Nkhota Kota sits on Lake Malawi in northern part of the country. In 1861 an Arab man came to the villages there offering fine goods to the village chiefs in exchange for men. The chief could not pass up the fine clothing and sugars, spices, and othe goods and gladly agreed to trade for men. So began the slave trade in Southern Africa with Nkhota Kota as the hub.
By 1863 the same man who brought slavery also introduced his religion: Islam. By now chiefs from across the lake in Mozambique were also ferrying men across the water in exchange for goods. So the Arab man announced that the men should be split into two categories. Those who were fit to be slaves and those who were not. Those who were not were then given a choice: become Muslim or be fed alive to the lake’s alligators.
By the year 1891 the lakeside was nearly 100% Muslim.
In that year David Livingstone, known as the first missionary to southern Africa, visited the village chiefs. There is a tree they met under there where Dr. Livingstone presented the chief with an umbrella (an important gift because the chiefs longed to be like the English) and asked if he would be willing to end the slave trade. He agreed, praise the Lord!
Malawi recieved it’s independence in the year 1964 and elected their first president. A man who was decidedly Muslim. One of his main goals during presidency was to fill the country with mosques. He ordered that he did not want to drive down the country’s major highway without seeing a mosque every 100 yards. This goal was attained, yet only in the Northen regions where many still lived under Islamic laws.
Thirty years later, the next president was elected, a Christian. During this time it was decided that a presidential term would last only 5 years and a max of 10.
The north, though, is still under the religion of Islam. The same man who gave them slavery also gave them slavery to a false god who still rules there. 90% of the people I had the chance to speak with there have no idea what the Qua’ran says as it is in Arabic and they have never been taught it. Also they do not know what they are praying five times a day for that is also in Arabic. They believe in this god, but have no relationship with him because he does not speak their language. They have also been told that the only way to converse with him is in the holy language of Arabic.
In this peaceful county it is a section of religious people with no idea who they worship.
We joined with Harvesters International Ministries (HIM) to share the love of Jesus.
We joined with Harvesters International Ministries (HIM) to share the love of Jesus.
SOON TO COME BLOG: Ministering With HIM
ALSO SOON TO COME: INDIA!! Ministering in Delhi
