AIDS is a present reality in Malawi, and 42% of new AIDs infections are young people, 15-24. I learned that primary students, beginning in standard 4, are taught about AIDS. The primary lesson is about the proper use of condoms to protect from AIDS and unwanted pregnancy. This leaves children unaware of the threat and poorly prepared to protect themselves against AIDS and other STDs.
On Saturday, in Kainga and Pahuwa, one of the activities we did with the adolescent girls was a discussion about the virus, sorting statements as True or False. This was my opportunity to clear up a lot of misinformation.
Then I used pictures to show the adolescent girls a simplified version of how the immune system works and how AIDS causes the immune system to break down.
I told them that antigens -germs, viruses, bacteria - are like an invading army that is constantly trying to get into your body to make you sick. Your immune system is your defense, like an army that sends out soldiers to protect your body from disease. Some of these are T8 Killer Cells whose job it is to destroy them, and the B-Cell Antibody Factory's job is to make "keys" to lock the antigens up, rendering them harmless.
But when the invader, AIDS, enters the body, it goes straight to the Captain of your immune system, attacks, and destroys it. As a consequence, the immune system's soldiers are not called to respond to the presence of the invaders. The Killer Cells do not respond, and the Antibody Factory stops making keys. The AIDS virus then becomes the Captain of what used to be the body's immune system.
As a result, when other antigens, bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. enter the body, these invaders are welcomed. The body, with no defense from the invading army pouring into the body, becomes weak.
The sad part is that once the AIDS virus has invaded a person's body, they have no way of kicking it out, and over time, their body becomes weaker and sicker, eventually causing death.
They learned that they can make choices now that will defend them from ever getting AIDS. The clearest way to prevent AIDS through sexual contact? Abstain until marriage, choose a mate that has made the same choice and has been tested HIV/AIDS negative, then both partners staying faithful in marriage.
Although AIDS is primarily spread through sexual contact, it can also be passed from mother to child and through sharing of needles and piercing instruments and in a few medical settings, including blood transfusions..
Then I told them the good news: that this is not their destiny. God has designed for them a better life. Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans that I have for you, says The Lord, plans to do you good and not harm you,plans to give you a future full of hope." I encouraged them to keep themselves focused on the goals they have for their lives and to trust God with their future.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Finding that Pearl of Great Price
This has been an exciting week. Let me share with you a few highlights:
George taught the children The Pearl of Great Price. His teachings have been explaining the life and ministry of Jesus. As he was praying together at the end of class, He said, "We place our trust in God." A child in the class responded in Chichewa, "...and His Son The Lord Jesus Christ." They have been listening and learning! Very exciting to see how God is working in the children's lives.
In my Dignity classes at Pahuwa we have been using skits to teach the importance of staying focused on a good future. The theme scripture for the series is Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you, says The Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope." I told them that is what God wants for them as they put their trust in Him.
Near the end of class two young girls shared their experiences they had during the week. One girl said she was riding her bicycle home from the maize mill when an older man approached her and said, "Get off your bike." She stopped, and he made some comments about her developing body, indicating he wanted to have a relationship with her. She told him she was not interested in him and would not have a relationship with him.
The man said, "You are not being respectful. You should honor me because I am your elder." She responded, "No. You are dishonoring me. I will not have a relationship with you." Then she rode off on her bicycle.
Another young girl, about 12 years old, told of her experience. She said she was walking down a trail in her village when two young men approached her, again commenting on her developing body. They were pressuring her for sex, but she told them that she would not do that. Then they began to mock her saying, "When you are grown, you will not be a good wife. You will have 3 husbands and you will not please any of them." She responded, "No, I will have 10! I don't care. I will not have relationship with you." Then she ran away.
The 12 year old girl told me, "You know, when this was happening to me, I was thinking about our classes and the skits we had done, and I knew what to do." The message is sinking in, and God will use it to change these girls' lives. I can't tell you how very proud I am of these girls. I am thankful that God is raising up good role models among them.
We are excited that in 12 days, our first intern comes, a bright and knowledgable young lady named Carley. We pray that in her two months with us, God will use her to strengthen our ministry and bless the people we serve. We want our vision, purpose, and work to help her grow spiritually as well.
We are getting ready for our next Farming God's Way workshops this week. We will be teaching field preparation and building compost piles. These classes are helping to strengthen George's work with the men. May God use it all.
My assistant, Hellen, a former primary teacher, is now working full time with us. What a blessing she is! She took a cut in pay to come work with us full time. She prayed and fasted for several days while making this decision. May God bless and increase her for her commitment to God's call to this ministry.
The women's Bible study here on the the mountain is going very well. The women are now asking for Bibles of their own so they can read at home. God put it in the heart of a friend in Florida to send funds for us to buy 110 new Chichewa Bibles! Next Sunday, we will begin distribution.
This past Sunday, I used the EvangeCube to teach the women God's plan of salvation. When I told them that Jesus is reaching out to us and we have to make a choice, heaven and hell. I said "Jesus is giving you a choice. To choose Him means heaven and eternal life. To reject all He has done for you means eternal punishment in hell. He is reaching to you. What would you say to Him?" They responded, "I choose heaven!" I gave them a moment to bow their heads and think about their decision.
Then, I led them in a prayer to trust Jesus with all their lives and their future. Their simple faith and trust in Jesus for salvation is so beautiful.
Little by little we are getting this big old house ready for teams. We spend a lot of time out in the field, but the house is coming together nicely. This week we set up five bedrooms! Pray that we will find a reliable person to help us with cooking and cleaning from time to time now, but especially when we are accommodating large missions teams.
