The Drought and Famine of 2016

The Drought and Famine of 2016 in Malawi

We are asking  that you, first of all, hear the need and second,  ask God how you should respond.  Many of our friends in the villages are in great need, and some of the most vulnerable may starve without interventions.  May God put it in each one's heart to respond as they are able.  

The needy I am presenting to you are not strangers to us.  They are friends, fellow believers. Some came to know Christ through this ministry, and we have worked with them for over three and a half years.

I am writing to ask all our friends to help us with a very special need. Each year, farmers here in Malawi suffer through several months of what is called “the hunger season,” the time when their stored food reserves from last year’s crop runs out and before a new crop can be harvested. Each year, cycle after cycle, there is not enough stored maize to last all year, so there is always a deficit. Farmers end up with both their pockets and their stomachs empty; consequently, the poor never escape poverty. They suffer hunger, and some die. 

Near the end of the growing season,
this is a drought damaged fields that never matured.

From year to year, Malawians have seen the weather systems become more and more unpredictable. Last year, monsoon rains pounded Malawi for days on end. Consequently, farmers suffered a near total loss of crops as a result of the widespread flooding that destroyed their homes and fields. 

Alice and I standing on the ruins of her little mud brick house she lost in last year's floods. Our ministry friends gave to rebuild her house and many others in the villages. 

One of many mud brick homes that collapsed in last
year's monsoon rains.

So, in this last planting season, farmers prepared their maize fields in November and December once again hoping for a better year. As usual, after the early drizzles of rain, farmers planted their seeds, but the promised rains never came. 

This is a stunted and dying maize field near the end
of this year's growing season.

The early rains caused the seeds to sprout and the shoots to emerge. Some plants even developed enough to produce ears, but as the stalks wilted and browned in the baking sun, these ears never filled out. Each small ear holds only a few kernels at best.  The brown and wilting fields seem to mock the great investment of time, money, and labor the farmers poured into them.   

Last year, there were floods, and right behind it, this year there was a drought, so, of course, farmers had no time to recover from the near total loss of crops they suffered last year.

Once they saw there was no hope of further growth and development of the maize, many farmers left their fields to weeds. Many farmers we spoke with are very discouraged because they are caught in a downward cycle of generational poverty, and they see no way out. 

We know that when the poor are this poor and the needy are this needy, it is practically impossible for them to pull themselves out of poverty on their own.  We were told that many people who are starving are going to the riverbanks and foraging grasses for food. Of course, this exposes them to cholera and other water borne diseases. 

As we drove through the villages and visited our friends there, the enormous need was obvious, so great, at first that we really didn’t know how we should respond.  

We believe in the proclamation of the Gospel, but we know the Gospel is not all about preaching. It's also about compassion in His name. We read in the Bible that Jesus went about doing good and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom. He met needs and preached the Gospel, so this is the pattern we follow. 
We have done relief measures in the past, distributing vegetable seeds and bags of rice to families, but the magnitude of this crisis is greater now than anything we have experienced. How do we begin? Where do we start? How do we focus our efforts and our finances? 

Distributing packets of vegetable seeds. 

We knew we needed a lot of wisdom, so we asked God to give us wisdom and understanding and to give us the resources we need to respond in the best way for the people we serve and for the Gospel.

We believe that when we pray for wisdom as the book of James in the Bible says, God will give it generously.  As we prayed, God began to give us clarity and a plan that would address both short-term relief and long-term sustainability. First of all, we have to address the immediate need- to find a way to provide food quickly to the 250 or so believers in the villages who regularly attend our Bible studies. We can't solve all of Malawi's problems so we must focus on what we can do well. Giving relief to our suffering brothers and sisters, of course blesses them and brings praise to God. 

To accomplish this first objective, we have prepared seed packets of tomatoes and a wide assortment of fast-growing greens. This week, we distributed about 90 of these in two villages and another 200 to believers in three additional villages. Thee will begin to produce food in a matter of a few weeks. 

John is registering everyone for the upcoming classes
on crop diversification and in particular, growing
sweet potatoes.  Everyone who registers receives
several packets of vegetable seeds. 

Sweet potatoes are very nutritious (much more than maize), store well, and they are filling. To get the expertise we needed, we consulted with a specialist at the Agriculture Ministry office here in Zomba. With his help we located a good source for the sweet potato shoots in Balaka.   George traveled there yesterday to verify both the quality of the plants and the quantity. We found a nursery there that is prepared to supply quality sweet potato vines to meet the need of the 250 farmers in our Bible studies.

