Hamming it up in the village delivers a strong message

Another blog I wrote for Hope Village while Tracy was away...

Hamming it up in the village delivers a strong message

Posted by hopevillage on August 24, 2012 at 11:45 PM

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We’ve been blessed with the opportunities to accompany Paul and Tracy, as well as Pastor Ganizani, on a number of village outreaches in the last month. Don and I have been hungry for time with villagers, in their own neighborhoods, in their own time. That’s what we love about Hope Village – where all of us live within a village so when we walk out our door we are experiencing village life. Plus, this ministry is outward looking, so much of Hope Village projects take place right in the local villages.

Pastor Ganizani goes out to the villages each week to share the gospel with familes and neighbors of the vulnerable people and orphans that are in the Hope Village program.

This elderly man in the village of Simbi 2 shared the shade under his big tree with his neighbors for our village outreach.

Before the schools closed for July holidays, we joined Pastor Ganizani at a primary school he visits weekly. Here, he shares the gospel to the entire school and, with help from his good friend David (his guitar), he worships with the children enthusiastically and publicly. The teachers even join in … and it’s a government school! I thank God for this freedom in Malawi every day!

Ganizani leads the school in worship songs under the big tree with shade outside the classrooms.

Here, Ganizani is teaching the children from the book of Genesis.

The last school visit was especially sweet. We grabbed the ladies who were visiting from the U.K., as well as Joel, Chloe, Benjamin and our daughter, Annie. They were a brilliant team, acting out a skit about a village borehole. The school children were wild with applause and screams, and no doubt, went home with a good message about our Creator to share with their family.

Here's a brief recap of the borehole story for your enjoyment!  (Don't miss the short video here of Claire dancing):

Benji played the part of the borehole, a valuable, appreciated asset in the village that brought them clean water for washing, drinking, cooking. 

Chloe and Annie played the part of the villagers, shown here cranking the lever on the borehole to get their water. One day, however, the borehole broke.  Distraught, the villagers tried everything they could think of to fix it. They invited many "so-called professionals" who claimed they had the answer to fix the problem:

• Laura played a singer, who tried her singing to fix the borehole. The villagers paid her a fee for her help. Still, the borehole was broken.
• Kate played a witch doctor, who tried her magic to fix the borehole. The villagers paid her a fee for her help too. Still, the borehole was broken.
• Clare played a funny dancing girl, who tried to fix the borehole by making it laugh. This didn't work either.

Here's a short clip of Claire and her dance to fix the borehole. The children went wild!

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Finally, Joel played the part of the Creator of the borehole. He knew the borehole intimately, and lovingly and carefully restored the borehole to its original shape and purpose. He was the only one who knew what was needed to fix the borehole. And he was the only one who did not accept a payment in return.

In the end, the smiling borehole in the blue sweatshirt was producing water again for the joyful villagers.The message? Remember, troubles will come and there are times when you feel you are broken.  Do not waste your time and money seeking help from "well wishers" or purported professionals who have a quick fix for you. Seek your Father, the maker of heaven and creator of earth.

I lift my eyes up to the hills - where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and creator of earth.

He will not let your foot slip. --Psalm 121:1-3