It is now two months since I came back from my deputation in the fall of 2012, and as I reminisce on the whole experience, my heart is full of thankfulness and deep appreciation for how well things went. I left Lilongwe in Malawi with some measure of trepidation because this was my first time.
I left Lilongwe in Malawi with some measure of trepidation because this was my first time. Some of my fears were about having to drive myself around, I was born in Kenya and work in Malawi which were former British colonies and we drive on the left-hand side of the road. In North America, you drive on the right, was I going to make it? What was the reception going to be like when I spoke to the different audiences? I had invested a lot in prayer, but my work schedule was rigorous before I left Malawi so I did not feel sufficiently prepared.
I cannot give enough thanks to all of the wonderful people who hosted me and listened to me in the seven States I visited in the US and the two provinces in Canada. Every place I was accommodated as a guest for the night, for a cup of coffee or for a meal, I was reminded of the early church as it is described in the book of Acts: “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity47all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.” (NLT). I experienced this everywhere I went because I was received with great joy and generosity. It was overwhelming, and I am thankful.
In this newsletter, I want to share just a few poignant experiences from my eight weeks in North America. I knew I was going to speak to kids, but I was not prepared for the tiny tots that trooped to the rooms prepared for the meetings. How do you share with little five-year-olds some of the work you do? One lesson I learned is that deputation makes you deeply spiritual; you have to keep calling on the name of the Lord to save you. God was faithful because he came through for me and I was amazed at their interest and the kind of questions they asked. Their teachers almost always had to bring the sessions to a close and my heart would glow with love and thankfulness. My heart broke when I received a bunch of handmade thank-you cards from the Living Stones Academy in Michigan. I introduced myself to them as “Agogo,” which means grandma in Chichewa. The strange name did not daunt these innocent, wide-eyed, curious little people. They listened and engaged with my story to my utter amazement. Many even drew the flag of Malawi which they saw on one of the power-points that I presented. I have included a few of their cards here so that I can share my joy with you…. It is no wonder that our Lord Jesus loves little children, their innocence is so refreshing.
Very often I shared my message with groups of people after a worship service or church function. The people who gathered together were very interested in the work we are doing and listened keenly to my story. I often spoke to interested people at the end of a service and at a women’s Bible study group. Others gathered together in a house after dinner on a weekday. They sacrificed their time to hear about the work of World Renew in Malawi, which must feel like a very distant land from a North American perspective. I would often ask myself, what draws these people to these meetings? There is no coercion; they come of their own free will. One farmer had even gone for a chemotherapy session that morning! I realized that we are the hands and feet of Christ, sent to bring the Good News wherever the Lord has placed us. The hunger to hear what we are doing is to be able to celebrate the good news in an expression of thankfulness to God and to know how to pray for the challenges we face.
I was also very privileged to attend a World Renew 50th Anniversary celebration in Canada and two events in the US, and what a thrilling time it was for me! Jubilee is described in the book of Leviticus as a time of freedom and rest. Leviticus 25:10 says, “Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you.” I was humbled to be asked to share at the celebrations in Chicago, and I was convicted in my heart that the work we are involved in is that of bringing people to experience their jubilee.
The story I shared at the celebrations was about Mrs. Jane Naphiri, a recipient of a goat in 2009 from the “Give-A-Goat Project.” Recently I took Peter Timmerman, our new team leader, and the CIDA director of the Malawi office to visit Mikuju village, where Mrs. Naphiri lives. Judith Kalamasiya, an energetic Community Development Facilitator for our partner field staff, took us to visit her. Mrs. Naphiri now has twelve goats and with the sale of just four of them she has been able to move from her traditional grass-thatched hut to a brand new, tin-roofed house! Grass-thatched houses require a lot of attention because termites destroy the grass, and it has to be renewed annually. Mrs. Naphiri has entered a season of rest and jubilee with her new house!
May you find your jubilee!
Nancy Njunji Kimani
World Renew Malawi