Critters and Such

I wanted to show you some pictures of some of the critters we see here in Malawi. Some are cute and some are not so cute. See for yourself.

This is Biri Wira (green in Chichewa). Our chameleon. A student of mine brought it to me for Christmas. I had told the whole class that chameleons are the only creatures I like and they could bring me one if they wanted to.

This is what Americans call a chop chop. I think it is also called a water spider. Anyway, it is ugly, scary, and fast. They are very aggressive. They have these claw things in front and will run after you.

This is some kind of beetle. It is about 2 inches long. A gardener on campus said that they will attach to you skin and if you try and get it off, it will pull you skin off.

This is some type of grass hopper on our screen. Harmless (I think), but BIG.

This is a bird that the gardener next door found. It had duct tape on its wings so couldn’t fly. Molly Grace was able to hold it for a few minutes before it was able to fly away.

This is Amber Elizabeth with her hedgehog, Spike. We eventually had to let it go.

This was Molly Grace’s hedgehog, Spine. We also had to let it go.













Well, these are just a few creatures we see here in Malawi. We also see geckos, snakes, snails (big ones), other spiders, all different kinds of grasshoppers and beetles, centipedes and millipedes, ngumbi (flying termites), and ants (a lot of them from small to big, flying to non-flying). If I get pictures of other things, I will post them.

With Love,
LeAnne

Krisi Masi Ya Bwino

It’s been a while since I have put anything on the blog. Sorry about that. I have been so overwhelmed with life here in Malawi. But, we are finally out for Christmas break until January 16. A very much needed break!

The last week of school my class was working really hard on learning lines for a skit for the Christmas program and learning to say Merry Christmas in Arabic (Millad Said) and Dutch (Vrolik Kerstfeest).

We are planning to do a little traveling during the break. Last week we went to Zomba with Paul and Laura Chinchen and their family for a few days. We were able to visit Zomba when we were here before. I have to say it is one of my favorite places in Malawi. Here are a few pictures.



This is a market on the way to Zomba. Busy, busy, busy.



This is just another clip going through the market. They sell anything from food items to mops to live animals.



The girls at the top of the mountain.



Sam with the girls in front of one of the waterfalls.



Sam with Sarah Rose at the last waterfall we went to. The water was freezing, but the girls enjoyed wading in it.



Amber Elizabeth in front of the last waterfall. It was such a beautiful sight.



This is what we had to walk through on the hike. We had a Malawian guide slashing the bush so we could walk. We all had such a wonderful time.

After the new year we will be going to Lake Malawi (the southern part) for a whole week. One of my student’s parents owns a cottage there that they rent out. It has a private beach, its own pool, a cook, a cleaner, AND TV with satellite. We are really excited about getting away for a while and just to be able to relax.

Krisi Masi Ya Bwino and Ife Konda Inu! (Merry Christmas and We Love You!
LeAnne (for all 5 of us)

Dr. Krabbendam at Kachere Prison

Dr. Krabbendam [see post below] asked if he could accompany my group of students on our ABC Thursday outreach to Kachere Prison. I told him it was full of boys ages 12 to 20 who’ve been incarcerated for all sorts of reasons. He said, “Let’s go.” As we entered the stone courtyard, the mood was especially noisy. I sensed distraction since most of the prisoners sitting in the same courtyard generally do their best to sway the attention of those attending. The boys were a little curious as this 6-foot-five Dutchman entered the area where we usually gather. One of our students translated his sermon, focused around our need for a new heart, a new record, and a new righteousness. Prisoners, he said, were always a little more open to the gospel. And the boys demonstrated. Dr. Krabbendam, in his presentation, had all the boys gather around him. He explained to them that God was not wanting to be accepted by them. They didn’t have that right seeing that they had unclean hearts, an unclean record, and a righteousness like that of the filthy toilet situated just behind us. I can only ask that you trust that allusion was more than vivid! “And now, if you really are filled with the Holy Spirit as you ask Him to come, this prison will not be the same. The guards will ask, ‘what happened?’ in there, you will gather for prayers and the reading of the word everyday, and when you leave here, you will never come back!” The young men, we feel having been prepared by our visits, were ripe for Dr. Krabbendam’s visit. We will begin discipling these young men, praying with them, asking other students to ‘adopt’ them, and caring for them through letters and packages. Just pray for them, please. Pray that the ministry brought to them by this kind man will be fruitful in their lives and productive for the Kingdom. Blessings.
Sam