George and Steve, our agricultural expert, traveled to
Balaka to examine a field of healthy sweet potatoes
available for purchase. 

Next, we contracted with a trainer who will travel with us to each of the villages next week and teach the farmers how to grow sweet potatoes. Those who attend all of the classes, both in classroom and in the field, will receive a ticket to receive an allotment of potato shoots. 

For about $20 per farmer, we can supply the 250 believers we work with in the villages with bags of staple foods, seed to start a vegetable garden and enough sweet potato shoots to plant ¼ acre, giving farmers not only emergency relief, but also a brand new start

As you can probably see, the timing on this project is critical.  We have already initiated these plans. At this point, we have only two weeks to raise the remainder of the funds needed to complete it. 

We are asking that our friends who can give to do so.  As God puts it in your heart and in your hands, please give generously to supply the needs of the saints. We know God will bless you.

One hundred percent of your giving will be directed to this need, and all gifts are tax deductible. 

Matthew 25:34-40

Give  securely online at www.surefoundationministry.com

or by mail to

Sure Foundation Ministry

PO Box 30332

Winston-Salem, NC  27130

Our work in Malawi is Gospel-centered. Our work includes weekly Bible studies, developing church leaders, training interns, agricultural training, community development projects, preschool nutrition programs, preschool teacher development, children’s ministry, and primary tutoring programs. From time to time, we conduct medical interventions, clothing and food distribution, bring in medical, evangelistic and community development teams to assist us with our work, and Dignity programs for girls. We are now developing an outreach program to minister to the needs of new mothers.

Valuing Education for the Poor

Our neighbors,  Harry and Maria, are a somewhat typical Malawian family. They  have five children ranging in age from 6 to 17. When we first expressed an interest in their education, the children had almost no parental support or encouragement, and all of them were very far behind other students their age and grade level. 

At the time, the boys were attending school when they wanted and staying at home when they wanted. We asked, "Why are your children not in school?"  Harry said, "They don't have school uniforms."  So, we took them all to a taylor in town and had new school uniforms made, then we took them to a shoe store and bought them all new shoes.  The children were so used to going barefoot that wearing shoes took some adjusting. Nevertheless, they were very proud of their uniforms.  We purchased each of them notebooks, pencils, pens, and other school supplies.  They were happy. 

Over time, the parents' commitment to their children's education faded, and the same old patterns reemerged. Then, in October 2015, an intern came to work with us for three months.  What a blessing she was for our children's ministry out in the villages.  She gladly took the task of tutoring Harry's children and made it a time the children looked forward to.

When she began to teach them, we soon learned how needy the children were. The  8 year old couldn't count past 10. The 6 year old couldn't name colors and didn't know the alphabet.  

The youngest girl, Margie, who is 16 had already dropped out of school, pregnant and unmarried. The oldest girl, Rose, 17, an eighth grader, was also on the verge of dropping out. Her parents routinely kept her from school to run errands and to do household chores. We knew that the  school the children were enrolled in is a dangerous and chaotic learning environment with low expectations for students. 

First, we insisted that the parents take the children out of that substandard school and put them in a free local private Christian school. We had more support from the mother, but the father initially resisted; so, we became Harry's nagging headache.  We brought the children's need up to him over and over, and eventually he relented.  We also insisted that the parents begin to model for their children the importance of education by sending them to school every day. 

I am sure that if we had not persisted it wouldn't have happened, but I am happy to say eventually we succeeded in getting the children the support they needed. The parents promised to regularly send their children to school, and they were moved to a much better learning environment. 

Now, after several months of their being in a better school and our tutoring them, we are now seeing positive changes in the children, both in their academics and their outlook. A few days ago, little Stephen proudly showed us his report card marked PASSED!

Rose is now getting support in Math, English, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension which will help to prepare her for end of term exams. Now, she is more determined to stay in school, to stay focused, and she is confident she will complete her education. It is so rewarding to see her feeling good about her future and moving forward.

Sometimes when conditions are so bad, small interventions make a tremendous difference in the lives of the poor. I feel very blessed to play a part in bringing some hope and encouragement into the lives of these children. 

Toward Love and Good Deeds

 We feel honored that God has allowed us to participate in the spread of the Gospel in the villages, and it continues to amaze us. 