We are so thankful for our friends' prayers and encouragement. It means a lot to us. God is anwering our prayers in powerful ways.
George taught the children The Pearl of Great Price. His teachings have been explaining the life and ministry of Jesus. As he was praying together at the end of class, He said, "We place our trust in God." A child in the class responded in Chichewa, "...and His Son The Lord Jesus Christ." They have been listening and learning! Very exciting to see how God is working in the children's lives.
In my Dignity classes at Pahuwa we have been using skits to teach the importance of staying focused on a good future. The theme scripture for the series is Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you, says The Lord, plans to give you a future and a hope." I told them that is what God wants for them as they put their trust in Him.
Near the end of class two young girls shared their experiences they had during the week. One girl said she was riding her bicycle home from the maize mill when an older man approached her and said, "Get off your bike." She stopped, and he made some comments about her developing body, indicating he wanted to have a relationship with her. She told him she was not interested in him and would not have a relationship with him.
The man said, "You are not being respectful. You should honor me because I am your elder." She responded, "No. You are dishonoring me. I will not have a relationship with you." Then she rode off on her bicycle.
Another young girl, about 12 years old, told of her experience. She said she was walking down a trail in her village when two young men approached her, again commenting on her developing body. They were pressuring her for sex, but she told them that she would not do that. Then they began to mock her saying, "When you are grown, you will not be a good wife. You will have 3 husbands and you will not please any of them." She responded, "No, I will have 10! I don't care. I will not have relationship with you." Then she ran away.
The 12 year old girl told me, "You know, when this was happening to me, I was thinking about our classes and the skits we had done, and I knew what to do." The message is sinking in, and God will use it to change these girls' lives. I can't tell you how very proud I am of these girls. I am thankful that God is raising up good role models among them.
We are excited that in 12 days, our first intern comes, a bright and knowledgable young lady named Carley. We pray that in her two months with us, God will use her to strengthen our ministry and bless the people we serve. We want our vision, purpose, and work to help her grow spiritually as well.
We are getting ready for our next Farming God's Way workshops this week. We will be teaching field preparation and building compost piles. These classes are helping to strengthen George's work with the men. May God use it all.
My assistant, Hellen, a former primary teacher, is now working full time with us. What a blessing she is! She took a cut in pay to come work with us full time. She prayed and fasted for several days while making this decision. May God bless and increase her for her commitment to God's call to this ministry.
The women's Bible study here on the the mountain is going very well. The women are now asking for Bibles of their own so they can read at home. God put it in the heart of a friend in Florida to send funds for us to buy 110 new Chichewa Bibles! Next Sunday, we will begin distribution.
This past Sunday, I used the EvangeCube to teach the women God's plan of salvation. When I told them that Jesus is reaching out to us and we have to make a choice, heaven and hell. I said "Jesus is giving you a choice. To choose Him means heaven and eternal life. To reject all He has done for you means eternal punishment in hell. He is reaching to you. What would you say to Him?" They responded, "I choose heaven!" I gave them a moment to bow their heads and think about their decision.
Then, I led them in a prayer to trust Jesus with all their lives and their future. Their simple faith and trust in Jesus for salvation is so beautiful.
Little by little we are getting this big old house ready for teams. We spend a lot of time out in the field, but the house is coming together nicely. This week we set up five bedrooms! Pray that we will find a reliable person to help us with cooking and cleaning from time to time now, but especially when we are accommodating large missions teams.
We are so thankful for our friends' prayers and encouragement. It means a lot to us. God is anwering our prayers in powerful ways.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
A Bridge to the Future
Yesterday over 60 adolescent girls in Kainga and Pahuwa learned about life skills that will help them build a bridge to a good future. The girls learned that a future they will be proud of will not accidentally happen. It takes planning and developing themselves.
These skills include finding good role models, abstinence until marriage, setting goals, critical thinking skills, and resistance to peer pressure.
They performed skits that underscore their need to develop these skills.
As a warmup for the lesson I asked the girls to tell about something in their homes that they count as "prized possession." It is interesting that most of the girls did not name things. They said things like, "I value my father paying my school fees so I can get an education," or "I am happy my mother encourages me."
One girl said, "I have a certificate that shows I have passed to standard 8 in school." Another said, "I am thankful that I have plans for my future."
These skills include finding good role models, abstinence until marriage, setting goals, critical thinking skills, and resistance to peer pressure.
They performed skits that underscore their need to develop these skills.
As a warmup for the lesson I asked the girls to tell about something in their homes that they count as "prized possession." It is interesting that most of the girls did not name things. They said things like, "I value my father paying my school fees so I can get an education," or "I am happy my mother encourages me."
One girl said, "I have a certificate that shows I have passed to standard 8 in school." Another said, "I am thankful that I have plans for my future."
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Foundations for Farming in Pahuwa
Our friends Johannes and his assistant, Isaac, from Foundations for Farming taught composting in the village of Pahuwa yesterday.
19 men and 49 women attended. They learned that what is most important is to first of all offer ourselves to God and then honor him in all we do, including how we farm.
They also learned that in nature God has already given them what they need to be successful farmers.
Johannes encouraged them to think about their field as a bank account. If you only take out and never give back, your account will become empty.
As they were watching the video, the room was buzzing with Oohs and Aaahs when they were shown lush green fields of tall maize and video testimonials from Malawian farmers.
The people were asked to start gathering their materials, and in a week or so, we will return and give hands on instruction in compost making.
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