Life in Transition

We have been home on furlough for about three months now.  There are two months left before we return to the mission field.  We have been enjoying our time with family, the comforts of our home and the love of our friends.  We love the fact that we can visit Target and Chick-fil-A whenever we want.  We love that our power and water are NEVER off.  We love the easy life that most take for granted living in America.

Do we miss Malawi?  YES!  We miss our ministry, we miss our friends, we miss the Rainbow kids who have become our adopted children (all 52 of them).  We cry as we learn that two have broken arms, one is being disrespectful, one is dealing with medical issues that are new and scary.  It's hard being away from them!

We miss the knocks on the door before we've even gotten out of bed.  We miss the chance to minister to those in need, those who have no other choice but to ask for help.  We miss seeing the obvious work that the Lord is doing through our amazing friends and the ministries that they are starting!  And yes, we even miss the occasional power outage.  Times like that, when all electronics and lights are off, and we sit around in the candlelight as a family....those are times when something magical can happen.

I was recently feeling conflicted about how I feel being back in America.  I do miss Malawi.  But I also love being in America.  I didn't want to, honestly.  I wanted to long for return to Malawi.  I wanted to be disgusted at the prosperity and ease and overindulgance of life here.  But I'm not.  There are times when I roll my eyes as I listen to the gripes of some of the western world problems. There are moments when I see the way Satan is attacking my homeland with such a passion that I cringe. There is a hidden darkness that is unbearable and it's getting larger.  But for the most part I'm very comfortable and happy.  Isn't that wrong?  Shouldn't I be disgusted?  Shouldn't I be ready to change our plane tickets and get back to the work the Lord has called us to in Malawi?

I emailed a friend and fellow missionary who's been on the field much longer than we have.  She encouraged me in so many ways.  She said she dealt with the same feelings on her first furlough.  Based on what others had told her she expected to feel bitterness and resentment for the "easy" life.  She felt guilty for enjoying her time in America.  But God showed her that He had them in that place for a season.  And that loving being where God had planted them was ok, no matter where it was.

I have two homes.  And I love them both equally.  God has called us to serve in Malawi for a time.  How long?  Only God knows.  But I love Malawi and I love our work there.  I love it with a passion.  I also love my home here in Mississippi.  I love our church and our friends.  I love the fact that we can get to all of our family within 4 hours.  I love our country and I cried when the National Anthem was sung at the Superbowl last night.

You know, I've realized that it's ok to love both places.  This is God's plan for us at this moment and we are to be sensitive to where He has us right now!  We aren't to long for our other home here on Earth.  We are to long for our heavenly home!  And when it's time to return to the mission field in Malawi we will be ready.  God will have us prepared and rested.  For now we rest in the fact that we are in His will, in His place for us, and that we are here for a reason. May we be sensitive to the ministry God has planned for us in both places.  May we follow His will for us daily.  And may we rest in comfort knowing that He is a God who loves us, protects us, and has our future mapped out every moment.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Jill

Consider it pure joy....

This week has been hard.  I'm not sure if our minds and hearts are just ready to be home (we have 8 weeks left until furlough), or if the 16+ hour power outages each day are taking its toll on us.  We've had power for an average of 3 hours per day since Sunday (it does come on while we're sleeping and yes, I've been up at 2:30 am washing clothes).  And the times when we do have that power differ each day.  So we have to be ready at a moment's notice to cook, wash clothes, charge batteries, jump in the shower (because living at an orphanage with 65 other people causes our reserve tank of water to drain pretty quickly), etc.  Night time is the hardest.  Usually by that time the power has been off for 14 hours already and now the kids need baths, food, and bed so Mommy can settle down and get some relaxation.  It's hard to do with no lights, water, or power.  No rest for the weary.  Rumors are vague as to how long this power shut down will last.  Escom is working on one of their generators. Some say two weeks, some say until December.  It's Malawi, so you never know.

But God has taught me a few hard lessons through this week.
1) Patience.  No, I did NOT pray to be taught this lesson.  But God is working with me on this in a major way!  Some days are better than others.  But living in Malawi you HAVE to have patience or you'll go crazy.  It's something that can't be explained.  You just have to experience it here.

2) Peace.  I have some moments of peace and some moments of complete melt down.  Those moments can be hours or even seconds apart.  One minute I'm ok and the next I'm crying on the floor of my bathroom.  But I'm getting there.  God's not through with me yet.

3) Joy.  Now please don't think that I've been all smiles and cheery this week.  Far from it.  I've pouted, I've griped, I've whined, I've cried.  Yep....I sound like my kids!  But I've also come full circle to see the joy in my circumstances.  Last night my kids managed to have baths and a hot supper thanks to a few minutes of generator time.  JOY!  And they sat around in the candlelight coloring in their coloring books as they waited for bed time.  JOY! We all pull together and work very hard to get everything done that we can while we have power.  Teamwork!  JOY!

4) Self control.  Even when my insides are screaming for justice....I mean we DESERVE power all the time, right?  Even when I want to fall on the ground kicking and screaming after the power goes out just as my corn bread goes in the oven....I can't let my kids see that.  I have to smile and figure out a way to not let my emotions get the best of me.  Poor Jeremy, I still need a little more self control around him since the second the door closes I let all my frustrations and emotions out on him.  I'm thankful he just sits there and listens.  He doesn't judge or lecture.  He's pretty amazing.  But I'm learning.  Pongono-pongono (little by little).

5) Faithfulness.  God is there!  He's right beside me.  When I'm so tired I can't move, I ask for His strength.  When I'm so angry I can't see straight, He's right there taking over my emotions.  When I'm sad and homesick, missing the conveniences that so many of my friends and family have (like power, water, and Chick-fil-A) He's there to remind me that I can do this.  His strength is real.  His love is powerful.  And His faithfulness is all I need.

Wait, that list up there looks oddly familiar.  See, we've been working very hard with the kids on showing and demonstrating the Fruits of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 says, "but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control..."  We even have a tree up in our living room that the kids can put a sticker on when I notice evidence of fruit in their lives.  Apparently my teaching needed to be more aimed at myself.  The Lord has shown me that I am the one who needed to be reminded to bear fruit.

So now we have figured out a few things.  We cook mid-morning and have our meals lined up waiting to go into the oven when the power comes on. We gather our clothes and have them in the wash and ready to turn the washer on.  We bathe and eat no matter what time of day it is.  If there's water and hot food then it's time to take advantage.  But mostly I've learned to be thankful for this simple trial!  Simple!  So many of my friends are going through life threatening illnesses, children in the hospital, death among their family.  There is so much hurt and pain in the world.  I'm thankful that I've been given this trial at this time.  When I put it into perspective I realize that complaining over no power is NOTHING compared to some of the hurt and pain that others are experiencing. God has shown me this:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4

To God be the glory! And bring on the power outages Escom!  I'm ready!

This morning AJ and I made up a bunch of food to have ready to put in the over once the power came back.  Bread rolls, cinnamon rolls, cheese garlic bread, and chocolate chip cookies to name a few.  Be prepared!

Dishes waiting to be washed when we get water back.

A list of things to do (because I tend to get anxious and forget) when power is back.

AJ figuring out how to spend the quiet peaceful time.

Our Fruit of the Spirit tree.  Artistically it's very sad.  But the kids love it.  I guess I need a tree of my own. ;)

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.