Info for Feb 7th of Multiply

Mulitply Part 1 Section 1

Soon to come. The Gospel

I will soon be posting some videos, in order to portray the Gospel. I hope that you are able to gain something from it.

Depths of what is

It has been a while since hte last time i have posted pn here and a lot of things have change. I have noticed a lot of things since my time since i gradusated from college and spent a few months living in Africa. I big thing that i have noticed from people is that motivation is the perception of desire. A desire to accomplish. A desire must be realize through realization and opportunity. I for one have many longs and am very motivated to pursue many desires in my life. But i pray they are not in vain. All glory and honor belong to God in the pursuit of Motivation. A year and a half ago i came home from a life a simplicity and seeing and living a life of complete simplicity which i yearn for and run from still. Being back "home" i have completed half of my graduate education which honestly has never been a desire of mine but in order to do what i feel God has gifted me to do i am motivated to do this.
I pray as we continue in the non-simplistic society, that you and I pursue the desires of our hearts with the motivations coming from Godly desires and opportunities. We must all realize that when I and we pray for this and then pursue these ideals. Our very lives could be turned upside down by what we yet cannot comprehend. The truth of the fact is. When we pursue the truth of what our lives should look like, we then will not have clue where to step next because of Gods guidance into the uncomfort of the unknown. Then we can learn to relax in the adventure of trust of God for his Glory To The Nations that have not yet known HIM.

Telling the work of God Priceless! Gods Beauty…Absolutely Immeasurable!

This consists of Information of Gods workings in the villages of Zundi, and Cheweza (chuwayza). As well as information on the magnificent beauty of the largest Mountain in Malawi Mount Mulanji and info along with. There is always more than one way to tell a story. Even more ways when you encounter the various moods and trials you undertake while telling or hearing it. We must know that within a story there is always a story try to show itself through. Through the quietness and the stillness the truth and the awe of amazement is there! Do you see it?
God is at work in each and every village I have been in; therefore he is at work at Zundi. He is working through the Chief of the Village their at Zundi. Here in Malawi it is very counter cultural for a chief to submit his surrender to a particular religion 100% or to even a greater degree a specific church within that religion. So through that you can only imagine the impact a decision like that can have on a village. His wife has already decided to join but that didn’t come till after a group of chiefs in the area had met. God is currently working on the chief to make a decision; he had already spoken of wishing to be apart of the church we have planted! The rest of our (Steve, Dalitzo, Myself) stay in Zundi village, it poured down rain. That did not stop us from having a good time and teaching the Word of God, though it was limited. We still had the opportunity to climb two smaller mountains in the area, and hold teaching sessions once a day under the straw roofed church. As well as go swimming with a couple of villagers in a swimming hole nearby (parasite infested I’m sure ).
The village of Cheweza Steve and I both seemed to agree was the most enjoyable for us. I don’t really know why, though we did get a lot of teaching done. I truly believe people saw God while we were there. It is with total honesty that this village will continue to have a huge impact on the people in and around their village. This village and Zundi village God gave me the opportunity to emphasize the urgency for them to evangelize in the areas near and far from them. Using the scripture from Acts 1:7-8 as the main text but also using Matthew 28 and 2nd timothy 2:2. I had talked about Jerusalem being their surrounding area, Judea being land of Malawi, Samaria being Africa. Sadly though this would be the last area we had the opportunity to live among the villagers. Because as I type on April 8, 2009 I am preparing to leave for Zambia to help with new missionary training tomorrow. Back to Cheweza, the second we arrived there was a funeral taking place so we sat in on that as to give and show our support however we could. While we were in the village, many of the chiefs gave their testimonies of faith in Christ, (remember what I had said about a Chief announcing faith earlier) which was very exciting for us! GOD IS AT WORK! Just LOOK CAN YOU SEE IT? It is all around you! Stop and breathe your breath, don’t you feel that life he has given you!
I also had the opportunity to see a Glimpse of Gods beauty when I climbed Mount Mulanji. It was rather difficult due to the fact that it was raining the entire time we were climbing. Just 500’ from the peak we had to turn around (against my worse judgment ). The last 1000’ of the climb was pure rock face and very slick due to the constant rain. The mountain just consumed a massive area, Ill put a couple of pictures on here for you! What blew my mind why I was climbing the first day (most strenuous day) we ascended about 6000’ from about 2200’ to 8200’ We saw so many people carrying big planks of cedar wood about 8 feet long as well as big bundles of wood probably weighing anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds! On their heads! In which they received about 50 kwatcha for every 20 pounds they brought back or so. Which 50 kwacha is about the equivalent of about 35 cents.
I have had many eye opening experiences the past few months, I have seen God Open eyes and I have seen Satan deceive right in front of me from people in the very same crowd. I’m saddened that the Village ministry is finished for now, but excited about helping with the upcoming new missionary training called 40/40. I’m not sure what Internet connections ill have while in Zambia during the training. So if you don’t receive any updates from me for a while don’t be upset. I just don’t have access to be able to send you any. I haven’t forgotten you, just unable to contact you. I feel like I am leaving out many things that God has shown me, in fact I know I am but I just don’t know what. I will leave you with this. God is here, God is there, God is everywhere, Sometimes and maybe even right now we have no idea what God is showing us and it just doesn’t make sense. Just know that God Breaks us so that HE can draw near to us, yes sometimes we must be miserable so that we can learn to lean on God. Sometimes God takes us to peaks of Joy, just to show a little tiny glimpse of the Total Joy we can have with him in Glory! Your Joy is true when it comes from Christ! The Things we receive which bring us lasting TRUE JOY are of God! The things that are of temporal happiness are of us, and If God is the one who saves us how can WE ever perfect US! (Galatians 3:3)
By Gods Grace,
Bryce D. Stafford

