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

The First week in Lilongwe!

Well…. the language has definitely been the tester but for the most part it is a huge bridge to being able to talk to people about why I am here and what I will be doing here. Some of the locals can guess why, but they are generally surprised when I tell them I would like to see them throughout the next few months, due to the fact that not many people have the opportunity to stay longer than a couple of weeks at a time. It is quite simple to be able to make conversation with the nationals here but I find it very difficult to get past talk that doesn’t turn into them trying to sell me something, even after I tell them I don’t have money. They think that all white people are rich. They don’t realize this is a poor, just graduated college white boy haha. My partner and I had the opportunity to witness to a couple of guys in Thursday and the gospel was the topic of conversation it was a great opportunity to witness for quite a while, we have started a bible study on Saturday afternoons with those two guys as well as some local guys that sell a variety of things. I am pretty pumped about that. I have gotten very lucky as of yesterday I have a place where I can workout. It is my supervisors house, which if you know me, you know that is very exiting, and! I have found a place with a Olympic swimming pool to swim laps for barely pennies each time. Anyway I am happy about being able to do those things in my spare time. Just a update on the Guard we have been able to see him just twice more since I wrote but I continue to do so in my time here. So please be praying that God provides opportunities to present the Gospel to him continually. Also please pray for the bible study Steve and I will be starting next Saturday and the people that will be their. Yesterday I had the opportunity to see a lot of the country of Malawi, and what a beautiful place it is. Nothing but green luscious backdrops of beautifulness I truly haven’t seen so much green for such a distance.
By Gods Grace, Bryce Col 4:5

Recap: Prayer Requests
Bible Study Starting on February 14th
Opportunities with the Guard
Health of myself and Steve(teammate)
Family at Homeboy

Praise:
Getting Bible study Started

P.S Please don’t hesitate if you have prayer requests or praises or questions!

Arriving In Lilongwe

I arrived back in Lilongwe today, seeing it for the first time since last may was a blessing that I did not expect to have when I got here, but it was a beautiful thing to see the areas I had once before been. To be back and walk those steps in even a slightly greater detail was great, I am looking forward to building relationships with people in these areas where I will be doing most of my hanging out and shopping while I’m in the city. I returned to one area today where I had been before, the name of the area is crossroads shopping center it is a very westernized area with pizza and ice cream and such. But there was one thing that blew me away…. I was walking along the sidewalk and a security guard stopped me and my partner Steve and he said “Muli Bwanji” (How are you) and I said “Ndini Bweno Kienos”(I’m good, how are you) and he said he was fine in English, then he said something that stopped me in my tracks………..”I remember you” I thought to myself oh know should I remember this individual, and he said I remember you coming here with a group of people to eat pizza and you people were very nice. All I could think to myself was (he remembers me!!!!!????)…wow what a impact a person can have on a persons life just by catching somebody’s eye, I was oddly in awe in the fact if he can remember me from months ago, just by watching me, there is no telling what he can remember about our conversations, God can do a amazing work here, Please pray that God continues to open the door for me to minister to Honayes (hoe-nay-ess). Like I said it was a great felling to be back here it was a major sense of aww and disbelief to think that I’m back. All the missionaries had a welcome diner for us! It was funny that most of the dinner was in the dark because the electricity went out for about 30 to 45 minutes; actually I rather enjoyed eating dinner by candlelight. Oh! I get to watch the Super bowl live tonight! One of the missionaries is a football fanatic (Praise God!). Anyway Praise God that I am here safely and that he has already used Steve and I to begin to build relationships with a couple locals already, Pray that those continue, also pray for family and friends back home, and for the missionaries that will be showing us around the next few days. God Bless, Bryce John 5:24