October 29th

Dear Pastors, Friends and Supporters,

It is my prayer that this e-mail letter finds you all well and sheltered in the Lord. Psalms 61:1-4 A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (2)  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  (3)  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (4)  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

It has been that kind of week; the rumors of vampires have finally died away and life in the villages is somewhat back to normal bringing them a little peace to an otherwise hard life. We were able to get over to the village and check the progress of the Agogos house. The builders said they would have them moved in Monday the 30^th first thing, I will check and send pictures. Putting the floors right takes a lot of time and being this close to the end we don’t want to mess up.

After making plans we were to visit with our friends in Tengani. One of the men working with the ministry there has a daughter who was up here in Blantyre and early in the morning yesterday we picked her up and headed down to her home. The transport was full as Grace, Joy, Heath were also going along for the visit. One of the main reasons was to return Bro. Johns vehicle and pick up our ministry van. We had a very good meeting with Nelson and Shadrack, two of the instructors of their bible institute and quizzed them on some does and don’ts hoping to cut down on our mistakes if/when we have a bible institute at Bible Way Baptist Church, Njuli.  I can’t begin to tell you how hot and dry that place is. As we stepped out of one building to go to another the wind would not cool but it would make you skin feel as if it were burnt, tough place. I had the opportunity to preach to about 55 senior citizens (Agogos) and at the invitation many, many hands were raised to accept the gift of salvation. Went to Rackson’s grandmother’s village, it has been as very long time and it was good to be back visiting and preaching Christ. Again, many people raised their hands to receive Christ. 

This will be the last Malawi report till I get home, I will not have Wi-Fi or access to a computer till then. I am giving my computer to Pastor Rackson as his is dead and has been for several weeks. He needs a computer much more than I do. I will have him remove my e-mail access from this computer but I will be able to receive text, what’s app and e-mail on my phone so please stay in touch.  As always, I thank you for your prayers for the work. I covet them and the support you so graciously have given.

Please pray about:

Souls to be saved

The Bible Institute

An outside cooking area (Kitchen)

The many people who have requested us to visit and preach the true Gospel

Money for a copier for the work

A section of land for buildings

May God bless you richly as he has us in His Son.

Because of the cross,

Bro. Chuck Miller

October 23rd

Dear Pastors, Friends and Supporters,

Again, it is my prayer that this e-mail letter finds you all well and secure in the Lord. It has been a long hard week dealing with the government and local authorities.

It all started about 10 days ago and out of nowhere a rumor started about the sighting of vampires in the villages. At first there was little problems but as the rumor was passed from village to village and then the towns the problem became worse. As it is with the world men of the baser sort, they banded together only for the reason to cause fear and prey on their fellow man. It became so bad that the United Nations, the Peace Corps Volunteers and the American Embassy pulled their personal from the villages and issued travel restrictions for the rest of us. As you might have guessed this became a real obstacle for the preaching of the gospel in the villages we had planned to visit and the presenting of the Jesus films at night. The Chief’s said they could not guarantee our safety. After a gruesome event in Phalombe with the killing of eight persons the President commenced traveling the country to calm the people and he also called out the National Defense Force to patrol at night, any one talking of vampires was to be beaten and placed in jail. It has seemed to work and I think things are getting back to normal?

On a brighter subject, we had a wonderful Sunday service at Sand Hill Baptist Church(Mbulumbuzi) with over 35 in attendance. I taught Sunday school and Pastor Collins held the church service. I took my text from the book of Acts 16 and what must I do to be saved. Pastor preached from the book of John, all over the book of John. We were blessed with one family coming forward to place membership and a young man came forward for salvation. God is good all the time and when Jesus is preached and the Saviour is held up He will draw men to Him. Bible Way Baptist Njuli also had a great service with several families placing membership with the church. Nixon Patel who covered for Pastor Kaiwe said the attendance was well over 200. We stopped by at the end of their service and we could not get near the building with all the kids being released. What a joy that is seeing kids enjoying church.

We did get over to the work site for the Agogos new home. Not being allowed to travel has put us a little behind in the work but it should be finished at the end of this week. All that needs doing is the floor and plastering the walls and putting in the windows and door. It will be a beautiful house, I am so pleased to be a part of these people’s lives. I thank all of you for your prayers and faithful support as does Pastor Rackson Kaiwe. I have been pleased to teach bible doctrine to the men pastor has asked to help when the bible institute starts sometime in the future, I so far have held them captive for about 20 hours with many more planned before I depart.

Because of the cross,

Bro. Chuck Miller

It is much larger than the old house.

The old place. No windows Ugh.

When the floors are done and the inside walls plastered this will be a project that will be to a glory of God. His people caring for the old and in firmed which is not how Malawians do things. I am so blessed.