Dr. Krabbendam Visits

This has been a special week for us at African Bible College. We have been privileged as a missionary staff and student body to sit under the teaching of Dr. Henry Krabbendam. As many of you know, Dr. Krabbendam is a respected evangelist, missionary, theologian, and speaker especially in Presbyterian and Reformed circles. Dr. Krabbendam taught at Covenant College for 37 years and has published numerous books with more soon to be issued. More recently, Dr. Krabbendam has focused the bulk of his labors in Uganda, teaching and training pastors in evangelism. He also hosts American teams at his property in Uganda to expose them to what he has labeled, “An Abundance Culture,” referring to the zeal and passion Africans have for spreading the gospel.

Dr. Krabbendam, a long-time friend of Dr. Palmer Robertson, ABC-Uganda Director, conducted a week of lectures there last year. This year, at the invitation of Dr. Paul Chinchen, ABC-Malawi Director, Dr. Krabbendam spent a week at our Malawi campus lecturing the community on “proper, Biblical evangelism.” Dr. Krabbendam’s premise is that evangelism is “Trinitarian” emphasizing not only the work of the Father and Son in the gospel, but the Holy Spirit as well. Thus, holiness and the desire for it are part of any Biblical evangelism.

Following a week of lectures, students were connected with Kapita CCAP (Central Church African Presbyterian) for two days of door to door evangelism, which Dr. Krabbendam instructed was easy “if you gain people’s emotions. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have not spoiled this method of evangelism,” he said.

Students and staff were enriched, challenged, and inspired by Dr. Krabbendam’s visit.

Sam

Kachere Prison Update

We have been without internet for almost three weeks now. We want to apologize for not blogging sooner. We will post 2-3 blogs today.

I seem always to be blogging about the Kachere Prison ministry. That is due to my short-sightedness; spiritually, that is. The work we do at ABC has a much longer, more substantial impact and influence in Africa than anything else Westerners can contribute. But it’s easy to lose that sight. Indeed, its importance is more true to Christ’s image of the mustard tree. Our primary work at ABC is like roasting a pig – takes a while. Kachere Prison work is like fast-food – quick, easy, and filling.

At Kachere, the young men with whom we meet labored through a sermon I preached on the “Prodigal Son” which, more appropriately, is about the forgiving father. I told them about the compassion and grace of the Father in Heaven. Because of their crimes shame has gripped their families. And I could see in their eyes that they knew they will never experience that kind of earthly forgiveness. So let’s just say that I had a ‘captive’ audience when speaking about this kind of supernatural forgiveness of a loving Father.

Yet, our most interesting experience occurred when we were leaving the prison. In order to exit Kachere, one must venture through a small reception room (roughly 10 square feet). As we walked through, we noticed about 20 men seated on the floor through whom we had to wade toward the exit. As I looked closer I noticed a lighter skin tone, sharper noses, and more piercing brown eyes – each man looking almost like the other – than the Africans of Bantu origin. Well, it turns out they were all Somalian refugees, fleeing the wars in their homeland. The distance from Somalia to Malawi is something like the distance of Mississippi to Quebec. It’s quite a haul! They apparently were discovered by immigration, were detained, and will be sent to a refugee camp here in Lilongwe that (I just discovered) has thousands of other Somalians who’ve made their way here. So Malawi is becoming a refugee haven for those fleeing Zimbabwe (next door), Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique (next door), Sudan, and Somalia.

I think what convicted me most was as I looked into their eyes I selfishly thought, “Wow, that’s interesting. What a note of interest to tell people.” Then I realized that in their mind they must be thinking that they are standing at the threshold of hell. Nothing worth writing about, you know! Pray for them. You do not know them by name, but the Lord does.

Sam