EXPERIENCE FROM MALAWI:
We just received this wonderful experience and thought that you would
enjoy
it as much as we did. Wouldn't it have been wonderful to be there?
Thought
we would share a few things with you from the dedication programme here in
Malawi of the new Bethel complex.
It was held May 19, 20 & certainly was a weekend never to be forgotten.
2500 were invited to the actual dedication programme on the Saturday,
including Malawians who had been baptized 40 years +. It was an amazing
sight on the morning of the programme as all the old timers filed into the
Bethel complex. We were making packed lunches for all the delegates when
we
were suddenly aware of faces peering through the glass doors at us - when
we
waved & greeted them in Chichewa huge smiles spread across these well worn
beautiful black faces, next thing we knew these faithful brothers were
singing kingdom songs (many of them from the old green song book) in 4
part
African harmony. The whole facility was soon full of singing, waving old
timers, many of them didn't have shoes, some were blind & were being led,
others were amputees & some just plain old - one brother being 100 years
of
age, others in their 90's. Their joy at seeing these incredible buildings
was overwhelming - there were few dry eyes & unlumpy throats as we stood &
watched them swarm around us.
The actual programme was held under a huge specially erected grass shade.
Spontaneous rounds of applause were the order of the afternoon. There were
many highlights, but one of the special moments was when bro Jack
Johannson
asked all those who had fled to refugee camps to stand up, a mass of bro &
sis rose, it seemed as if the only ones seated were foreigners, who
applauded long & hard this evident demonstration of faith. Another part we
found very special was during the part where foreign delegates from other
branches brought greetings & reports from their home countries. The bro
representing Mozambique began his report with these words "news from
Home".
He of course then explained how Mozambique had been "home" for these
Malawian bros for many desperate years. More rapturous applause, after
which
the bro went on to say how the chimanga (maize) these bros had planted
back
then was long gone as were their make shift homes - but the seeds of truth
which our bros so zelaously sowed under dire circumstances were
flourishing
- this same week a Kingdom Hall was being dedicated in the very village
where our brothers had lived & preached - a magnificent monument to their
love for the truth & desire to share it with others no matter what. On
hearing this news there was a wave of nodding heads, & more thunderous
applause.
The programme went way over time but no one cared, though as the sun
started
to set we did wonder how we would sing the final song - but there was no
need to fear, as planned the final song was to be sung in typical Malawian
style, unaccompanied by music, so as we struggled along with our torches
the
Malawian brothers lifted the roof off - no song book needed - they knew
every word from the days when there was only one to share round everyone.
One could not help but think of Jehovah & his spirit family looking down
on
that spot on the globe right at that moment. On this little band of
incredibly faithful servants, who had been the focus of attention for so
many years as had Job & our bros in Nazi Germany - what a reply to the one
who taunts.
The following day all bros in Malawi were invited to a second programme in
a
local stadium, the attendance was announced as over 17,000, though it
looked
much more as the stadium filled holds 30,000 & we not only filled it but
they were sitting on the grass pitch as well. Greetings came from all over
the world, & wonderful talks from the two guest speakers (Bro Sebastian
Johnson from Congo & Bro Guy Pierce of the Governing Body) served to
encourage all in attendance. The finale was another Malawi style song -
words fail to convey the atmosphere, sights & sounds of those few minutes,
but they are etched in our hearts, & we felt incredibly undeserving to be
there.
As the bros left the stadium some of them with 10 hour journeys ahead of
them, crammed into open back trucks & heaving minibuses, they were full of
joy. We watched as they chugged out, waving dedication programmes aloft &
singing at the top of their voices beautiful, sweet tones to Jehovahs
praise.