What a blessed day we had yesterday as we traveled to Chinsapo Village along 7 or 8 other missionaries and ABC college students to take part in the children's ministry that the Lord has started there.
Our friends, Mirjam and Grace, of International Bible Fellowship Church here in Lilongwe, have been doing children's ministry in Chinsapo village for some time. Grace moved from Tanzania a while back and began going to IBF church where she and Mirjam met. Grace and her husband moved into Chinsapo village and God showed these women a need in this area that they could help fill. The children here have no school. There is a school they could attend but it's much too far to walk. So most do not go.
Mirjam and Grace began teaching Bible stories and giving out bread to about 50 kids who would come and listen each week as they sat under a tree. The ministry began to grow. Now there are over 600 children who are coming to listen as the Gospel is shared each Thursday afternoon! The ladies also hold women's literacy classes 4 mornings a week where some of the mom's of these children are coming to learn how to read and write! There are around 20 women coming each day.
A few other missionaries and ABC students join the weekly children's outreach which is helpful in that they are able to break the kids into smaller groups and teach in a more personal way. They sing songs in Chichewa with Mirjam's guitar and the kids even get a coloring sheet to color each week.
Singing praises to the King!
The village chief, while NOT a Believer, is very supportive of having the kids in these activities. He even provided a small parcel of land for the women to build a structure (two rooms and a teachers house) for the children. During the rainy season the classes have no place to meet so this structure is a HUGE blessing! The ladies have also purchased additional land in the hopes of building a school for the children in the near future.
Sweet friends!
Coloring their Bible page
Last week a photo was posted with the walls of the building up but no roof. There was simply no money to put a roof on (and the rains could begin any day now). Mirjam sent out a plea for funds to purchase 160 iron sheets. Within 4 days God provided the money! And this week as we arrived there was MUCH rejoicing as the roof was on the building!
The kids playing in front of their new building!
A big thank you to those who helped fund this new building!
Bryanne Jones fitting right in in Chinsapo!
At Grace's home we met a baby girl, also named Grace, whose mother has recently died. Grace is helping to take care of this beautiful baby (the father was never in the picture). They made baby Grace a swing out of a maize sack!
Beautiful Grace
SM in front of Grace's home.
Mirjam and baby Grace!
Leaving across the "sketchy" bridge! I mean, it was like walking on a balance beam to get across this bridge!
So the photos that you see here are the result of God working in a mighty way through Grace, Mirjam, and all of those who volunteer and support the work going on in Chinsapo Village. Praise God for what He is doing here! And please pray for the children, and women of Chinsapo as they continue to grow and learn God's Word. Pray for a change of hear in the entire village that Christ will take control and come into the lives of all who live there. Pray for Mirjam and Grace as they labor in such a might way here! And pray that God would show us how we can help and support the work that He is doing here! To God be the glory!
