Jesus Loves Malawi Update

June 20, 2013 Dear Friend, You might say it was the straw that broke the camel's back. The letter, dated Jan. 14, 2012, read, "Would you please help me with prayer for my family...(I am) lacking food to feed my family. Since November 10 until now sometimes we sleep on empty stomach..." It was handed to us by a friend. For two solid months he and his family had already been experiencing what is called "Hunger Season" in Malawi, when the food has run out and harvest time is still a long way off. We had already been praying about how we could help our Malawian friends combat malnutrition, but this letter was a turning point. We knew we had to do something. Later that day he showed us his fields, and our hearts broke all over again. The rains had come early, and then stopped. Corn that should have been waist high was hardly reaching our ankles, and looking yellow and shriveled. Not only had they run out of last year's harvest, but the next harvest would bring almost Christopher helping to prepare nothing. Unfortunately, this same bleak story could a demonstration plot at a be told by all of their neighbours, and by many entire Farming Gods Way training. regions in Malawi that year. Of course, immediate Christopher preparing a field at a famine relief was the obvious response, but that lasts Farming Gods Way training. only for a short time. We wanted to find a way to bring lasting help, to give them the dignity they need - to empower them to care for their own families without being dependent on aid. As you may know, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, where the average person lives on less than 50 cents a day. The vast majority of Malawians are subsistence farmers who rely on what they can grow for the food they need. But ecological damage and changing weather patterns are making it more and more difficult to farm successfully in Malawi, where drought or flooding, or both, are common occurrences year after year. Add to that the problems of deforestation, soil loss from erosion, and soil infertility caused by overuse of the land (growing mainly corn without rotating crops or adding fertilizer), and you have a recipe for hunger and malnutrition on a massive scale. That all sounds rather impersonal. But we have many good friends whose harvest won't carry them through the year, and who worry about how to feed their families. These statistics have real faces. They are desperate for a solution, and feel they have nowhere to turn but God. And so, they pray. Meanwhile, wanting to find a practical way to help, and with permission from our leaders, we started exploring methods and strategies to increase food security, and found a fabulous program called "Farming God's Way" (FGW) which was developed in Africa, for Africa. Using Biblical principles and proven methods, farmers see dramatic increases in their harvests. While simultaneously teaching better agriculture, restoration of the land, and the biblical principles of faithfulness and stewardship, FGW also provides opportunities for both evangelism and discipleship, which continue to be very close to our hearts. As Malawian farmers and their families learn how to live lives that are pleasing to Jesus, and

how to care for their land, they'll be bringing in better harvests, both physically and spiritually. We believe this will also improve the church's vitality, helping them to reach out and spread the gospel by God's grace. And we can't wait to get started! As exciting as this big change is for us, (and we hope it is for you, too), neither the excitement nor the changes stop there. In order to best facilitate this new ministry of discipleship and sustainable agriculture, God has led us to partner with The Mission Society, a top-notch evangelical missions sending agency. Weve recently been approved to serve with The Mission Society (TMS), and will be returning to Malawi under their auspices. This decision was made in conversation with our leaders, and with their full blessing. But, more importantly, it is a path where we have seen God leading through many circumstances and conversations. [We need to emphasize, however, that we still need to raise our own support, and are still being sent as missionaries by New Hope Free Methodist Church in Bracebridge, Ontario, through the gifts of many churches and individuals.] In Canada, nothing has changed regarding our Canadian "Jesus Loves Malawi Fund," so all Canadian gifts continue to go to New Hope FMC, just as before. In the U.S., donations will flow through The Mission Society (see instructions below). Back in North America, we've continued to equip ourselves for this next phase. But even before leaving Malawi, we were able to attend a course offered by our future colleagues on Farming God's Way, and spoke with many people involved in promoting sustainable agriculture. Upon our return we've been speaking in a different church almost every weekend, and attending various courses, including one on "Tropical Agricultural Development," one on learning strategies for acquiring a new language, and several others. The Mission Society has also been involved in our training with two events and a long reading list. But "the biggy" is coming up soon. This July we have the opportunity to take a required, three week training in India! We certainly never envisioned ourselves travelling to India. But we're looking forward to some really good teaching, and to experiencing the sights, sounds, and culture of India. Our entire family will receive training, and we're thrilled that The Mission Society values training children, as well. Our children are part of our ministry, and valuable members of the team. You can imagine, however, that this will be quite costly (five airline tickets, plus accommodation). So any extra help you might be led to send our way will be very much appreciated. Your prayers will also be a great help and encouragement to us. We want to leave as early as midOctober, but there is so much on our to-do list that we would really appreciate your prayers. Large on the agenda is the considerable amount of monthly support we need to raise in order to be fully funded. We would appreciate your continued prayers that God will supply all our needs, and bless and protect our efforts and our time. Please also pray for safe travels, both at home and abroad. As always, thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. Your partnership is vital to our mission. You share a very important part in this ministry. Zikomo kwambiri! (Thank you very much). Yours in the love of Jesus,

Dean and Stephanie Babcock Christopher, Jonathan, and Sarah

P.S. If you aren't already receiving our email updates (the last one went out at Christmas), please send a note to JesusLovesMalawi@gmail.com, and we'll add you to the list.

To our friends who want to help us spread the message that Jesus Loves Malawi, heres how you can send support: IN CANADA To give monthly: Please print and fill in the "Pre-Authorized Remittance" form (attached) and mail it, along with a "VOID" cheque to New Hope Free Methodist Church. Post dated cheques are also acceptable. To mail a cheque: make payable to New Hope Free Methodist Church with the memo "Jesus Loves Malawi Fund." Mail to: Jesus Loves Malawi Fund c/o New Hope Free Methodist Church 17 Queen Street Bracebridge, ON P1L 1H2

GIVING IN THE U.S. U.S. donations flow through The Mission Society: Giving can be done by phone, by mail, or online. On all gifts please mention: Dean and Stephanie Babcock, Malawi, Acct. #3054 To give by Phone: call 1-800-478-8963 with account information handy. By mail: print the TMS Donation Form (attached), specify the type of gift (check, EFT, or credit card, one time or monthly) and mail to: The Mission Society 6234 Crooked Creek Road Norcross, GA 30092 To donate online or set up monthly donations online log on to www.themissionsociety.org, click on Give, then, under Related Links in the sidebar, choose the link for the method of payment you wish to use. Thank you so much, and may God bless you!