Today, we visited two of our five teaching points to observe and participate in Bible studies. We were not there to lead this time, but to encourage the believers.  

After a song and a prayer, one gentleman read a Scripture and spoke for a few minutes, then we asked if anyone else had something to share from the Bible that would encourage others.

It was exciting to watch as several men and women stood one by one to read God's Word and to tell what God is showing them from it. Each Bible reading and teaching was only about 5-7 minutes long, but very rich in truth.  After each one had an opportunity to share, it was evident that all the scripture readings wove together beautifully to make one message.

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 13:1-2

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 25:31-36

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

The Famine of 2016

For generations, Malawian have known to plant when the rainy season begin in November or December. So, when the showers came in November, farmers did what they have always done, prepare their fields and purchase and plant  seed.  Each year, farmers invest all their resources in one crop, maize -their hard, physical labor and all their meager finances - to purchase seed, and if possible, a bit of fertilizer.  

There were rain showers in early November, so, by the end of the month, most fields were prepared and the seeds were planted. The hopeful seeds sprouted, and the fields were a beautiful sea of green. 

But soon after the first tease of rains began, they stopped. Then nothing, barely a drop of rain fell in November, December, or January, and only a couple of teasing short-lived showers came in February. The stunted and spindly stalks eventually produced tassels. The hybrid seed made a feeble attempt to do what they were programmed to do, produce something edible. Some of the stalks produced tiny ears, only a few inches long and with only few small grains. Harvest is usually in April, but this year, many stalks have absolutely nothing to show for their effort.

This is the second consecutive, devastating  year for rural Malawian farmers - already the poorest of the poor.  Last year, monsoon rains and flooding  destroyed both homes and crops. 

Since last year's poor harvest they have been rationing their meager stores of maize, hoping for a better yield this year, one that would not only feed their families, but enough surplus to make a profit. At this point, farmers have no reserve and have lost not only their crops, but their hope.  

We had heard that many families in the villages are suffering from hunger. We drove out to the villages yesterday, and all along the way were drying fields of stunted and browning, fruitless stalks.  Without an intervention of God, this will be a year of serious famine, starvation, and death for many people. 

I sat with the women in the village trying to bring hope and to restore faith. 

They brought out a bench, and many women gathered on the ground around me. They were physically there, but they weren't there. Their eyes were pools of despair,  hollow, dejected,  and distant.  With all my heart, I wanted to see their situation from God's perspective, so I prayed for understanding and asked a lot of questions.

I asked about government subsidy programs that sells food aid to the poor at deeply discounted prices. I learned that many of those food stores are empty. They gestured with their hands. "Only a small basin of maize is 1,500  Kwacha, and we don't have money." 

When they told me they have been going to the river to forage for food, pulling grasses along the banks to feed their families, my heart quietly broke.  With all my heart, I was asking God for wisdom to know how to help them. I prayed, "Jesus, give me your words, your wisdom, so somehow I can encourage them to trust you." 

After I heard their despairing stories,  I said, "When there are no answers, God will give you answers. Turn to Him and ask for His ways and His wisdom, because He loves you, and He can make a way for you.  He will give you ideas and plans if you ask Him." I said, "In the Bible, James 1:5 says that if anyone is lacking wisdom, they should ask God, and God will give it generously." 

I told them that because the weather in Malawi is unpredictable -alternating between floods and famine- it is very important in the future to diversify crops.  When all you have is invested in one unpredictable crop, you have a greater risk of losing your entire investment. 

But, as I talked, I became more and more aware that the cloud around them was so thick that my words were going past their ear and falling on the ground. I turned to my interpreter and said, "Are they hearing me?" She said, "No, I don't think they can." 

We have taught Farming God's Way for the past  three years in that and other villages with varying degrees of success. In the first year after it is introduced, most farmers,  reluctant to abandon their traditional  farming methods,  start by trying  it on a small portion of their field. 

One of those farmers was Bernard. Last year, he did FGW on a little piece of his land, and even in flooded conditions, the portion of his field in which he did FGW produced two large ears per stalk, twice what the remainder of his field produced. Then, this season, he prepared his entire field using FGW.  He was eager to show us his field. The stalks were taller and stronger than any of the fields bordering his, and each produced two healthy, full ears. 

As I was talking with the women, Bernard's wife, Eunice joined us. Unlike many of the other women, she did not seem at all discouraged.   I asked about how her farming was going. When I asked if the stalks are producing one or two ears, she said two. She said the field would have done better if there were not a drought, but even so, each stalk produced two ears.  

