I feel a little like Jude – eager to write about one thing, but constrained by the Holy Spirit through circumstances to write about another. However, unlike Jude, it is a very happy matter which now takes precedence.

Initially my intention was just to write enclosing a copy of a recent letter that some of you will have received in the mail, in which we gave an update on our development plans in Malawi. Within the past couple of months we have purchased a 1.3 acre site at Thondwe, upon which we hope to start building facilities for the Literature, Children’s and other ministries we are engaged in. You can read / download the letter here.

However, while we are really excited about the opportunities this land purchase provides, there is an even greater encouragement to now bring to your attention.

We are thrilled to be able to inform you that after many months of prayerful consideration, our sister Anna Vallance (Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia, Michigan), who is currently teaching at Sakeji School in NW Zambia, feels called by the Lord to join the work in Malawi, where she hopes to be particularly engaged in working among children and young people. Having observed Anna in this role on numerous occasions when she has been with us on MGO, I couldn’t think of anyone more suited for this work. Anna has the full support of her commending assembly, and we are delighted to extend the warmest possible welcome to her as she takes this huge step of faith.

There will be logistical hurdles to overcome, not least because Malawi is still experiencing rising numbers of cases of coronavirus, however at this stage Anna’s plans are to relocate at the end of the present academic year in December, Lord willing. Please remember her in prayer as she seeks guidance regarding where to locate and what specifically to get involved in. She will need help with language study, and as a single girl she stands in special need of prayer for her physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.

This is such an exciting time in the work in Malawi. We can certainly see the Lord’s hand bringing various strands of His purpose together. A key burden of ours  behind purchasing and developing the land at Thondwe was to facilitate the ongoing Children’ work Brother Goodson is doing there, and to facilitate planned introduction of the BES Bibletime lessons, the first of which are presently being translated, so we are naturally delighted that the Lord has also put in Anna’s heart to work with young people in Malawi. We continue to pray that He will work in other hearts concerning the countless other opportunities to spread the Gospel.

Thanks again for all your prayerful and practical support.