Mission Report — March 2011

MISSION REPORT for MARCH 2011
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
MISSION OF MALAWI
PO BOX 60150 BT. 6 BLANTYRE MALAWI AFRICA
TEL. 265-999-741-007 or 265-888-751140 (mobile)
Missionary / Evangelist: Peter A. Halliman
Email: panagioite04@gmail.com / or panagioite04@gmail.com
Website: sgbm-malawi-africa.com

Date: 30/03/2011

Dear Pastor, Church, and Supporters;

I greet each of you in Jesus’ Name, He who was, is, and forever shall be Amen! The God of all Grace, and Mercy has kept us in HIS care and provided for our needs through this past month.

I would like to make a special note to the supporters, for the special offerings which, were contributed for the work and for my family as well, Thank you very much indeed for the generosity and kindness shown to my family and I here in Africa.

The past three months have been trying and not without challenges both Spiritually, as well as physically. Satan has been terribly busy trying to cause havoc in the work, amongst the workers, and even in our family. I am not sure that any family (Christian / Baptist) has enjoyed any duration of time whereby Satan is not busy trying to cause division. Satan has been studying humans for a very long time and he is quite good at deceiving even God’s people. I have learned many times whilst preaching and teaching people, when there are problems I am trying to work through in counselling it is often what people do not tell me, as to what they do tell, which become the keys to unlocking the mystery behind each issue.

God has blessed Malawi with a very heavy and good rainy season this year, the crops have produced, the rivers, and lakes are overflowing. The rains came early, fell heavy whilst in the rainy season, and have stayed late. We just finished up last week with rain almost every day, and heavy rain at that.

There is much to report on and say, however I need to present to you the supporters an issue, which I am faced with that, is of great concern and will require the LORD’S working in order for us to follow through with what is needed.

I came here in 1996 as a missionary, had no land, housing, or even a vehicle in those days. I stayed; a lot of water has passed under the bridge since those days. God has blessed this work far beyond my expectations and the work itself will stand as a testimony to all, both supporters as well as critics. The churches, which were organized here in Malawi since the early years have come to thirty-eight, and over four thousand, have been baptized in the fifteen years that I have been here. The work has extended over into Mozambique and twenty-two were organized. I have stated many times that a local church on the mission field is not dependent on its fellowship with me to remain a (True N.T. Baptist church); however, it is dependent on its allegiance to God’s Word and the [Truth] as we know it to be. It is good and healthy for the churches to fellowship together, however not necessary to exist and function as a N.T. Baptist church.
I said all that to say this, the work went through a purging and many went their own way, this was facilitated through another source and so it is today that there are four of the charter pastors and churches which still work and fellowship with me as a missionary here in Malawi. In Mozambique there are fourteen still with us…

I spent ten years renting a house in Blantyre and had used up the good will of the city limits teaching a Bible school etc. until I was told to either provide the blueprints of the building or else take it down. I was forced out of town due to the demands and load of the work. I found a farm some twenty-two kilometres out of town which seemed to be just what we needed and it provided not only a place of residence, but space which was needed to operate and run the Bible Academy. The land provided space to grow indigenous crops to feed the pastors when they came for training.

The conditions of which I lived under were not conducive to a convenient lifestyle, however, gleaning from my experiences and background in Papua New Guinea I simply got on with what I had to and God gave me peace which [“passes all understanding”] – I lived here at this farm, for three years without electric, and without running water. For the first year, I carted water from town in two hundred litre drums each week in order to sustain myself. The offerings were provided by Cool Baptist Church in Cool California to have a (bore-hole drilled) in which, I then had my own water and good water. There was still a water day and I would still fill up the drums from the (hand-pump) well and carry them on the military truck to the house some four hundred meters. This was progress and I didn’t mind as I lived alone.

I had no ground line in the house, no Internet, no fax, no electric, and no running water. My meals were cooked over open fires and or on charcoal, my bath water was heated much the same way, and my lighting was kerosene lanterns much the same as I grew up in PNG many years ago. The demands of the work remained the same and really the load increased, meaning that more hours were put into the work day by day.

Everything I did here at the farm was done so by hand labour, I had workers which I needed and assisted me in the physical work which kept this mission work operation. Such things as the septic tank, soak-away with leaches etc… were all dug by hand, the farming of the crops were all done by hand labour, much of the writing of the lessons were carried out by hand writing due to no electric.

I did all my own mechanical work, and made my own furniture – of which I don’t own much anyway but its not something which I went out and purchased.

The offerings were once again made available for the electric and this was set in place, after three long years, I had electric brought to the house on 15th April 2008 and was energized. This changed my life forever and facilitated a fluid transition into a much more productive lifestyle as well as work schedule.

The water has remained an issue since 2005 to the current date, however in 2010 I remarried and whilst at a Bible Conference in Lexington, KY with Pastor Frank McClanahan there was some seven thousand dollars raised for the plumbing of the house. I was jubilant and excited that I would soon have running water in the house. With a new bride and family things would now become very different for me.

Shortly after returning to Malawi, I began to prepare for the plumbing and set things in place for this. With most of the septic piping already in place, the water tower which would hold the water holding tank in place, was also constructed and when I was about to purchase the plumbing materials and the water tank I was summoned to a meeting by the lady who owns the farm.

I went in with my wife and daughter to have the meeting and in the meeting I was informed that she (the owner) was considering on taking back the farm. I had signed an agreement for ten years and had only lived here for five. She informed us that she would be in touch with her final decision.
I prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best. On the 10th of February I received a letter from her officer, giving me ninety days to pack up and get out.