When I asked why her husband's field is different from those around it,  she said it is because he is Farming God's Way.  Then she said, "Next season, I will also plant a field, and I will have enough vegetables for my family and enough to sell." I think Eunice was the one to deliver the message of hope and encouragement the women needed to hear: Bernard was blessed because he was honoring God, so  God make a way.  

We traveled on to the next village where we learned that because there is so much need, our preschools ran out of food before the end of the month. Then, because the children were too hungry to attend school, they stayed at home.

An elderly gentleman, Gray, too old to farm, nearly blind and barely able to toddle along, approached George as he was standing talking with some men. He didn't ask directly. He simply said, "I haven't eaten in three days."  George slipped him some money in a handshake and asked him not to tell anyone. If we could hear the stories of hundreds of individuals in the villages, it would be the same: gnawing hunger and a hope-numbing dread for their future.

In this village, we met with the preschool teachers to discuss our plans for a vegetable garden to improve nutrition in our feeding program.  We now feed each child a bowl of porridge each school day, but a well-tended vegetable garden would also supply fresh greens, tomatoes, and other vegetables.  We also plan to add powdered whole milk to their porridge.  The teachers were very excited to hear these plans and were eager to begin.  

A little later, we met up with a woman, Alice, who has attended my Bible studies almost from the beginning. When we first met her, a lot of circumstances were stacked against her.  She was already dirt poor when her husband left her to raise five children alone and to care for her very elderly mother.

When the floods last year completely destroyed her little mud brick house, our ministry built her a cozy little house that she is very proud of.

We have prayed with her and encouraged her, and over the time we have known her, she has seen God's provision for her.  Yesterday, I asked how her maize is producing. She said, "My maize is not doing so well, but look at my groundnuts. They are doing well, and I will have a good crop." 

Then she pointed off in another direction and said, "I have a fields of mustard greens just over there. My hen is now laying eggs, and she has a brood of chicks too. Next year, I plan to have another garden of sweet potatoes just over there, with vegetables enough for me and my family, and some to sell."  I said, "Many of your neighbors' farms are not doing well.  How did you know how to plan for all this?"  She said, "I prayed and asked God for wisdom, and He helped me to plan this.  

Before we left the villages, I told the women George and I would discuss all the needs they had mentioned to me, and we will ask God how we should help.  We understand that long term solutions are the best, but we also know the enormous need of all these starving people is pressing and immediate. 

George and I love these people, and our hearts are full of compassion for them, but how do we respond?  We want to show  Christian compassion, but we don't want their eyes on us, but on God as their provider. I am asking for ways to help them diversify and generate income so they will have the basic human dignity of providing for their own families. 

Today, we purchased and prepared a variety of vegetable seed packets for distribution. This is a start, but for the five villages where we work, we will need hundreds of these. 

If God puts it in your heart to help us feed the hungry, go to www.surefoundationministry.com and make a contribution on the donate page.  We are a 501(c)(3) US registered non profit, so your contributions are tax deductible. 

Or make your check payable to ...

Sure Foundation Ministry

PO Box 30332

Winston Salem, NC 27130

May God bless you as you respond. 

From Village to Village

Because of the steady rains today, travel through the villages was difficult.  Most of the time, our truck jolted along the washboard surfaced road, but  a few times, we lost traction in the mud and began to drift toward rain swollen ditches. Along the way, some sections of the dirt road had collapsed, leaving a gaping hole big enough to swallow our truck's tire, but being the skilled driver he is, however, George was able to navigate the hazards and get us safely to each village. (Well, that and answered prayer got us safely to each village.)

We were warmly greeted and welcomed at our fourth and last teaching point of the day. Actually, we didn't know we would be teaching in that village today. We thought we would be meeting the Chief and receiving her welcome and schedule a time for us to come back and teach. However, when we arrived, we found the house full of men and women eager for us to teach them from the Bible.  

In all, there were about 65-70 people  seated on benches the porch and on the floor inside the house. From the bench where we sat in the living room, we could see many faces peering out of a doorway to another room down the hall.   Also, 30 children participated in our children's program outside under a big mango tree.  Although it was late afternoon and George and I were very tired, I saw their spiritual  hunger and their eagerness to be taught the Word of God, and  I knew I could not disappoint them.  As I began to teach, I was Holy Spirit energized, and I was able to finish strong.