Praises:
Missionaries Mat and Janet Lawrence
Opportunity to present the Gospel to so many people
People that have made decisions for Christ
The villages of Zundi, Cheweza
Health
Church Family at Home First Baptist Church Locust Grove
You
Prayer Requests:
Continued Broken heartedness for the people
Prepare people to here the story of God
Continued health
The upcoming 40/40 training for new missionaries we are helping with (April 22nd to May 22nd) in Zambia
Mission Group from NSUBCM coming May 19th and their safe arrival at election time.
Presidential Elections for Malawi May 19th
Safe Travel to from Victoria Falls the 10th through the 13th
Friends and Family back home
Job when I get back

If there is anything you would like to ask or praises or prayer requests please fell free to ask. God Bless you all.
Email: brycestafford@gmail.com
Blog: www.brycedstafford.blogspot.com

God Draws near to who…those who have broken hearts.

Villages of Oonconlara and Nkoko are where the bulk of Ministry has been the last couple of weeks. I also had the opportunity to Join Missionaries on lake Malawi, for a prayer retreat. The Prayer retreat was a blessing in many different ways. I learned a lot from just being around the missionaries and simply watching them. The lake was beautiful. So was the fellowship and camaraderie between the families of missionaries. There were many beautiful fish as well as, beautiful hearts desiring to serve the lord, looking for help and regeneration to go back to their respective places to do ministry throughout Malawi and Mozambique. Also this is picture perfect place to do some Scuba diving, but I was limited to diving off the big boat and snorkeling, the snorkeling was beautiful though, Absolutely beautiful!
Oonconlara was quite a amazing place. Ministry there was very similar to the villages of Chakakala and Chileeza, which I had, wrote to you about before. The biggest difference other than just different faces was the landscape of the area. It was set in a valley surrounded by beautiful green foothills. That were breathtaking, there was this one guy about 21 years old that has stolen my heart. Since I have been here over a couple months now the new is wearing off and I’m getting used to the beggars as well as the horribly tattered shirts, which undeniably still breaks my heart. Even still this one young man has something in him, a glow and an excitement that I had not seen from many people in all the villages we have been in. The young man was like I said about 21 he was lame, and walked all the way from another village (several k’s I think) every morning and afternoon to hear the teaching of the Holy Bible. He had such a desire to hear the word, he done what it took just to hear it, and to see the people presenting it. That to me was the highlight at being in Oonconlara Village, though there were many praises while being there. When was the last time we, worked so hard to here the message of the good news, JUST TO HEAR IT! Draw near to God and God will draw near to you. This is a special man after Gods heart. I wish you could have seen his smile, when we taught about prayer.
Nkoko village was honestly not a beautiful village by any means. The first hour we had arrived there we had learned that, there was to be a funeral in the morning. With that in mind that changes the aspect of the ministry type all-together. It basically consumed much of our time. We did have the opportunity to teach that night. The next morning we awoke and the villagers had asked me to speak. Though I didn’t have a desire to speak at a 9 year olds funeral, God gave a opportunity to speak and present the word so of course I done it. Once we arrived to the funeral, which was in the afternoon, it was still yet a couple more hours before the actual “ceremony” took place. Once it had started there were about 1000 people that showed up as well as about 18 village chiefs (I only know this because one of the translators with us is a statistician). Thus you can see Gods’ hand in this. I then presented the Gospel. It was a great opportunity and an honor. We also helped carry the casket and bury the young child; I had never felt so torn in my life than I had at those moments during the funeral. During the funeral I wanted to just get up and run back to my home in Oklahoma as fast as I could with nothing to stop me, because of all the mourning and moaning and yells for why! Going on all around the village, but at the same time, the exact same time, I never felt a stronger love for a group of people because I know God had us their to share his story. That is a perfect example of how I am nothing and God is everything, the perfect battle of flesh with the one and only God. As we left the village we found out that Steve and I made a profound Impact on that village. Look at God work. You never know where you will make profound impacts in people’s life if you let God do the walking for you.
My time here has been amazing. God has been teaching me about his love for people. It can be overwhelming to the point I want to act like all the death and poverty around me doesn’t bother me, but to be honest how can it not. I want to be the tough guy and never act like anything bothers me, but it becomes hard when you have beggars all around you. Knowing that you have something they don’t. They just don’t know that something is much better than money could ever be. That something is the death that turns life into an eternal life that can never be tattered, or ever taken away.

