This was my family away from home for all of December. Johan, Marie and their three Children: Zenika 12, little Johan 7 and Dirk 5. There was also our awesome cook Erasmus and another missionary Gaby (who we are now with in Cape Town for the month!) Also, I can’t forget all the animals: Rocka (the guard-ish dog), Lala (the old maid), Flicka (the one who loves for you to throw her mangoes), her three pups: Rebecca, Max and Jessie annnnd Tiger the cat!! The Matthee family is originally from South Africa. they have been missionaries in Malawi for a year now and they were in Zambia before the Lord brought them to Senga Bay. and i love their fun accents.
Johan, Marie and Erasmus were beyond great to us. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be for the holidays away from my family than the home they have built there. Their lives are true testimonies of Romans 12:1-2. The Lord has used them as living sacrifices and has protected, healed and provided for them in so many ways. No family has lasted this long on their property without being run out by the community or by the spiritual climate… Their property is through Grace Ministries International (GMI) and is a lodge used as a Christian retreat center that is right smack dab in the center of an Islamic community so assimilating to the culture and gaining respect as Muzungus is huge for them here. The mosque was literally next door to us. We could hear the Muslim prayers over the loud speakers 5 times a day. and when we went into town there was always a Muslim radio broadcast blaring in our ears. it was weird to be the minority religion where we were living. the first day we arrived Johan had said to us “in Senga Bay all things are made by god… but which god are you talking of?”
Johan reminded us it is not about changing the Muslims around them, but about asking yourself “how can I be changed to influence those around me?” The family is not there to change them, but to bring Light into the darkness. there is no true doctrine in that area and so the enemy is on the prowl. Johan, Marie and Erasmus are there to change the atmosphere. The Islamic community in Malawi has a 50 year plan- where they hope to convert the whole country of Malawi to Islam by the end of those 50 years. so far in Senga Bay, they are doing high up. but no, they are not winning. the enemy has already been defeated.
between all of the projects we did last month (read the next blog on these) my favorite was still by far hands down getting to know the Matthee family :] they were such a blessing to us, pouring into us and filling our cups with His wisdom and knowledge. going into month 6 I definitely felt drained and they were a tremendous help in “undraining” me. and I also absolutely loved spending time with their three adorable children. I miss them so much already and hope to visit again real soon!!!! please please visit their website and pray for their family. they too live off of support raising. this is only a small glimpse into the light they are bringing to the community.
Also, Kimberly made an awesome slideshow of our whole second month in Malawi- I will post as soon as I get better internets.
^^the day we left for Cape Town^^
