Easter Message
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 02:26PM 
Malawi is poor. There is no way to be discreet in my description. *The average worker earns less than $2.46 per day, and that is only if one is among the 53% of the population that is fortunate enough to find work. It is one of the world's most densely populated (over 15 million people) yet most undeveloped nations in the world.
Malawi is a nation that has been adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Each of our partners is engaged in the fight to eradicate the disease and ameliorate its effects on the communities in which he/she is invested. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the adult population of Malawi such that 45% of the country's population is now under the age of 14! Orphans abound.
Malaria is out of control. Every 30 seconds an African child dies from complications due to malaria. Thousands of those children are Malawian. The tragedy is that the disease is preventable with some simple prevention techniques like sleeping under a bed net at night. Sadly, the cost of a bed net is too expensive for the rural and urban poor.
Spiritual opposition is palpable. Our partners report being attacked by supernatural issues that can only be explained as an affront to the Gospel going out to reclaim the land, the lost, and the dying.
Our friends in Malawi are well acquainted with death. They are exposed to the death of friends and relatives due to HIV. They are exposed to death of loved ones due to acute malaria illness. They are exposed to the spiritual death of their community members as local cults and witch doctors offer empty promises and remedies for life's and society's ailments.
I am reminded of Jesus' words, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). The bad news of Malawi's data only reports one side of the cosmic story, the death, destruction, and the hopeless perspectives. These are items that belong in the grave. God's Economy's partnership with the friends in Malawi brings the other side of the report: the good news.
Somebody Cares: What's the Buzz?
Last year God's Economy through its What's the Buzz? malaria prevention outreach donated funds for a team of motivated Malawian youth leaders to become the What's the Buzz? champions throughout the entire SC network. These youth were sent for training at one of our partner organizations, the esteemed medical facility, Partners in Hope. There the youth were trained by medical professionals to: recognize the symptoms of malaria; know how to teach villagers on the proper use of bed-nets; install the nets; and then return to the villages and monitor the homes making sure that the nets were being used correctly. Just last week a report and photos arrived from Malawi.
Proudly wearing their What's the Buzz? tee-shirts when going out into the villages, these youth are evangelizing their communities with a double shot of good news. Not only are they taking bed nets and the public health initiative to the remote villages, but also they are taking the hope of life that comes from being a follower of Jesus. The report states, "During the months of December 2009 and January 2010 the SC Youth Coordinator (Edward) and Community Coordinator (Ramsey) and youth from Kalimbira and Nandzuluwa who were trained in Malaria prevention and control went into community to hang up nets for the widows in Ntandile and Njewa. The youth were very excited at the prospect of going into the community to evangelize whilst hanging nets and educating households in the community on malaria prevention and also to preach the good news of Jesus Christ whilst going about their business. The mosquito nets were part of the Women Orphans and Widows (WOW) program and what better way to get the message across to the widows on Malaria prevention which is hell on earth and entrance into God's Kingdom which would prevent hell in eternity!"
A second report from SC addresses a new God's Economy project. In the latter months of 2009 donors stepped forward and gave funding for a new feeding center to be constructed through SC. This building is being erected in a place called Kasakula, a subcenter of the Kalimbira District outside the capital city of Lilongwe. Per our partner's request, the funds were wired in late January 2010 since the rains finally had stopped and the construction could commence. When we wire the funds from God's Economy, we do the transmission electronically. Our treasurer enters all of the data and then before hitting the "send" button, he pauses and prays. He asks the Lord to direct the funds to the proper account. More importantly, he releases them to the the Lord Almighty. He asks for the Lord to multiply them and transform them into something bigger than we can ever imagine. "May the recipients be blessed in mighty ways," he asks. It is a holy moment, the redistribution of God's resources here on earth.
A recent email reported that the SC staff sent word that the Kasakula feeding center had broken ground. This is a zone that does not have a feeding center, yet dedicated members of the community feed children (orphans) in makeshift centers, under trees, and in run down churches. The faithful of Kasakula know that God has heard their prayers and has answered these petitions through the generosity of SC and their friends (us!). Men are reporting to the job site daily, pick axes, shovels and buckets in hand. There is great rejoicing in the village.
"The conference took place successfully on February 19-20 this year, and the pastors send greetings. The topics of the conference were three: Qualities of a Good Leader, How to Share the Gospel with Muslims, and the Church vis-à-vis HIV/AIDS. 17 Pastors came from across 14 denominations operating within the refugee camp attended the conference. The Pastors received some excellent teaching from professional speakers, as well as additional resources on Islam.
They also had a well deserved break from camp life, with good food and refreshments, and a special night of praise and worship. We have reports of one pastor who, putting into practice what he learned about introducing Muslims to Christ, has already seen 10 Muslims accept Jesus since the conference.
Thank you so much to those who donate to God's Economy for helping There is Hope to bless and build up those who lead believers at Dzaleka Refugee Camp! Please pass the gratitude and appreciation of the participating pastors onto your supporters."
And He departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him.
*All data may be found at: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mi.html
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