The Harvest is Plentiful but the Workers are Few

Greetings from Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa! I know I said I would write, but this is the first opportunity I had with internet connection since we arrived. Please be assured that all your loved ones are doing great and having a wonderful time as they are being stretched and used for service in the name of Jesus Christ.

After our first hosting family and first worship experience, we have spent most of the first week in the Mangochi district of Malawi. We had some wonderful opportunities to do some manual work and work along side our brothers and sisters in Christ. The work wasn't all that hard or long, but all really enjoyed interacting with the church community and singing Chichewa praise songs as we worked. At one place we had a lot of children, so the team really enjoyed interacting with them and yes teaching them the chicken dance song.

In addition to the manual work, we went to four evangelism rallies at different churches in an area that is heavily influenced by the Muslim religion. Our brother Moses from South Sudan was one of the preachers along with Chimwewe (Happy) a Malawian preacher. Both have background in the Muslim religion and were were helpful to reach out to the community there in terms they understand. God's word was preached with love, enthusiasm and passion. The rest of us also offered encouragement and prayer. One of the evangelism rallies was in a village and the audience was children. I couldn't believe the sincerity and the willingness of these children to cry out to Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior for the first time in their life.  As a crowd of children sought personal prayer our team responded faithfully and prayed over these children.

We enjoyed a nice stay on lake Malawi and also were blessed to take a boat ride on the lake out to Birds Island to see Eagles.  On Saturday, the team was dispersed and picked up by their sister church host families for a 3 day stay and worship at their sister church. Alex and Sarah, who don't have sister churches went to Limbe CCAP and Chigumula CCAP. I was blessed to spend time at Kawiya CCAP and Mackogolo CCAP. As I write this, they should all be arriving back at Grace Bandawe, were I will be headed soon.  This week we will head to Majete Game Reserve, Mulanji Mountain and St. Andrews CCAP. Our trip is winding down. We leave on Saturday at 1:00pm (Malawi time). We have had a great time, but will be glad to get back home to our loved ones.

Ambuye ndi Wabwino! (The Lord is Good)

Carl Suppo

The Warm Heart of Africa

After 3 flights and two days of travel, we have finally arrived safely in Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa! We recieved a most hospitable welcome with singing, dancing and praies to God. If you have been to Malawi before, then you know what I am talking about. It was great to see the reaction and the overwhelming joy from the nine people on our trip that are new to Malawi. Shortly after we arrived the delagation from South Sudan arrived and we met up with them at Grace Bandawe. Then we had formal greetings, speeches and refreshment. In a few minutes we will have orientation, followed by dinner and then much needed rest.

It was great to meet the South Sudan delegation of Moses and Cherly (that is the name that they have given us to call them). Unfortunately, the third member the pastor was unable to make the trip as he came down with a sudden illness. But the remaining two prevailed.  In the group from Pittsburgh and South Sudan, we do not have even one pastor, but we trust that God will be working in us and we are anxious to see where he will take us. It was wonderful at the formal greeting as brothers and sisters from Malawi, South Sudan and Pittsburgh shared brief speeches that we are indeed brothers and sisters in Christ. Aside from our cultural differences and different life experiences we are united in Christ.

Tomorrow everyone will be picked up very early to worship at their first church congregation and stay with their first host family. We will be preaching, teaching or sharing messages of the partnership and the love we have as fellow followers in Jesus. Tomorrow afternoon we will all meet together again at Mpemba CCAP for a covenant signing with Carnegie and a historic covenant signing with the tripartite partnership between Pittsburgh Presbytery, Bnlantyre Synod and South Sudan, that was begun in February with pastors Ken White, Dave Carver and Jeff Tindel. Celebrate with us! All Glory to God!

The picture above was from dinner last night at our stay in South Africa. We have a lot in store for us and axious to see it unfold. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Mulungu Akudalitseni (God Bless you) and Zikomo (Thank you)!

God is Good all the Time,

Carl Suppo