Grace Baptist Church, Zomba, Malawi
First Activity Report for August 2009
By Percy C.

Gift T.
This is a young man my wife and I met at a wedding reception on Saturday July 25. We introduced him to the gospel. He attended the worship service with us on Sunday July 26 and we followed up with him during the week. On Saturday August 1, my wife led him to Christ. He went and shared his new experience with his uncle, who is his guardian, and sought permission to continue attending worship at Grace Baptist Church. His uncle was not happy with him going to a different church from the rest of the family. Gift is an orphan being kept by his late mother's brother who is a Pentecostal. While he is under his uncle's roof he is not allowed to change churches. We have arranged to meet with him for Bible study on Tuesdays and to attend our churches midweek meetings. Pray for his spiritual growth.

Victor P.
Victor is the young man I am mentoring for ministry. He is thirty years old and my wife and I have been praying for a spouse for him. On 7th July he excited us with the news that, with the help of his parents, he had found a nice Christian girl in Monkey Bay whom he would like to marry. Chinkhoswe (engagement) had been arranged to take place there on Saturday August 9. Thus we organized as many church members as the Venture could carry to go and attend the engagement party in Monkey Bay (about 200 Km from Zomba). The journey was not incident free. When we reached Mangochi on the way up, having travelled 130 Km, the rear right wheel began wobbling. I stopped to check and discovered that two wheel studs had broken off and the other two were very loose. We thanked the Lord that this problem happened when we had reached a town. I managed to find new studs at a small hardware shop in the market place. After two hours of work we were back on the road. Before starting off I made sure I bought some spare studs. Another 70 Km drive and we were at Yusufu Village, in Monkey Bay area, where the Chinkhoswe was taking place. The whole program was awaiting our arrival. It was a big, decent, and happy occasion for the village and for us all. The time lasted from 14:30 to 17:30 hours. The Village headman, Mr. Yusufu, and the chief Matapangombe of the area were both present. After arranging for the newly betrothed young lady to come and spend some days with us for premarital counselling, we started off for Zomba as it was getting dark. About 55 Km before Zomba the wobbling problem reoccurred on the same wheel. This time three studs had broken off. I suspected that there was something wrong with the rim. After putting on new studs I changed the wheel as well. We were fine the rest of the way. Pray with us that I may manage to have the vehicle in such good condition so that we may have no incidents when travelling to the Reformed Conference in two weeks time. Pray also for Victor and Nancy as they prepare for their wedding which will take place on 5th December this year.