctrine
...these are many of the problems we are faced with here in Malawi.  We hear daily the results of years of well intentioned but misled pastors who have led our friends down the path away from Truth.  The gospel is here (in Malawi) but many times you find that it's a watered down version of something that the people have made up to fit into their culture.  Sure they claim to be Christians.  Some reports say that as much as 80% of the population in Malawi claims Christianity.  Those here know that this figure is VERY misrepresented.  There are many religions that claim to be Christian but we know they are NOT. All of those religions have sent their own missionaries here and have many followers.  Many here follow Christianity (or their own form of it) and also follow the traditional beliefs of their people.  We call this "Christianity plus".  It means they believe some parts of Christianity but add their own elements into their religion as they want. They look good on the outside but really they don't know our Savior.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." (Matthew 23:25)

   

The Prosperity Gospel is one of the major sources of false teachings in our country.  Here you have very rich and powerful "preachers" from America teaching that if you believe enough, give enough, are good enough you will have wealth, health, and prosperity just like them.  Malawians are lining up by the thousands to  follow this false gospel.  With Malawi being one of the poorest countries in the world this can be seen as their ticket out of poverty.  It's cruel.  And it's not biblical in the least. I remember our pastor from home, Dr. Greg, preaching a series on this false religion.  There are mega churches, books, tv, and radio programs all devoted to the "name it/claim it" gospel.  Many of our friends have mentioned reading some of these pastors' books or listening to their sermons.  We see their quotes all over facebook. It scares us that so many people are being led away from the truth and they don't even know it.  And that's just people in America who have access to the truth a lot easier sometimes than people here in Malawi.  

A very good article that we shared today on our M-1 Ministries page shares some of the struggles that we face with this false doctrine on a daily basis.  A rapper has "called them out" naming the teachers of this false doctrine one by one in his song. Of course there are many more.  

Prosperity in this life is not what God has called all of us to. 

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?" (Luke 9:25,)

It doesn't mean that God loves some more than others.  It simply means that we will all have many forms of sufferings and blessings.  This is a broken and sinful world.  His only Son came to the world and suffered.  Why would we expect anything else for ourselves.   

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:19-21, 23,)

Paul also says:

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:6-9,)

The key verse for M-1 Ministry Worldwide is Ephesians 4:4-6.  It says: 

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

This is what it's about.  One God, One Savior, One Gospel, One Way!  Please pray as we face adversity, trials, and conflict on the field.  God's Word WILL overcome. Pray also for the ministry that we've been called to begin.  Satan tries to attack in many forms.  We're thankful that our God is so much stronger.  It's time to suit up with the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, and the breastplate of righteousness.