Y-Malawi: Far as the Curse is Found

"How can we become the people through whom God reconciles and heals the world?" 
                                             --NT Wright

It is still midmorning in Malawi when we arrive at a small village, Nthandire, about an hour outside of Lilongwe, the capital. We have come over dirt roads, passing women and children walking barefoot with water jugs, wood for fuel, and other bundles. The midmorning temperature is sweltering. In this subsistence maize-growing region of a poor, landlocked country in southern Africa, families cling to life on an unforgiving terrain. This year has been a lot more difficult than usual because the rains have failed. The crops are withering in the fields that we pass. 

If the village were filled with able-bodied men, who could have built rainwater-collecting units on rooftops and in the fields, the situation would not be so dire. But as we arrive in the village, we see no able-bodied young men at all. In fact, older women and dozens of children greet us, but there is not a young man or woman in sight. Where, we ask, are the workers? Out in the fields? The aid worker who has led us to the village shakes his head sadly and says no. Nearly all are dead. The village has been devastated by AIDS.
(From Time Magazine cover story, March 14, 2005, "The End of Poverty" by Jeffrey Sachs.)

This morning, with the joyful sounds of Easter Sunday services still ringing in our hearts, 24 people from 5 churches and one international relief agency are busy making preparations for a trip to Malawi, Africa. 

The planes leave two different coasts of our continent on Wednesday.  Most of us have never been to Africa, among us is one teenager and an eleven year old (my son, Brooks).  There is also a doctor, some nurses, pastors and relief workers.  But as we prepare to fly into Lilongwe, we are all--young and old--clergy and laity--simply learners who seek to find a way to "add our light to the sum of light" that we believe God desires to shine in this tiny corner of the world that has been so devastated by AIDS, and reels under the weight of extreme poverty. 

For the first time since I traveled to Haiti, Dominican Republic and the Yucatan Peninsula as a young youth worker, I too get to be part of a short-term mission project.  The seven members of San Clemente Presbyterian are leaders in our mission ministry, dedicated to leading future trips, and prayerfully asking God to lead us to a wise, enduring partnership that will do some genuine good in God's name. 

We are part of a fledglingly partnership that was initiated by Phil Jemmett, Shawn Parr and the leadership of La Jolla Presbyterian Church in San Diego, CA.  Phil and friends approached World Vision and through their creative work together have come up with a partnership where 10 churches will draw on their administrative expertise and experience to establish an area development project in Nkhoma and develop partnerships with five ministries in the area to provide the most wholistic Christian ministry possible. 

Our team goes to learn, define the partnership, make decisions for our churches and set the groundwork for future teams.  As a reader of this blog, I would ask for your prayers for our team and for our churches.  For all of us this is a most significant investment of time and resources.  But even more, we believe that the opportunity that is before us in Africa, is also an opportunity for our churches to become more like Christ as we do the work of Christ.

I have been charged with writing a team devotional.  From Wednesday March 30-April 9 this site will feature excerpts from the devotional so that you too can pray with us and consider also what God would have you do as part of his work to bring love and healing to some of the most broken places in the world.

The beloved Christmas carol "Joy to the World" declares that the Lord has "comes to make his blessings flow, far as the curse is found." As followers of the Lord, it is our job to extend that blessing and healing throughout the world.

Tomorrow, I'll give some more background information for your prayerful consideration.

Comments

[Tim Thompson]

May God go with you and the entire team as you embark on this worthy endeavor. I will look forward to your postings and as I check out your site each day, my prayers will be lifted up on your behalf.

[Rev John Telfer Brown]

Tis... Tod! G' day! My prayers for travelling mercies and changed lives, are with you and the team! Looking forward with great excitement to the devotionals!
GBYAY

[KC]

That's awesome Tod! I will be in prayer for you and your church.

[Bill Rice]

You are in our prayers and we wish you God speed to you and your team. We look forward to following along on your trip with your devotional journal.

Thanks for inspiring us over Easter. May the Spirit be with you and the team.