The Lutheran Women’s Organization (LUWO) of Malawi held their annual convention this week in the Zomba district. Over eight hundred women traveled by bus to the village of Namangale to renew old friendships and to recommit themselves to faithfully serving the congregations of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA).

I almost didn’t make it. Although I had been to Namangale once before with a group of short term volunteers, I wasn’t quite sure where it was and I didn’t trust the pin I dropped on Google maps. In rural areas of Malawi, internet coverage is spotty and the satellite maps don’t always match what’s on the ground. With me was Pastor Bornface Mjinga, who serves Epiphany Lutheran in Blantyre. Although we had a general idea of where we needed to go, the asphalt road only takes you so far. How do you know which dirt road to take, when they all look the same?

Sure, there are many pedestrians you can ask for directions – but that doesn’t mean you’ll get what you need. Oftentimes instead of admitting they don’t know where you’re trying to go, people give you bogus directions and send you on your way with a smile. It’s a way of “saving face.” The first people we asked directions got us started down the right road, but at every subsequent place we stopped, we got directed further and further away from our goal. Finally, we were able to place a call with the pastor who serves in the area and he got us back on the right track. When we saw the chitenje of the LCCA fluttering by the side of the road, we knew were close.

There was the feel of a festival/rock concert when we arrived. The congregation had prepared for the event ahead of time by enclosing a large portion of their property with eight foot high walls made out of corn stalks. So many women arrived that some had to sleep outside the walls, and the men of the host congregation expanded the enclosure the next day. Inside, I saw the largest gathering of women I have ever seen at one time in Malawi. They came from all over the country. Most had arrived the previous day after travelling all day (and all night in some cases). Some came with their infants and toddlers. An army of cooks was stationed in the back and preparing lunch.

The first order of business was to make introductions. One by one, the Amayi Abusas (Mrs. Pastors) from every congregation in attendance approached the microphone and extended their heartfelt greetings. The pastors in attendance also gave their greetings. The ladies had a good chuckle when they heard my poor Chichewa.

Several choirs sang during the opening service. Out of necessity, the pastors asked that one choir from each of the five regions would sing one song each. New members of the Amayi Amvano (Ladies’ Guild) were inducted during the service. The Amayi Amvano provide invaluable support for the churches of the LCCA, by setting a Christian example for their sisters in the faith, leading choirs during worship and teaching women’s Bible studies, and gathering special offerings for the pastors’ families and others in the congregation who have needs. The Amayi Amvano wear white head scarves and blouses to remind them they are covered in Christ’s pure righteousness, and their purple skirt reminds them of their royal King’s suffering at the hands of His enemies.

After that, there was a sermon based on Jeremiah 7:2-5 which reminded all present to speak God’s word clearly and to give a Christian example in the world. Then all the women received the assurance of their forgiveness as they were given the true body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion.

In Malawi, women generally have a tougher life than their counterparts in the West. Up at the crack of dawn to feed the family and the chickens. Fetching water from a well a mile away. Making a little extra money selling vegetables they raise in their garden plots. Most women in rural areas have very little formal education, and some have never attended school. Their rights are generally not as respected as they are in developed countries. But God’s love in Christ has given the Amayi Amvano of the LCCA the strength to serve their Savior, their families and their churches with a joyful heart. They have put on the full armor of God so that they may stand firm (Ephesians 6:13).

Missionary John Roebke lives in Malawi

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Go to this link to learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts  https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa

Missionary Dan and Karen Kroll have temporarily relocated to Lilongwe, Malawi while the situation on the ground is being assessed.
As we sat with our fellow workers from our mission field, we learned much about the situation there. They had come from the place we call “home,” a place which had now become unsafe for us to return.

They had traveled in a military convoy of about two hundred vehicles, not sure if or when some opposition leaders might attack. The government is strong, but so are those who oppose them in the name of independence. Everybody here was raised with a “might makes right,” so violence becomes the order of the day.

