Day 11
Sept. 5, 2010
Lifeline Malawi Mission House, Ngodzi

Sunday, church day!  This morning we all went out two by two to
village churches and all had incredibly rich experiences.
Sr. Gertrude and Connie left early (6:45 am) to go to early mass at
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.  The people were so friendly,
coming out to meet them as they arrived and making them feel very much
at home. Apparently Connie really can sing and she started “Mulungo
Ali Pano” as a solo, but soon others joined. They were invited into
the priest’s home after the service.  They discovered that the church
had been built by Canadians.

Sarah and Victoria were welcomed by a jubilant choir who escorted them
inside the church and seated them.  The most significant moment
happened at the end of the service when a man who had come into the
service late confessed that he was Muslim and after hearing the
service and testimony decided to give his heart to the Lord!  This was
an immediate and direct answer to prayer in the service just moments
before.  After this, the whole congregation broke out in celebration
much like we would imagine the angels do in heaven when one lost
sinner comes home.  At the end of the service the choir again escorted
Sarah and Victoria back to the waiting van.

Brian and Marilyn went to the Matowe church, the same village where we
are doing the clinic reconstruction.  Brian brought the message and
they too experienced the incredible worship and music that we are
becoming accustomed to in African churches.

Hank and Chelsey also had a wonderful time.  Their highlight was a
young boy (approx. 11 or 12) who played the drum incredible well and
sang a lead part in a song presented by the youth that truly impressed
us.  We just wanted to pack him up and take him home; what a gifted
boy.  Chelsey brought greetings and Hank preached.

This afternoon we went to Livingstonia which is a resort on Lake
Malawi north of here.  On the way we stopped at the “carvers” where we
bartered for (many) souvenirs.

This evening the team invited the Lifeline Malawi staff to a movie
night featuring “Faith Like Potatoes.” Popcorn and pop was served and
the staff and families were challenged in their faith by the movie,
which is based on a true story of a white farmer set in Zambia and
South Africa.  We couldn’t but notice the contrasting cultures as we
watched it with our Malawian friends.