Having first been to a wedding in Johannesburg followed by a visit to the Cape, arrival at Blantyre was a marked contrast. As the flight approaches you are struck by the lack of any large city or buildings. Most of the landscape is smallholdings and mud hut villages. The airport is very basic with one small reception building with an upstairs balcony. It was from this that we saw Marian waving frantically as we emerged from the plane. What a welcome! Then it was through customs into the welcome hall where Martin and Marian rapidly escorted us to their pickup while fending off a number of eager, persistent porters.

While there my wife, Joyce, was involved teaching at the pastor's wives meetings each week that she found a real blessing. There was a great sense of God's presence as they worshipped. Also, they were not only interested in receiving but very proactive in ministering to each other's needs. They were quick to pray for Marian in her recent illness. The ladies have started a choir that combines the rich harmonies of Africa with the presentation style of the Salvation Army, an impressive combination! Rhynod, the leader of the New Life churches has started a weekly meeting for widows in the area. A number of these are widows due to AIDS. Joyce was also able to speak to these women who responded by clapping each time they agreed or were touched by what was said. We also found a real sense of worship at the local church we attended on the Sunday. This was so refreshing. We often take for granted the rich bible teaching we have in UK churches. This is often not the case in the bush churches of Malawi.

I was able to also share with the district pastors at their monthly Saturday meeting. They each oversee a number of churches from both the New Life and Rock Springs Baptist networks throughout Malawi. This was an encouraging time of worship, teaching, business and not forgetting Martin's bible quiz! I was particularly impressed with certain initiatives being taken. Eric circulates around the churches providing education on HIV. It is a big problem. There is often great ignorance. There are signs up in some places in Malawi saying 'AIDS is not caused by witchcraft, see your doctor'. He encourages people in the churches to come out public ally if they have AIDS as there is often fear of rejection. He then provides information on diet and medication available that can enable them to lead normal lives and not pass infection on to their children. Another initiative is the teaching of 'Farming God's Way', a method pioneered by a godly African, received apparently by revelation, that provides much higher yields without the use of expensive fertiliser. Some of them are taking up the challenge of using this new method. What was a real blessing to us was to be with Martin and Marian while we were there. Just living there can be fraught with problems. The electricity is off every other day for 2-3 hours. The water also regularly goes off. Worst of all was that the diesel supply stopped while we were there. Joyce and I queued with cans for two hours one afternoon to get 40 litres to the great amusement of the Malawians around us. Also, Marian was unwell and needed an operation that she underwent while we were there. God's provision for her was wonderful. A surgeon who specialised in her particular problem had just arrived to do a period of surgery in Malawi. Marian was his first patient!

It was great to see Martin and Marian settled in their accommodation after all the traumas of moving and their previous burglary. They are currently in a well equipped house outside Blantyre and now enjoying hot, running water when the water is not cut off! Their faithfulness is an inspiration. Martin, despite his own health problems, still does a lot of physical work, which keeps him generally fit. We both rode a couple of the new district pastor's bikes home after having them serviced. He took off left and me standing!

We therefore found our visit very profitable and a challenge as to how we can be more involved in future. For those who want to serve, there are a multitude of opportunities there at every level. When I think of Malawi the scripture that comes to mind is Luke 10:2: 'The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.'