Sure Foundation Ministry Newsletter

March 2012

Your Successes  As I reflect on all the wonderful projects brought to completion on our January/February mission to southern Malawi, I can't help but be reminded of the numerous missions I gave toward over the years. In so doing, I was putting my confidence in the work of others, some of whom I knew personally, and others I only knew through a brochure or perhaps a Sunday evening presentation at church. I used to imagine that the goers and the doers had greater faith, however I now see that sending and giving and praying are equally acts of great faith.

So now let me tell you about what you, through your faith have accomplished.  You put a complete new roof system on a two-classroom building at the Sakata Primary School, and in so doing enabled these already terribly disadvantaged children to now attend school on rainy days. It rains often, November through May. You helped them dream bigger dreams. As I asked many of the older girls on your behalf what they want to be when they grow up, some told you they wanted to be doctors, nurses, teachers and scientists. One older boy wants to be a pastor; another, an accountant. Preaching and Teaching You, through Rick and me, taught God’s word in churches, and Bible Institute teaching points, around restored wells, and at the conclusion of a school dedication, and a hygiene workshop. You brought dozens of people into God’s kingdom, and gave many of his faithful ones a renewed hope.   Sakata Primary School You enabled the students, parents, staff, and several village chiefs to gather around for the roof dedication, and listen to a message of hope. You emboldened me to ask them to pray for the building of four latrines for the students. You saw through my eyes, the little girls slinking back to class, with wretchedly embarrassed looks across their innocent faces, having had to relieve themselves in the privacy of some shrubbery.   Partners in the Gospel You have partnered with Pastors Williex, and Stanford, and Dixon, in ways I don’t know how to fully express in opening wide the door for the Gospel message in countless villages of rural southern Malawi. They are so very thankful for what you have done for the souls of the men and women and children they daily reach out to. You, time and again, in big ways, and in little ways have taken Phyllis and me on a journey of greater faith. You have helped convince us that as we prepare to move to Malawi in October, the God of all creation will sustain us; will meet our every need; will use us time and again for His glory, as He purposes. On behalf of the beautiful people of rural Malawi, the people you have enabled us to come to know and love, THANK YOU!  Long-term Goals   Moving to Malawi in October 2012 We have committed at least the next three and a half years of our lives to helping the people of rural southern Malawi out of a seemingly endless cycle of the most extreme poverty, while at the same time bringing the wonderful hope of the Gospel of peace to the beautiful people of these remote villages. We have already developed many rich friendships, and are confident there will be many more over time. This is a most joyous, and fulfilling time in our lives; at the same time we have no illusions that there won’t be trials and difficulties, and unexpected twists in the road.

Clean Water You restored four additional wells in the villages of Hayo, Matewele, Chirimani, and Libwalo, bringing safe, clean water to about a thousand families. You also saved the women and girls of these villages tens of thousands of hours of back breaking labor each year, as their water sources are now much nearer to their homes.   Safe Birthing Kits You distributed nearly 200 safe birthing kits to the Domasi and Bimbi clinics, as well as to several midwives who attend the women as they give birth in their mud huts with dirt floors, with not even a bed to lie on. More lives were saved. I wish I knew how to convey the heartfelt thanks; the beautiful smiles; the unique Malawian handshakes, so rich with meaning.    It is truly humbling to receive monetary gifts toward our work; to know there are friends back home faithfully praying for us. The friends who had Phyllis over to dinner, or took her out to a restaurant while I was in Malawi; those who told me that if I somehow got in over my head while in Malawi they were only a phone call away, and would find a way to assist me, whatever the need; my dear friend Rick Peacock, who knew not what he was getting into when he agreed to accompany me.  We are so thankful to all of you. Missions Outreach to Mozambique You helped finance Sophia Pensulo as she journeyed with her husband, Pastor Stanford to Mozambique for the entire month of February, and conducted our very first workshops in that neighboring nation. Stanford meanwhile taught God’s word to the Bible Institute students there.   Month of March Ministry Latrines- We are currently working to raise funds for four latrines at the Sakata Primary School, as the students now have to relieve themselves in the shrubs. These latrines will cost a mere $360 each, and someone last week donated the full cost of one latrine, and the cost of a second one was pledged this week. We hope to have raised the remainder within the next couple weeks in order to begin the work by the end of the month. Still needed                                 $720 Hygiene Workshop- Two of our indigenous workers who Phyllis trained this past summer will be conducting a hygiene and sanitation workshop in the village of Hayo for a large group of women. Our first well repair on our January/February trip was conducted there, and the chief, a lovely woman named Elizabeth, most graciously accepted our offer to come teach these life-saving techniques. As with our previous workshops, a meal consisting of stewed goat meat, rice, and vegetables will be served .                                                                                  Well Maintenance on three wells with accompanying workshops at each location. These workshops will enable the men and women of these villages to perform basic preventive maintenance and minor repairs on their own wells, making them much less reliant on scarce outside help, and helping them to have a more dependable supply of safe, clean water. All parts, labor, transportation costs, and compensation to our instructors are already covered.      An Open Door for the Gospel We ask you, each one, to consider partnering with us first of all in prayer, that the Lord will lead and guide us every step of the way, and that doors of opportunity to work hand-in-hand with the people there would continue to open, even well beyond what we have already witnessed. We also request that each one of you who receives this newsletter consider monthly commitments, no matter the size, to help us reach out in love to the poorest of the poor in Malawi, and neighboring Mozambique as our work is now beginning to open there also. In return, our commitment is to use every resource, monetary, and otherwise as effectively as possible. You will find a link on our website www.surefoundationministry.com to give securely online.