Praises:
Opportunity to present the Gospel to so many people
People that have made decisions for Christ
The villages of Oonconlara, Nkoko
Health
You

Prayer Requests:
Continued Broken heartedness for the people
Prepare people to here the story of God
Continued health
The 2 villages left that we are ministering in (Zundi, Chewaza)
The upcoming 40/40 training for new missionaries we are helping with (April 22nd to May 22nd) in Zambia
Mission Group from NSUBCM coming May 19th and their safe arrival at election time.
Presidential Elections for Malawi May 19th
Friends and Family back home
Job when I get back

If there is anything you would like to ask or praises or prayer requests please fell free to ask. God Bless you all.

The Villages, in one word…Dirt! Gods Dirt.

The last 2 weeks or so, my partner Steve and I have had the opportunity to live and minister in the villages of Chakakala, and Chiliza. Ministry went extremely well, there were many people that attended our teaching sessions over topics like, “the church”, Repentance, Discipleship, Assurance of Salvation, as well as teaching them about testimonies and teaching them how to tell their testimony. Using stories like the prodigal son from Luke 15, the Antioch church from Acts 11, and as example for testimonies we used Paul’s from Acts 9 While we were teaching we emphasized the entire time the command of spreading what we know and what they have been taught. The teaching seemed to be accepted to a great degree. When it comes to going and teaching we used Jesus calling his disciples to go and fish from Matthew 4, as well as the great commission from acts 1:8 and Matthew 29, as well as Paul’s instruction to Timothy in 2^nd Tim 2:2. That is our basic teaching at each village. For the most part I teach the adults and the church leaders and Steve teaches the youth, and spends a lot of time doing relationship building with them through sports, in which he has had a big impact with them. When the opportunity arises I get to go play to haha. Though those are the main topics of teaching there are many other areas in which we touch on if the time presents itself. Thank the lord they love the teaching! That definitely keeps me going when I think they have drained my last bit of wisdom for the day, there yearning for the knowledge of the word of God continually reminds me why I am here! But also everyday I get up and God continually renews my passion to teach no matter how long we went the day before. Teaching alone is not draining but living with the villagers in the village is just as draining, I love it but it takes adapting. I love camping and I could do it all the time, but camping AND adapting to their lifestyle as well as their culture is a whole other story, I enjoy it but you have to adapt as the days go on, I will not go into that but ill give you a few details of a typical day, and share a couple of interesting stories. First you are woken by certain noises like the noise of a chicken or a pig oinking by your tent or possibly a Wack! Wack! When people are hauling tobacco from the field back through the village being pulled by donkeys. The most obvious noise and the most privacy debasing noise lol, is the whispers of anywhere from 20 to 200 children wondering what the Azungu is doing sleeping in so late (keep in mind at this time it is prolly about 5:30. So then it is time to start the day, I walk out of course to shower and begin the day, which consists of a brick wall around me up to about my chest and a Lil’ bowl of water which may or may not be warm and possibly a cup but probably not, and I will start to shower and then when I start the show is on as well ha! As soon as I start I become the main attraction, I’m not sure what they are saying but I’m sure it has something to do with “EVERYBODY COME THE WHITE MAN IS SHOWERING”. Which that in its self is a interesting day as you saw lol. But the basic day starts with teaching about 9am till about 11 then lunch about noon. Generally lunch consists of peanut butter sandwiches (good thing I like peanut butter). Then “relax” till about two for another session of teaching till about 4. About 5 o’clock is when we start to setup of the equipment for the HIV/AIDS videos as well as the Jesus Film Video, the first night is the Jesus film and the last night is the AIDS videos. So generally about halfway through the showing of those films we have dinner, and that consists of a MRE or something like rice and chili. That is a typical day in the village. But you must know it is a great thing that we are not just relaxing on our “relax” time because there are always children handing all around you and wanting you to tell a story of Jesus, but in that I need prayer because sometimes I just need my space and haha that just doesn’t happen in the culture of the “bush” the city is a little different, they will at least give you your space, or if worse comes to worse then I can just go to my house, which is in a large walled area.

