March Newsletter (official)

Dear family and friends,

This is the more official newsletter for March. I hope it is not too boring ;)

I want to begin by expressing heart-felt thanks to those who have been praying for me, as well as praise to the God who hears! On my blog there is a long list of prayer requests and whilst glancing through them recently I have been seeing answers to many of these. Glory be to God! (Please consult blog to see those updates- www.hisothersheep.blogspot.com)

March has been an adventurous month;

 I have visited and stayed with a deeply committed missionary family in Blantyre and learned much in that time.

 We have spent time in the rural village participating in a very special leadership training time with them.

Visited an Orphanage in Salima which was a tremendous blessing.

And also spent time with a wise pastor in Lilongwe, constantly growing in my new missiological worldview!

Time also spent with missionary friends in Mozambique was rich.

I have intentionally sought to broaden my horizons by spending much time with other missionaries from different backgrounds and ministries. This month has been a great success from that point of view. I appreciate this opportunity to do so very much.

Furthermore, I look forward to spending a weekend with a local Malawian missionary and his family in Monkey Bay next weekend and am very keen to see his vision and work of training up Malawian Pastors for Malawi. I also will be preaching at my first wedding ceremony on the same weekend (The couple are already married).

Although language learning for us here still continues to have major interruptions, my conviction to learn the local language just gets stronger week by week.

On top of that, my desire to study full-time has also increased and I sincerely believe this is God’s will for me and that He will make my way clear. I have much peace about my future even though to me the way is not very cleared yet, my faith in Him is strong.

For those who may not be aware these are my plans for the foreseeable future;

At the end of June this year I plan to leave Malawi by bus to Johannesburg, taking down with me as much of my possessions with me that I can. (Which will not be much on the bus) Please pray that I will find the way to get most if not all of my possessions down as soon as possible including my trailer which needs to be re-imported into South Africa.

Once in S.A I desire to re-apply in Pretoria for my British passport which was taken from me last year.

Then I plan to head down to Hillcrest and find a place to live for the remainder of the year and seek to find employment confirmed for that duration. I also desire to visit B.I soon after getting back to S.A so that I can meet the faculty before actually starting in January. (where I am due to commence full-time study from January 2013)

Studies at B.I will take three years to complete the Bachelors degree; thereafter I will follow the Lord’s lead back into Malawi to serve as a missionary, if this remains His direction.

On a personal note;

Give me someone to shepherd and to disciple in the ways and Word of God, then take everything else away from me including my greatest desires such as a life companion and godly family, and I believe I will still be content- by God’s grace and His friendship through the blessed Holy Spirit!

My heart is fixed,content, firmly trusting in the goodness of God, that, ”No good thing does He withhold from those who walks uprightly.” Psalm 84:11b.

“Because Your loving-kindness is better than life,

My lips will praise You.”

Psalm 63:3

Dave.