2014: Issue 1

Dear Friend,

What a busy year 2013 has been! There is much to be thankful for as our work continues to grow. As we reflect on the year past and look ahead to the coming year we are mindful of how much of what Hope Missions does happens because of partnership with you.

My husband Francis and I had the opportunity to visit the UK in October and were blessed to meet up with many of our UK-based friends and supporters. We are grateful for relationships across the miles that stand the test of time and thank God for each one of you, many of whom we have not previously had the chance to meet in person.

We look ahead to an exciting 2014, which we pray might include seeing further benefit for the communities from

our agricultural and micro-enterprise projects, a minibus of our own, growth of each of our church plants, sustainable growth for our schools, the addition of new members of HM staff and peace in our country surrounding the elections in May.

May you and your families experience God's blessing and provision as we enter 2014!

Annie Mkandawire
(Project Director)

Visit to the UK and Supporters' Meeting

On 4 October many of HMM's friends and supporters gathered in Milton Keynes for a day with Annie and Francis Mkandawire to hear first-hand about the work of HMM. It was encouraging that people travelled from far and wide to hear how the lives of many thousands of villagers in rural Malawi are changing for the better due to the Gospel message and this work.

Between numerous rounds of tea, biscuits and muffins those present were able to hear about the following:

• Where are we coming from?
• Where are we?
• Our relationship with our supporters
• Finance overview
• Where are we going?

"I for one found it extremely helpful to meet many of those involved in the support of HMM, some I had already met and some new to me."

Martin Elford

Nailsea Baptist Church

It proved a great opportunity for newer supporters of HMM to understand its background, and for all supporters to be aware of each other with a view to supporting HMM more collaboratively in the future. There was also time for reflecting on the current pressing needs of HMM and several donations and pledges were received as a result of the day.

Annie and Francis got to stay with and meet up with many old friends during their time in the UK and would like to thank everyone for showing such brilliant British hospitality. They left very encouraged that although distance separates us they are very much in our hearts and prayers, and we are all partners in the work on the ground.

If you were unable to attend the meeting but would like to know more about how you can support HMM, please contact Sara at sara@hopemissionsministries.com.

Support

At Hope Missions Ministries we rely on the support of kind individuals and donors such as you. We very much value your partnership in our work. For further information on supporting us please click here.

Village training by Nailsea Baptist Church

Team Visits from Nailsea Baptist Church and Links International

This year has really shown how visiting teams can benefit the communities we work into and how they help the training that is received to be put to good use and developed over a period of time.

We hosted a very successful visit from Nailsea Baptist Church in July. The team visited several of the villages for outreach events, leadership coaching, children's work and sports evangelism, specific training on health issues including mental health and disability, teacher training and more. They were able to bring 300 school uniforms for the primary school children at Chapsinja - the children were delighted and very proud to show them off - and were encouraged to see that Chief Chapsinja is getting surrounding villages involved in making bricks to assist the expansion of the school, as the whole area benefits. They were also able to distribute blankets to the children at Biwi.

Blanket distribution in Biwi

The Links International team returned again this October to continue with their regular programme of training workshops, with a particular focus on Community Health Care and Micro-Enterprise Development. They were delighted that the Village Health Committee at Chapsinja has been tirelessly sharing the training they have received with the surrounding villages. As a result the Links team were able to join them to share training in the newly reached villages of Gunde and Dixon.

We already have plans to host several teams in 2014 and look forward to the blessings that these visits will bring, both for the HMM communities and the teams themselves.

A micro-enterprise beneficiary

Provision for the Rainy Season

We would like to extend our thanks to the special help extended to us for this rainy season:

Feeding programmes

While families await the next harvest many suffer serious food shortages. At HMM we are now able to provide each of our nursery school children with one nutritious hot meal each day thanks to the generosity of the following:

• Nailsea Baptist Church
• Star Hill Church; and
• Save the Children

A roof for Kayabwa church

We are thankful to Nailsea Baptist Church for the funds to complete the walls of the church in Kayabwa earlier this year but would also like to extend thanks to Henry Joseph in the USA and Leroy and Novia Johnson in Milton Keynes for funds towards securing a roof.

Minibus Appeal

HMM would love to solve its current transport challenges and provide a sustainable source of income for the future. If you are able to assist with donations or fundraising, or know anyone who is, please contact Sara Millington at sara@hopemissionsministries.com.

Honey Harvesting in Chapsinja

During his visit with the Links team in October Richard Emmett (shown here with Chief Chapsinja) followed up on his earlier training on beekeeping by showing the Chief and other villagers how to safely harvest their honey. This was an exciting event as it was the first harvest to take place since the hive was installed in May.

In Richard's own words, approaching a hive of 50,000 busy bees with only a hat, head mosquito net, and some rubber gloves to take their honey is a 'sobering moment'. It is life-changing work, however, because each hive can save a struggling family from poverty as it can be produce an annual salary worth of honey. It is hoped the beekeeping model can now be expanded to include more families going forward.

Please pray...

Give thanks for continued favour with the local government as they begin to support and join with Hope Missions initiatives (such as sinking a borehole in the village of Chapsinja after we had built the primary school).

For peace in Malawi before, during and after the national elections in May. May we end up with good government and leaders with integrity.

For provision for a new full-time member of staff as we move forward with the work, and that we would find the right person to join the team.

For provision for a minibus that we can use in the field, for team visits and as a source of income.