Malawi was a really difficult month for me in several ways. One of the hardest parts was traveling to different villages every day. It’s not only the fact that daily traveling (on top of 9 months of traveling) is tiring, but it’s also that being in a different village everyday doesn’t really give you a chance to build relationships anywhere. Months that don’t provide for relational ministry are always difficult for me.
Even though I didn’t get the opportunity to build deep relationships with the people of Zomba, the Lord did allow me to see so many glimpses of His restoration in the lives of people. Here are some short stories that show the Lord’s redemption and restoration in Malawi.
Freedom from Bondage
We met Mr. Bayola and his family during our first day of ministry. We were visiting homes in the community with one of the local pastors. We are crowded into the Bayola’s home, sitting in the dark, and listening to the rain pound down against the tin roof. We all sat together fellowshipping, sharing testimonies, and praying together. This family is strong in their faith, but had been facing hardships following a serious illness of one of their family members. After our time of encouraging them with scriptures and testimonies, we prayed together for their nephew in the hospital. As we began to leave Mr. Bayola said, “Thank you for coming. We were like a people bound, but now through your testimonies and the Word of God, we are a people freed.” The Lord is restoring this family through His truth.
God’s Intimate Love
We were in the village of Malosa preaching and teaching among pastors and church members. At the end of our time, I was
preaching on the power of prayer. We invited anyone who would like prayer to come forward so that the body of Christ could gather around and pray for them. Blessing quickly stepped forward. She told me (through a translator) about a problem she was having with her eyes. Almost as an afterthought she mentioned that her husband had recently left her after she became a believer. She is praying for a new husband who loves the Lord.
Immediately as I began to lay hands on her and pray for her, she collapsed to the floor. She just wept facedown before the Lord. I could feel God’s love resting so strongly upon Blessing. I begin to pray for the Lord to meet with her in His intimate love and just to love her to wholeness. I continued to pray over Blessing for about 15 minutes as she just sobbed, exposing her pain before the Lord, and inviting Him to love her in the midst of those most hurt places.
We were in the village of Malosa preaching and teaching among pastors and church members. At the end of our time, I was
preaching on the power of prayer. We invited anyone who would like prayer to come forward so that the body of Christ could gather around and pray for them. Blessing quickly stepped forward. She told me (through a translator) about a problem she was having with her eyes. Almost as an afterthought she mentioned that her husband had recently left her after she became a believer. She is praying for a new husband who loves the Lord. Immediately as I began to lay hands on her and pray for her, she collapsed to the floor. She just wept facedown before the Lord. I could feel God’s love resting so strongly upon Blessing. I begin to pray for the Lord to meet with her in His intimate love and just to love her to wholeness. I continued to pray over Blessing for about 15 minutes as she just sobbed, exposing her pain before the Lord, and inviting Him to love her in the midst of those most hurt places.
As I finished praying, Blessing stood and we embraced. We weren’t able to communicate at all, but I could see in her eyes that she had an intimate and powerful encounter with the God who loves her. His love is beginning to bring her restoration.
Sparking Fire in Hearts
At most of our meetings with pastors and their wives, I taught on prayer. God has really been giving me a heart for prayer and intercession this year. He is lighting a fire in my heart for prayer and in turn He is giving me the opportunity to spark that fire in others. One day in particular, we were meeting with about 70 pastors and their wives. I was speaking on the power of prayer and the importance of praying as a unified body. We began to pray together on behalf of the church. I look up and one woman in particular was passionately crying out before the Lord. Tears were streaming down her face and she prayed for revival to come to the church.
After the meeting, this woman and her baby climbed into the back of our pick-up truck. As we are bouncing down the dirt roads, she grabs my hand and begins speaking rapidly in Chichewa. The only phrase I can understand is “fire. Fire, fire in my heart!” One of the translators tells me that as we prayed today God was lighting a fire in this woman’s heart. It was beautiful knowing that she will remain and spread that fire throughout her home, her church, her village, and her nation.
At most of our meetings with pastors and their wives, I taught on prayer. God has really been giving me a heart for prayer and intercession this year. He is lighting a fire in my heart for prayer and in turn He is giving me the opportunity to spark that fire in others. One day in particular, we were meeting with about 70 pastors and their wives. I was speaking on the power of prayer and the importance of praying as a unified body. We began to pray together on behalf of the church. I look up and one woman in particular was passionately crying out before the Lord. Tears were streaming down her face and she prayed for revival to come to the church. After the meeting, this woman and her baby climbed into the back of our pick-up truck. As we are bouncing down the dirt roads, she grabs my hand and begins speaking rapidly in Chichewa. The only phrase I can understand is “fire. Fire, fire in my heart!” One of the translators tells me that as we prayed today God was lighting a fire in this woman’s heart. It was beautiful knowing that she will remain and spread that fire throughout her home, her church, her village, and her nation.
These are just a few glimpses of the way that God is restoring the people of Malawi and calling them deeper into His love and into relationship with Him. Please continue to pray for these believers and so many more like them.
