Papalala za Ongwala

It has been a while since I updated the blog. We continue to support the three Malawian Pastors Julius, Hassan, and Steven.

Pastor Julius Damson is now working in the district of Nsanje in the farthest Southern region of Malawi. The people of Nsanje are traditionally Sena people, or Mang'anja. The predominant language is Chichewa, but Chisena, Chimang’anja, English, and Portuguese are also spoken.

A rain cult holds position south of Nsanje boma worshipping a deity called Mbona. His head was cut off hundreds of years ago and out flowed a river of blood. He now returns to his wife’s home every so often in the form of a python to tell prophecies for the coming year.

The temperature gets as high as 52 °C (126 °F) in November and as low as 8 °C (46 °F) in June. Rainfall averages around 750 millimetres (30 in) yearly, coming January through April.

Nsanje is one of the poorest districts in Malawi and is virtually dependent on government and NGO aid. The main income is from small holder farming. Maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and cotton are all grown using almost entirely rain fed agriculture. This area gets flooded often in the rains with a complete loss of crops and huts.

This is a church in Nsanje where Pastor Julius Damson is now preaching.

Pastor Julius continues to give free water from the taps connected to his house in Manyowe Village. This is proving to be extremely expensive due to corruption by the Blantyre Water Board, who don't produce proper water bills.

Hassan is in the outskirts of Lilongwe. He continues to help others and preach the word. He says a bag of maize costs K 10,000. He visits to the prisons and hospitals and is a humble poor man but shares what he has.

This is Hassan Stambuli’s Photo of the congregation of his Church outside Lilongwe.

Steven is in the north Muzu and he too is visiting the prisons and hospitals. He continues to share and work hard among the people in Muzu, as well as together with Muslims.

This is a photo of Steven’s family.