Malawi Update

                                
So, many of you don't know, My family and I went for about two years to a place called Malawi! I encourage you to look it up and see where it is in Africa. We built (dad built, we supported) a agricultural training center! Dad did much agricultural work and bible teachings to groups of hungry people! Mom faithfully encouraged and supported as she blessed all around her. Us kids, myself being 12-14 years of age while there, played with the village kids and ran all over the place playing football(soccer), board games and catching little creatures like monkeys, crabs, and fish. We loved it there and was blessed with the opportunity to go. Dean Kershner is a good friend and gives updates on the place we called home for a short time. Here is an update!  Enjoy!!


                                              Yielding Fruit! October 2014 update of Malawi 

        When people ask me how I’m doing, I frequently quip, “I’m doing too much and not getting enough done.” Is that because I’m redeeming the time well? Is it because I’m a visionary and bite off more than can be chewed? Is it because I’m an American? Probable guessing supposes that your relationship between your priorities and your time capabilities presents enigmas to you as well. Without trying to solve all the riddles, whose answers will be weighed in eternity anyway, let me catch you up to date on some things that have been achieved through God’s empowerment and blessing. For those of you who don’t know, my little baby, Emmanuel is now six weeks old, and still in the hospital, progressing slowly and steadily, but honestly receiving a great amount of emo- tional energy that usually is allotted by my soul for the work in Malawi—thus the long interlude between updates.  Everyone suffering interrogation from me in the country of Malawi confesses that they receive on average 10  20 bags (each bag is 110 lbs.) of harvested, dried maize per acre. The highest yield I have found was around 35 bags per acre. For the second year in a row, Zach’s management, hard work, and the Lord’s blessing of rain has yielded over 50 bags per acre. Last year Zach harvested 53 bags per acre, and this year it is up around 55 bags per acre. If we could duplicate this around the country we would remove Malawi out of the top twenty poorest countries in the world.   A year ago we were also given seed money to pur- chase maize at “harvest rate from local farmers. Collected and stored for about nine months the value doubles. Last year I also implemented a program whereby the training center fronts money to preachers for fertilizer, and they in return pay back with a portion of their harvest.  In summary the Gospelink Training Center as of today has in its storehouses 3,150 bags of maize. For easy math that is 173 tons of maize. For perspective, one of our Harvest Hope homes, with its par- ents and 10 children will eat about a ton of maize in a year. I may be do- ing too much, but God has smiled upon us after, perhaps after humor- ously watching our patience, effort, and perseverance over the last seven years. If that isn’t encouraging enough for you, Gospelink is al- ready doubling acreage to be plant- ed this coming December!
 We feel that for long term sustainability, it is crucial for a Malawian to run the school we in- tend to start. It also needs to be someone that has a vision similar to ours. It needs to be someone with experience, too, and he should have enough initia- tive to take ownership of the project without rely- ing on Zach or Shadreck. Two days ago, we discussed this possibility with a man whom Zach knows from a previous ministry that may fit this perfectly. We are asking God to lead us or to close doors that He knows would be detrimental.
Construction for finishing the pavilion began this week. Sarah Grace wrote about how excit- ed she is for the building to be finished by rainy season. The photo to the right shows them teaching classes with ongoing construc- tion. Only in Malawi! We're going to relocate to the other pavilion.  
Teaching is going very well. Sarah Grace Alex- ander is in charge, and four young women– Kaitlin, Meagan, Rebecca, and Stephanie, are there short term to assist her. Several of the children in class have had lightbulb moments in reading and in English classes this past week. They have bought some games in the last few weeks--Chinese Checkers and Rummicube. The children have a scheduled game time after classes two or three times a week. This is a highlight, and the sim- ple exercise of thinking through cause and effect in games will have an impact on their reasoning and logic skills, both needed desperately in Africa! 
Sarah Grace has started walking the children to school every morning to ensure that they all get there punctually without being delayed by picking mangoes all morning. Last week, Regina was practicing Eng- lish words with Sarah Grace, when she paused and looked up with enthusiasm and declared, “Sarah, to- gether with you, I now speaking English!” 
Please pray for the weekly Bible study classes in the Muslim village. There are many attentive ladies who attend and listen faithfully. Also Mrs. Soko is hav- ing serious health is- sues, which are so far undetected. Please pray for a clear diag- nosis this week.