Tom&Jo (Back From Malawi)

Jo and Tom are good friends... part of our extended community/family. They've been part of New Generation Church in Sidcup and of us (from back in our Kamoflahj days!) for a long time. And for the past year or so, they've been serving Jesus in Malawi.

Their aim was to set up a 'model farm' and to train local people in various agricultural techniques... to improve farming and diet and quality of life and wealth, etc. However, as we listened to their stories and saw their photos on Tuesday night, it was clear that Jo and Tom have become far more than 'farmers'... which is often Jesus' way. He makes us more than we are.

Huddled around Tom's new MacBook (a substitute 'baby' until their real one arrives! Ha ha), they told us their stories...
...of the poverty among some families and the relative wealth of others,
...of misplaced Aid, of hundreds of goat-gifts and other supplies, which often complicate and confuse the issues rather than solve them,
...of loneliness and unexpected friendships,
...of days spent at the crisis nursery, with abandoned/orphaned children,
...of bizarre confrontations with witches chanting outside their home night after night,
...and of the witch-doctor who brought 70 pregnant mothers to their HIV-awareness training sessions,
...of Malawian people whose names I cannot remember, but whose stories I won't forget,
...of giant spiders (Jo's favourites!) and other creepy crawlies, and their pet dogs,
...of a trip to see Malawi play Egypt at football,
...of visa troubles on the Zambian border,
...of a 600km journey in a bus with a broken windscreen being held in place by the driver,
...of their involvement with Flood Church and the new shape that this is bringing to their work in Malawi,
...of God's provision, of favour, of healing and hope amongst big challenges.

Phil.