        

The lesson topic was "How Can We Have Assurance of Salvation?"  1Peter 3:18 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit," 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

CHRIST'S SACRIFICE + MY FAITH IN WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME + TURNING FROM MY SIN = SALVATION.

 For months, about a dozen women from this village have been walking about 10 miles  each week to attend my Bible studies in another village, so there were many familiar faces in the crowd. They were so delighted that we came to teach the Bible in their village. All were very attentive and participated in the lesson, and although most said they are Christian believers, there was only one Bible among them all.  

As I taught, an elderly man sitting on the floor by my feet looked up each passage in his well-worn Bible, and a woman sitting on the floor just to my left wrote the Bible references in er note book. Initially, the Chief was not able to attend, so she sent her representative. Eventually, the Chief was able to break away from her responsibilities and come to welcome us, then stayed for the remainder of the meeting. 

We are certain the Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in every village, and if God is not satisfied until everyone hears the Good News, neither should we be.  As I taught today, "God wants His house full! When the final day comes and all of His children are gathered home, we will be there among people from every tribe and language and nation.  He has provided this great salvation, and we are the ones who must go home and share what we have learned with our family and friends."

Montford Cottage Album

This was our second day at Montford Cottage. I hope you enjoy my album.

Montford Cottage

For a couple of weeks, George and I had been talking about taking a little getaway, so a few days ago, he called to reserve Montford Cottage, near the highest summit of Zomba Mountain. 

This morning we packed our binoculars, our camera, some food, and a few changes of clothes and set out on our little adventure. We had never been to this cottage before, but some time ago, we had stayed at a nearby one, so we knew the view from that height should be spectacular. 

Montford is a little house with a wide wrap-around porch, perched on a rocky crag and surrounded on three sides by outcroppings of rock and little gardens of wildflowers and beyond, deep evergreen forest.

By the time we reached the cottage early this afternoon, a wind storm was brewing. 

A fine cloudy mist was billowing over the precipice with gusts of spray blowing across the mountain ridge and swirling around the little cottage. We drove as far as we could onto the property. We could see the cottage some distance up on the crest, but from that point, we had a little hike to the cottage. We resolved to get all our belongings into the cottage before the rains came, but we knew that would take some real effort. First, we had to find the key-keeper, the custodian who lives in the tiny house by the cottage. Meanwhile, two vendors, one selling potatoes and the other a plate of raspberries, heard our vehicle along the road and before we could get parked, came to make a sale. 

We told them we were not interested, but if they would come and see us just before we leave, we would like to buy from them. The raspberry salesman left, but the persistent potato salesman followed us up to the cottage. We knocked on the custodian's door and called to him, but no one was home. 

We asked the potato salesman if he knew the whereabouts of the custodian. He told us he was somewhere in the neighborhood, but he would send his children to fetch the keys for us. At that point, we bought his bag of potatoes and thanked him. Within 5 minutes two happy children, a boy and a girl came bounding up the mountain like a pair of gazelles and dropped the keys in George's hands, both smiling brightly.

Now we could unpack the vehicle, and hopefully, get everything into the cottage before the rains started. George gingerly made his way down the steep, boulder-strewn trail to begin unloading.  The children, eager to satisfy their curiosity, stood near the truck watching George preparing to unpack. In that moment, he decided that it might be wise to enlist the children's help. 

He asked if they would like to help. Both agreed, and the trekking began. George stood by the truck and, one by one, handed off the cooler, the suitcase, the case of water. As each item arrived, I was standing on the porch to receive it. Before long, the truck was empty, and the job complete. We thanked them, then the children started to walk away. We called them back and gave each a 200 Kwacha note. They didn't know they would receive anything, so they were very pleased and stood for some time examining their treasures. 

By the time we unloaded our vehicle, visibility had decreased and the little cottage was being enveloped in a thickening cloud. From the front porch, we couldn't see Zomba below. In fact, we could barely see the trees 50 ft to the left or right of us! 

By nightfall, the strong wind was constant and was whistling through the trees, causing the curtains on the louvered windows in the cottage to billow out, especially in the bedroom. Brrr!  We put a few extra blankets on the bed, and I think we will be ok. We hired the custodian to chop firewood for us, and before long, George and I were sitting by a crackling fire, reading and sipping hot tea. Nice! 

And this is just the first day of our little adventure.