October 17th

From the Desk of W. Charles Miller

Dear Pastors, friends and supporters,
It has been a very difficult week here in Malawi. The weather and the devil have been working hard against the work, the weather is what it is and there is nothing to be done. As for the devil, it is to be expected, often he goes about seeking whom…
After several days, the cold wind has abated to be replaced with hot days and warm nights along with two days cleaning dust out of everywhere and I mean everywhere. If that weren’t enough the farmers love to burn their fields, the smoke is really bad this time of year. Our God is good and serving Him is my reasonable service and the whole duty of man. Can I get an amen!
Thursday, we had women’s choir practice but called off soul winning and Saturday Church because of the weather. Everyone was hunkered down trying to stay warm, clean was not a part of the concern. Pastor Rackson received a call in the early evening from the Blantyre Chief of Police, he called to ask for prayers for the police officers working the night shift. There was great fear about the blood suckers (Vampires). This has really gotten out of hand, rumors running wild and people seeing and saying many strange things. The President of Malawi is traveling crossing the country trying to assure the people of their safety.
Sunday, we had a wonderful service. The Sunday school class was well attended with over 200 adults and children. I taught a lesson on Jonah and his warning to the people of Nineveh, yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown Jonah 3:4 letting them know WE may not have 40 days to repent. Pastor during his time had a few comments on Jonah and then went to 2 Corinthians 10 and brought a fine lesson. At the invitation many came forward, 7 for salvation. After closing prayer, we stayed after and prayed with those who were worried about vampires. They were very concerned about the night. They were taken to 2 Timothy 1:7.
On Monday, we got up early and picked up the remaining materials needed for the house, poles, timbers, nails, wire and lastly the steel sheets all for the roof. It took us the better part of 6 hours as no store sells all that is needed so we went to 4 different places. Monday is a national holiday here, Mother’s Day so many shops were closed or closed early. Rackson was called and told one of his cousins was in the hospital and his family wanted to see Rackson. It is about a 40-minute drive to the Chudludezu Hospital. We went and visited the family and after
the visit I was asked to lead family in a prayer. On the way home as it was getting dark we decided to drop the loaded lorry off at a nearby home of a friend and called it a day
This morning we were greeted by a phone call from the hospital telling us that during the night Rackson’s cousin had died. He was 20 years old and up till the other day he was in good health. His symptoms were sore chest and coughing. The funeral will be tomorrow. The family asked if Rackson will use the lorry to pick up the body from the morgue and take to the house where the service will take place in the morning. In Malawi, all things stop when there is a death and funeral. I had hoped for a better report but it is what it is. May God continue to bless this work and bless you all for your support, prayers and uplifting words of encouragement.
Because of the cross,
Bro. Chuck Miller, smoke eater or dirt eater it is all the same. 😉

October 6th

From the Desk of W. Charles Miller

Dear Pastors, friends and supporters,
Again, the Lord has blessed us with a fruitful week loaded with blessings and abundant with compassion and grace as only He can do.
Monday was a day of regrouping after our visit to Phalombe and preparing for the departure of Sheila on the morrow. I am sad to see her leave, she is my main supporter and true help. The day after she left and I was on my own I partook something that did not set well with me. No need to go into details but I was home bound for two days. It is clear I cannot be left along. Anyway, she arrived home safe and sound but very tired.

Considerable work has been done on the Agogos house over the last week and it won’t be long till they roll up their mats and move in but the first thing was to pick up some cement. They were tentative in asking for a change in our design for the house, they asked if we might change from giving them two doors to the outside to putting a door and lock on their bedroom. That is where they store their food and if they are not home during church some will break in and steal their food. We will make the alteration, gladly. It is planned to have several windows which will be something new for them, light other than fire light. Our God is good.
Thursday was choir practice, soul winning and visitation. Saturday will be “Saturday Church at a nearby village, we will hold an abbreviated service with singing, preaching and teaching with an invitation and an invite to Sunday services at Njuli. This is a very practical program to reach many who work sunup to sundown but work only a half day Saturday.
Pastor Kaiwe and I will be at Bible Way this coming Sunday and things seen like they are getting back to normal, whatever that is. The following week will be devoted to bible study with some selected men of the church, preparing them to teach and assist Pastor Kaiwe with the soon to be Bible Institute. Please pray about this work, it is sorely needed and will increase the amount of people who will hear he true gospel for the first time, maybe the only time. Our goal is to start small and set a solid foundation. It is our intention to have a 6-month course, 6 hours a day 41/2 day a week with
practical’s each week. Over 30 topics will be taught during the time allotted, some might be combined such as the Gospels by teaching classes on the life of Christ. It will take a lot of planning but it is desired by the Njuli Church. It will help with the preaching of the Gospel in this and other regions of Malawi and Mozambique. We have a good plan, people to do the work and a place to do the work, only thing missing is the funds to get it done. I need your help, prayer s and support. I am working on a budget and this will tell us what we can or cannot do. I need you to be a part of this, nothing is little if the Lord is in it.
We are planning a trip to Tengani, four hours south of Blantyre to an area known by the natives as half hell because of the heat. Been there and it is HOT! We will be visiting John Fullford’s work. He is back in Alaska and I have the opportunity to visit the church and preach and teach for a few days and visit with some student we taught several years ago. This will be very exciting and a real adventure.
We have been invited to so many places to preach it is impossible to get to all of them in the time allotted here. Pray to God he sends forth reapers, these people are starving for the word. It breaks my heart I can’t do more. I will send more news of the work later. Thank you for all you do and have done in this work. Rackson and Grace send their love, baby Joy sends lots of clamor as she learns to communicate.
Because of the cross, Bro. Chuck

Door frames are ready

                                Walls are almost ready

Foundation will be finished and cement floors will be poured and windows done, maybe another week. I will send pictures.