The door remains open … in fact, if this, my fourth venture to Malawi was an “experiment,” then the experiment proved very positive and beneficial. Prior to leaving for Malawi, I felt relatively certain that my time spent with pastors, elders, and deacons would be helpful; but as I indicated in an earlier blog, the moments with both sets of leaders: pastors, and then elders and deacons exceeded my expectations. The question repeatedly posed to me was not “if” but “when” will I return, and with that question was the promise: we will be more organized, for we know that many more people will desire “training in John’s Gospel.” I do not doubt the sentiment of this promise, for it was evident to me that, if those I related to are characteristic of Malawian believers, then it’s very conceivable that many church leaders hunger for a greater depth in their experience of the Scriptures, prayer, and the Christian faith in general.
I will be pleased and blessed, if I can help satisfy some of that hunger.
At this writing, I am seated in the Washington Dulles Airport, awaiting my flight to Indianapolis. Apart from a few winks caught mid-Atlantic, I have been awake 34 hours, en route 27 hours, with another 5 hours until I see 846 Pebble Brook Place. I make note of this for two reasons: the first is that this trip was also an “experiment” regarding those little stones I bear: Would they remain still? Thankfully, and I don’t make light of this, our Lord granted me a stone-free experience; for I was mindful throughout of my 2016 visit: that I am an earthen, clay pot.
The other reason I note my travel time is that I had ample, airborne opportunity to view portions of five or six movies, either on the screen before me or the screen of a nearby neighbor. What we provide the world through Hollywood is an arid wasteland: the violence depicted is soul-numbing at best; and at its worst, it continues to feed that self-inflicting, destructive horror we saw recently in Las Vegas, and yet again in Texas. Without question, Malawi has its self-propagated terrors, but Malawians don’t seem to feed upon violence (and sex), as do we.
Please do not misunderstand me: I am pleased to be home – thankful to be American – but having stepped once again upon foreign soil, I had a brief glimpse of what foreign eyes see. Our soul is not altogether well – including my own.
Faithfully,
Stan