I knew I could fight this in court; however court means lawyers, dates, delays, and most of all money – of which I do not have. I have to be a good steward of what God has given me or put into my care and this is Africa – that may mean nothing to most of my readers, but as I was told by a “customs officer” some years ago, [“here in Africa, everything is negotiable”]! If you have the money, you can buy what you what, or “buy off” any one, or anything.

She has more money then she knows what to do with and I would become a mockery to the Malawi community if I tried to fight this in court. I have surrendered her and the evil way in which she has handled this issue to the LORD, HE will fight my battles, and at the end of the day, “the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD”.

I had another five years to live here according to the contract and the amount of funds, which I have invested here, but at this point unless I want to fight this in a court of law and continue to spend more of God’s money in a scam then I must vacate the property by the 11th May 2011.

Each day as we start with bible classes we end with special prayer that God will close the doors for us not to enter and keep open the one where we should walk through.

I am not sure that I am much different then any other Christian, and it becomes incumbent upon us to (know) God’s will in our lives if indeed we are going to make decisions based upon HIS will for us. I also believe that God gives us examples of how HIS people have found such answers in time past, and so I once again turned to HIS Word to find direction and peace. As Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac, he too (the servant) did not know, and he prayed as he went in the way.

I know of no better way to seek God’s will then to pray and then put legs on those prayers. I don’t see God opening a door whilst I am sitting in my closet praying and continue to stay there.

Based upon the work, its needs and demands the following is a brief description of what I am looking for here in Malawi.

I need some land that would be at least ten acres preferably undeveloped in order to keep the expense down. I also am looking for land outside of Blantyre city limits – this would enable me to purchase the land and construct my home, the workshop, and some accommodations for those whom may be employed with the mission and a building for a Bible Academy.

I would need some area to grow some small gardens and raise some animals for food, such as chickens, pigs, goats etc…
I will give some idea of what I have found and looked at already, and this will give you, the reader, supporter an idea of what I am faced with here in Malawi regarding real estate.

An acre of land within Blantyre city that has been (zoned) for residential is evaluated around Fifty Thousand US dollars. This is not realistic to me, and besides I would not agree to living within Blantyre city with the work that I need to do.
Secondly, land just outside of the city limits which offers more freedom and options is going for around Ten-to Twenty Thousand US dollars for an acre undeveloped. This would not include city water but could be piped to it, and Power would be available.

About thirty to forty Kilometres outside of the city, the price drops and so does everything else. The water, one would have to have a borehole drilled and power pulled to the area. The construction of buildings and homes would simply fall into a budget; the cost of such real estate would go for about Eight to Ten thousand an acre.

I said all that to say this, close to Blantyre city is almost out of the question for the work and me. If I wanted to simply reside and live here that would be easy and not difficult to decide.

I have found a place which is some Thirty-five minutes drive out of town, the place is some Fifty-Eight acres or thereabouts, Three-phase power was pulled to the property and at one time they had water – (bore-hole). I believe I was told that water board water was available. The land lies next to the Shiri river so if needed, a pump and PVC piping could be run for irrigation.

There were three houses, which were build some years ago and are vacant. These would need repair and renovation but are the option is there. There are also eleven small houses, which were built for (servants quarters) that would also go with the real estate. The owner is asking near One Hundred Thousand US dollars. This is not beyond God’s working, but out of my reach and I can do nothing until God makes the provisions.

I would like to at this time in the report to add a clause, which may assist anyone who reads my reports in understanding some (legalities) here. Firstly, one must work, and reside here in Malawi for (Ten years) on a permanent basis before they can submit an application to Immigration Malawi for a [Permanent Resident Permit]. This does not make one a citizen, or qualify one to join the Political parties etc… what it does do – is qualify one to purchase Real Estate, buy, sell, and trade in business. It qualifies one to construct a home on their own property and reside same as a citizen. I have qualified for this, and I retain that status in my passport.

Any property that I purchase straight out will either have a clear “Title Deed” or else will have “legal documentation” which would stand for (Identification) in a Court of Law.

I don’t want to be rushed into this effort and I don’t want to feel as though I am in a panic as often, bad decisions are made in this way. I have come to the conclusion that I have to have some place to live and put my family. Therefore I have searched around town and found a house, which, I have made a decision to move into temporarily.

I have met with the owner and made it very clear to him that I cannot lock into a long-term agreement and I would need to rent for only three months in advance at a time. The house, like most here in Blantyre, is located on a plot about the size of half an acre. I feel the best thing for me to do is secure a residence for my family and I and whilst we have a place to live in, I will be able to seek God’s will, and properly look for a proper place to put the mission station.

I ask each of you to pray with me in this great matter that God will not only lead me to the proper place to acquire but provide the means as well.

There is a special report that will be forth coming regarding the work and some issues which I face and as a result of such will bring to light some other issues which in recent date were shaded by some local pastors.

I ask that each of you, whether or not you are a supporter, or reader, family, friend, or whatever your relationship to me and this work, I ask that you pray with me that God’s will be shown to me in this great work.

I know many arguments which are presented in the LORD’S work, seems like the older I become the more I hear about how God’s people all confess that we all believe it takes the “Preaching of the Gospel” to save “lost sinners” and we all believe that God has given the Great Commission to HIS church, thus “The Missionary” however, it seems that many are willing to make the decision for the Holy Ghost in the life of the Missionary.

I am not asking you to help me make that decision, I am asking you to pray with me that God will revel to us now what indeed we are to do with the work here in Africa.

For technical issues with the website, please contact David M. Green, Webmaster.

Return to Reports