A Super Sunday Celebration

Live from Malawi - Mizzou for Malawi

More than anything, the experiences of today have left me speechless - and for those of you who know me, that doesn't happen very often. It is hard to put into the words the joy and love and fellowship I felt today. We began today by attending church at Pastor Peter Maseko's church, Salima Baptist Church. His congregation was there to welcome us and we worshiped together for two and a half hours. The service was inspirational to say the least. Although the words were in a different language, you could feel God's presence and the language barrier no longer mattered. Hallelujah and Amen are the same in Chichewa as English. What beautiful words to share in common.

After the service, we traveled to the Pothawira site. Peter invited the entire congregation and they willingly and joyfully packed into trucks to travel to the building. To share today with them was beyond meaningful.

We held a dedication for the school/church at Pothawira. Going into this, we were not exactly sure how we would approach it. All we knew is that we needed to dedicate it and pray over it. At times it is best to acknowledge how little we are in control and to hand it over to God.

Peter opened up by explaining the vision of the village to the crowd. For some, it was the first time they realized this would be a school and a church. After Peter spoke, he asked us to say a few words. I stepped forward and made it through about two sentences before I was emotionally overwhelmed and Kyle had to take over. I enjoy speaking in public and to be rendered speechless was incredibly humbling. The three of us then each read a verse. I read Jeremiah 29:11, Bree read 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 and Kyle read Hebrews 11:1. We felt that each of these verses held a special meaning for the school, the church, the children, and their collective futures. We wanted to remind them that God has a plan and will give them hope and a future.

Following the reading the verses, I led the group in prayer. All the adults stood in a circle holding hands around the main room in the building. The children then formed a smaller circle inside of the adult's. Peter and I stood in the center of the children's circle. Peter held my hand while I prayed and translated. I'm not sure if I have ever felt closer to God than while praying surrounded by such humble believers and holding the hand of a man so filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a peace and a confidence that comes from God through Peter that I know I could not have prayed without.

After our main prayer, we divided into groups and prayed over every room in the school/church. This time together included prayers from our team, from the congregation and beautiful songs. I remember standing in one room while the Malawians sang a song of which I did not know a single word. Tears were streaming down my face and the sun was beaming down on us. God was surely present.

Seeing children running through the rooms that will someday serve as classrooms made every single second of the past two years worth the wait. And to know that this building will provide hope for so many children and will enable them to succeed when others have doubted their purpose is an overwhelming thought.

My words cannot do today justice, but I hope you get a small taste of what we experienced.

Hallelujah and Amen,

Libby

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Looking over Libby's words above, she speaks for all of us in expressing the unforgettable moments and blessings that took place this afternoon. I wish I could communicate the beauty of seeing a community come together in faith. During the church service, Pastor Maseko briefly explained that we are building a community but didn't go into much detail. It was not until everyone arrived at the location that he explained the vision that God was unfolding in the Pothawira village. That was the beauty of it -- at the point of invitation, these people only had heard that God was at the center of the work that was being done; they did not know of the opportunity that this community was bringing to their village. Thus, they blindly came to praise God for what He is doing in this special place. It was a beautiful unveiling, seeing that this indeed is the exact place where God wants this school to be. Both at church and on the cement floor of the roofless school construction, the community members sang and sang. I distinctly remember the thought crossing my mind, "Do you think their voices ever get tired?" But clearly, the joy and hope of their hearts would never cease their praise. I closed my eyes for a few moments, and without even knowing the words, I felt the presence of God. Emotion took over, and I knew this had to be the sounds of Heaven.

Although video cannot capture it in the same way, I look forward to sharing the clips from today with all at a later date. Please keep their hearts and needs in your thoughts and prayers.

Kyle Kilroy

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"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17

I am happy to follow Kyle and Libby's words about our experiences today, because they did a beautiful job describing what was really an indescribable morning. I'm not sure I would have known where to begin. We could not have asked for a more perfect or joyful celebration to commemorate the work that has already been done by so many for the Pothawira village. Many thanks are in order to Paster Peter Maseko and his wife, Emma, for their inspiring ability to bring people together in God's name.

Stepping onto the Pothawira property for the first time earlier this week brought tears to my eyes. As Libby said, the past two years were definitely worth the wait. Throughout this week, as our group has reflected on how far we've come, and how much more God has planned for the future of this place, every thought came right back to the children who will live here. Of course, for Kyle, Libby and me, our first thoughts are with the school and church facility that has forever given this project a special place in our hearts. As we prayed over the unfinished building during the ceremony this morning, we were excited to be able to provide hope for the children who will find a home here. "Pothawira" means "safe haven" in Chichewa, and that is exactly what this place will be.

As the students at Mizzou have known and worked for all along, this school, this chance for an education that would not otherwise be available, will give the children of Pothawira a stepping stone to better their lives. For many, this will be the first time they have had a textbook for themselves. The first time they have seen a science laboratory, or a computer. Who knows what future business leaders, pastors, doctors, or politicians will graduate from this school. We are excited to provide these students with worldly knowledge.

But this project is so much more. It is visible even in the design of the village; the church is placed at the heart of the school. Above all, we hope to provide these students with the opportunity to know Christ. As the girls mentioned earlier, God's presence was tangible during the ceremony this morning - through the prayers offered up in each classroom of the building, through the joyous songs whose meanings move your soul without having to know the words, and through the conversations conducted only through smiles. I can only hope everyone who enters this facility in the future experiences the joy we did today.

I cannot believe we only have one day left here in Malawi - one more day to travel to villages full of beautiful people living for Him, one more day to spend with Peter, Emma, and their precious daughter Alpha, and one more day for a baboon to steal someone's breakfast off the table right in front of them. Although I will be sad to leave, this trip has only solidified the fact that Malawi will always have a piece of my heart.

For Malawi,
Bree Dunn