There is a hopelessness in the air as the proverb rolls off his tongue “we are walking between two elephants.” We learn the other half of the proverb about five minutes later as he continues: “when two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers .” We (ordinary people) are only spectators in this fight and we don’t choose sides (ANYBODY with a gun makes us run into the bush to hide, makes us afraid to be home), but we are the ones who suffer in this fight. We are the grass.

As Isaiah begins his encouragement to the people of Israel who had been informed of God’s impending judgement, he acknowledges the same idea: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever “(40:7-8). “It isn’t easy” is a common phrase that comes up in our area – it usually refers to a tragic event or near impossible project that needs to be done. This is a classic such situation: walking between two elephants, and its getting uglier every day.

When God decides that we need to “walk between two elephants,” or he finds it necessary to allow the “elephants” to fight, the best we can do is to prepare for any outcome. This is out of our hands. Almost any way we become involved, we will agitate somebody – we will most likely only make it worse.

“…BUT the word of our God stands forever.” A pretty important “but” that turns our attention away from the terrible things that are happening in a different part of the world, a war zone, across town or even in our own home. Whenever we look to people or expect anything of this world to bring peace and happiness we will surely be disappointed. In fact, the devil will use that to get our attention away from our Savior Jesus. As soon as independence, peace, prosperity or personal satisfaction rule our hearts and lives, we can be lost, trampled underfoot.

Is there a way for us to leave the “elephants” alone? In spite of the worldly suffering in this situation, might we rather focus on the good news that our ever-gracious and wise LORD is still in charge, even stronger than the elephants. We remember always that he plans only good things for us (Romans 8:28). The best example is the sacrifice of his own son to keep us close to him for eternity. Let us continue to read and study his word to remind us that even our biggest “elephant” (death) no longer has power over us. Together with Jesus we cannot lose. The whole world needs to know about this great victory in Jesus – even if it means we have “walk between two elephants” while we tell them!

Missionary Dan Kroll

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Go to this link to learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa

This week’s post is written by Rev. James Aderman, a pastor who has served congregations in Florida and Wisconsin and is currently retired. Pastor Aderman recently came to Malawi to teach continuing education courses for pastors from Malawi and Zambia.

The topic was familiar. If I had closed my eyes I could easily have imagined myself in a group of WELS pastors in the United States.

But I was 8500 miles from Wisconsin. I was south of the equator in Malawi, Africa.

The Lutheran Church of Central Africa hosts an annual continuing education week for its pastors at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Lilongwe. I had the privilege of leading the 40 LCCA pastors who attended the 2018 conference in a discussion of Bible interpretation principles and of Christ-centered worship. It was the worship material that launched this discussion.

“My people think liturgy-based worship services are dull,” one pastor said. Others nodded in agreement. “That’s why some of my members slip off to Pentecostal churches on Sunday,” another said. “We Lutherans have so much to celebrate because of God’s grace,” said someone else. “Why can’t our worship be more lively?”

“But the liturgy reflects our teaching about grace,” another pastor countered. “Everything about it points us to Jesus. We dare not lose that.”

The discussion volleyed for some time. At the end there was consensus.

• God’s grace in Jesus motivates us to worship him in the best ways possible.
• Lutheran liturgy provides a solid structure on which to build our worship.
• Liturgy doesn’t have to be dull or repetitive.
• Our excellent hymn texts can be placed into music that is more familiar to African ears.
• Pastors can do a better job teaching the Lutheran approach to worship.
• The liturgy offers the freedom to help Christians of any culture fully rejoice in God’s grace.
• We pastors can improve the way we lead God’s people in worship.

“I applaud you, my brothers,” I told them, “for your willingness to wrestle with developing worship services that bring praise to God and best benefits God’s people. You’ve given me new encouragement to keep my eyes open wide, so I do the same for fellow Christians in America.”

James Aderman lives in Greenfield, WI

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Go to this link to learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts  https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa