Good Good Father

We thought this next update would be more of our personal journey whilst we have been here.

 

One of our main priorities since arriving has been to buy our own vehicle.  Without one we are reliant on the use of the project’s vehicle, but there are 9 others who have the use too.  As we are situated outside of town a vehicle is a priority, it also means that the 2 days we don’t work we are ‘trapped’ as the vehicle is used for the project.  So we have searched the internet (the best we can), asked around as much as possible etc. daily for the first few weeks with no success.  

 

Last Saturday morning we had arranged to view 4 cars (sounds relatively easy!) however of those 4 cars 1 did not turn up, 2 were in for service and the final one, it became apparent that the broker didn’t actually know where it was located (after 2 hours driving).  Slightly frustrated we decided to tell the broker we were not going to do anymore driving around Blantyre aimlessly and went home. With a planned trip to Lilongwe (capital city) getting closer to collect the last of our belongings it was looking like we’d have to go down the expensive route of hiring a car.  

 

Out of our frustration of not being able to find a vehicle we spent the evening praying about this.  As we did I (Mark) really sensed Father’s presence, and a peace about the whole situation came over me.  It was during this time that I felt Father say and challenge us “Do you trust me?” I felt like Father was saying “stop looking for a car, did I not say I would look after you?” I also had a sense that someone at church the following day would be able to help regarding the transport to Lilongwe.  So with anticipation we went to church, and after the service we were talking to a couple (who we had just met before the service began), to cut the story short, they offered us their spare car to make the trip!  Which, now out of Father’s goodness we do not need to use.

 

Once again Father, as many of you will know by now, has been faithful.  We have a car!

 

Not only that, it appears that the vehicle is a rare find, and a fair price.  It is exactly what we were looking for, low number of previous owners, a 4x4 with the option of 2 wheel drive, diesel, manual, serviced by Toyota dealership (important here as local mechanics when servicing your car may actually remove items in your engine to sell etc.)

  

So you may ask what is so special about all that?  Under Father’s instructions we stopped looking on Saturday.  Then this car literally came to us.  The car only became available for sale on the Tuesday, and was driven to our place of work to view that afternoon.  We did not search it out, and I think because of the price that was being asked, had we seen it on the net, we would have discounted it.

We have realised over the last few weeks that we have always been a couple who are independent and are able to get on and do things ourselves.  We are learning in this season that one of the ways Father supports us is through others, and these ‘others’ currently are people we really don’t yet know but because of our situation we are having to rely on them for support, advice etc as we navigate life in Malawi. It is no longer us doing the lending of vehicles, helping others, the role has well and truly reversed! We believe He is a good Father, and supplies all our needs, whilst in the UK He did that through our salaries and other means, now all of that has been stripped away and we are learning the (challenging!) lesson to be on the receiving end. As many of you know we were able to spend some time in Bethel church just before we moved. God spoke a lot during those weeks; one of the reoccurring themes was that He would provide for us abundantly and protect us.

We are learning that it is only in Father’s presence that things can be accomplished which appear out of our hands.  It is during these times we are recognising what it is to have Father God look after us. We are now solely seeking His Presence, rather than coming to Him with our ‘shopping list’ of wants and needs in this season. By that I mean we are simply asking Father to come.  Of course He does, and we just sit with him, and allow Him to do what He wants to.  We don’t pray, we simply rest in the loving Presence of Father God.

 

Love to you all from Malawi!