I also had the opportunity to go to Lake Malawi just the other day, which was beautiful. So I will try to send pictures of that, I forgot to bring my camera with me today when I came to do email so I will try to send it just ASAP after I send this email. I could give you many more details about the “bush” ministry or the city ministry, but if I did that could be pages long. If you have any questions about either or comments then please do not hesitate! Your prayers are evident here in Malawi please do not stop!

By Gods Grace,

Bryce

Prayer Requests

Village Endurance

Bible Study on Saturdays

Continued Unity with Steve and I

Missionaries’ endurance throughout Malawi

Opened hearts to hear the word of God

A family in the village of Chiliza lost a 2-year-old son to malaria

Unreached Bimba Tribe in Northern Malawi, And for opportunity for a discovery vision mission to them soon

Praises

The support of you

Many Salvation's (AMEN!)

The opportunity to speak in front of a group of about 1000 students to present the Gospel

A group of pastors came and baptized about 300 people in the Lilongwe area!

God growing me and stretching me as well as showing me more true Joy everyday

Difficult Times

It Raining…Its Pouring…when does it stop?

Well my friends and even up to date it has been, a wonderful time here in Malawi. I have become much more acquainted with the city as well as the people and also becoming more acquainted with the culture. They are a very friendly people, and are very, very welcoming to outsiders or “azungus” as they put it in chichawa, basically just meaning foreigner. This week has gone by very well, besides raining everyday. Which is fine with me because I like the rain. One day I believe it was Monday I walked across the city in the pouring down rain, I guess God thought I stunk, I should have taken a shower that morning I suppose. Of course it didn’t look like it was going to rain when I left my house, so of course I got soaked but it was fun and good times. I have also been witnessing to some business men more near the post office, this Saturday after lunch we are having our first bible study with them, so please continue in prayer about that. Several of them are coming with questions; please pray God gives me grace and wisdom as well. This coming Wednesday, Steve and I begin our village ministry in which we will disciple new church leaders, and will be living with them for a few days. This should be exciting but the local career missionaries said to expect a lot of down time. We will be doing some chronological bible storying, as well as many “African bible studies” which is a new type of bible study I hope to bring back to the states with me as well. It really allows Gods word to infiltrate your heart without much being said outside the word of God within a small group of about 4 to 8 people yearning to learn. The first village we are going to goes by the name of chakakala. There was a new church planted their in May, there have been a few people go back and ask how they are doing but this is the first time, servants have been back to really help train leadership for the church. So I am sure that they are more than ready and willing for us to come, and learn about their culture, as well as teach about God and experience from his authoritative word.
Today Monday Feb. 16th, I had the opportunity to do some traveling, to help set up areas in which several pastors from Oklahoma are coming to baptize many, many people because of the lack of manpower here in Malawi. That is a praise and a prayer at the same time, God is showing his power here in Malawi but much prayer is needed to see more workers for him grow up in his spirit to become strong leaders, what is truly needed is for many more of local people to step up and do what God has called them to do, so please pray for that. Saturday’s Bible study went really well, I had 4 people come and participate and this coming Saturday we will be studying Romans 10, it is a well rounded chapter in my opinion that can set us of in the right direction for this bible study. Also I had the opportunity this last Saturday to climb Mount Bunda and it was gorgeous, so I have attached a couple pictures.
By Gods Grace,
Bryce

Praises:
Upcoming Baptisms
Bible study off to good start
Health
Team Unity

Prayer Requests:
Health
Team Unity
Prepare Villages of Chakakala and Chiliza
Saturday Bible Study
Safe travel Pastors Flying Hear from Oklahoma
God to grow up leaders in Lilongwe area!
Family at Homeboy
For my sleep as Steve snores