Special Edtion: Malawi Outreach

October, 2022

Special Edition;

The Source Malawi

In this Issue; Spokane & Malawi - Village Life - A Clean Well for Chimbo wa Mwale - Meet Our Malawi Team - Feeding Program - Our BIG Announcement!

It is amazing how God connects His people and knits their hearts to specific passions and purposes. Despite the thousands of miles between Spokane, Washington and the country of Malawi, God has woven our stories!

Just to recap; Chris Knowlton’s daughter was given the opportunity to go on a short missions trip to Malawi seven years ago. He felt she should go, so he accompanied her. While there, he became acquainted with the team’s translator, John Ng’oma. This friendship awoke a desire to contribute further to meeting the needs of the people. John was part of a church that had small congregations scattered throughout the villages of Malawi. Chris wanted to help those people. A church build happened; then a well was drilled to replace the stagnant diseased waters some of these villages were using. Eventually two family-based orphan homes were established.

Each step of the way obstacles were overcome miraculously. God was continuing to make a way for more. All this due to the Lord prompting Chris’ heart to continue working alongside John. Provision came though people like you, with a heart to not simply speak of God’s love, but to show it.

The Joy of Giving

“The comfort zone is a psychological state in which one feels familiar, safe, at ease, and secure. You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
― Roy T. Bennett

Great things can happen when we are willing to push past our percieved limitations! Relationships are made, mindsets are expanded, and very real needs can be met. Sometimes the needs in the world seem overwhelming. We wonder how we could ever make a difference. But taking opportunites to step in and try; this bravery can lead to results that ripple into the future. We at the Source have seen this kind of impact both in our 4 Youth Homes in Spokane and in the work happening in Malawi.

This outreach trip was the 7th. Our team worked alongside John Ng’oma and Mika Kayusa, both House Dads for the Source Malawi homes, (and pastors to several local village churches). We were able to take supplies to five villages, some in very remote locations. There were many hours bumping around rough roads, but the people were so grateful, and the welcomes were overwhelming.

Village Life

Shayona

Close to 80 people gathered inside the humble little church building. Our team was welcomed with songs and encouraged to join in the dance as the supplies were brought in and placed in the middle of the dirt floor. Maize, blankets, clothes and shoes are much needed supplies that rarely make it out to this remote village. The joy and thankfulness they exuded made an impact on our team. To be so grateful for so little was very convicting for us.

Mtakataka

With each village visit we would rejoice with song and dance, then Pastor John would help our team introduce themselves. We would share a story or testimony to encourage the people, then have a time of seeking the Lord together in prayer and thanksgiving. At the close of the service we would pass out the supplies.Then afterwards they usually presented us with the gift of a meal. it was hard to take anything from these people, but the maize or rice that they offered to us was given with such love, we ate it with joy.

Salima

One of our favorite parts was getting to sing songs with the kids. Their smiles were contagious and we all found ourselves jumping and laughing as we learned the motions to the songs. Another favorite was watching the people praise the Lord. Their enthusiam for more of His love and their passionate prayers reminded us each that His goodness can be seen and felt, even in places where much pain and need is present.

Mkwera

While the older kids were out-going and curious, the little ones stared at us with shock! We must’ve been a very stange sight indeed. Yet a deep and profound unity was felt, as we are all children of God who need more of Him in our lives.

A Clean Water well for

Chimbo wa Mwale Village.

This photo shows the original well they used for water. It caught run-off rainwater, which caused a lot of sickness amongst the children.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters here in Spokane we were able to pay the $5000 usd to get a clean water well drilled.

The people of Chimbo wa Mwale were very excited and thankful. There are 3 other villages nearby that will also benefit from this new well. it has to be pumped by hand, they have to share it, and carry it on their heads in large buckets, but none of that bothers them in the slightest. This experience redefined luxury for our team.

One of the chiefs greets our team with smiles and hand shakes. “Zikomo kwambili, Zikomo kwambili” his sincere thanks flowed freely. We also had much thanks to give, we had received so much from these humble, beautiful people!

Meet Our Malawi Staff

The Ng’oma Household is the first Source Malawi house that was opened, and is run by John and his wife Eddah. They have five children of their own, Richard, Deborah, Milicah and the twins Joab & Joel and are thrilled that Mphatso and Praise have also joined their family.

The second Source Malawi House is run by Mika and his wife Lucy. They have three of their own children, Grace, Joshua and Shalom, and also welcomed Koreta and Jessy a year ago. Both girls lost their parents and were living in a remote village without access to school. Now they are part of a loving family and able to attend school regularly.

“God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell.” Psalm 68:6

The Feeding Program in Mitango Village

Beans & Rice are served after the kids enjoy Bible Stories, songs and of course, dances!

There were about 180 kids gathered.

We taught them new songs and performed a skit. They thought we were super funny!

Our Outreach Team: Chris, Josh, Steven, Daniel & Kenny all shaved their beards to promote mustache camaraderie, but Nehemiah and Naphtali had to get a little creative to join in the fun for this photo.

Our BIG Announcement!

Looking at 4 acres of land near Chimbo wa Mwale for a future Source Malawi site.

Checking for a good well site.

The team exploring the new location for The Source Malawi Community!

Thanks to the Lord opening doors, we are now an internationally recognized NGO and have purchased land for The Source Malawi Community. This will be the future location for both of the current Source Homes, with room to expand further.

We will be working towards drilling a well, building a perimeter wall, constructing homes, installing solar panels, starting a garden, and eventually even building a Community Center where we can host teams who come to serve, do feeding programs and training sessions, and continue to reach out to the area villages from this more centralized location. This land is near Chimbo wa Mwale village where we just had the new well drilled, and where Mika Kayusa is pastoring a small church. Once he is able to move his family into the new Source home, his Sunday morning walk to church will be cut down from 2 hours, to twenty minutes. The devotion these people have to serve the Lord humbles us and motivates us further to contribute however we are able!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY GIVEN TOWARD THIS CAUSE! WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR HEART FOR THE NATIONS!

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