Tuesday, May 18, 2010

We need your Help!

We want to make you aware of a very needy project for Malawi that is yet to be completed. On the property of our home church sits a 40 ft. container filled to the brim with much needed supplies for the children’s home and numerous other items that cannot be purchased in Malawi except with great cost. We must ship this container across the ocean before summer of this year. (Our goal!) The total cost pending is $11,500. This is a lot of money but with small donations from many people we together can make this possible. Perhaps someone or groups of people would like to make this a Malawi mission’s project to raise funds and help us launch this container. We will be most grateful to any assistance you can offer.
Regretfully, our recent trip to Malawi was temporarily postponed due to health complications. We are regaining our strength and hopeful to reschedule soon. Many thank yous for your concern and prayers for my recovery. Some of you stressed an interest to hear an update on our blog spot – we apologize for not keeping you informed or letting you know about us personally.
Please keep our national pastors before God’s throne as they are the spiritual hope of Malawi. As they grow spiritually the people grow spiritually. They need much encouragement and helps in their slow process of learning. Most of them receive $20 per month from loving donors across America with purpose to allow them time to leave their fields of work to help pastor their people. With the rise of inflation you can imagine how little this is to a starving family who lives from the small yield of crops they raise. Fertilizer is a luxury they cannot afford – for many water is far away and the rainy season can be a curse or a blessing – too little or too much. Some people have suggested we need to drop this amount of support and teach these pastors to become self supporting as a pastor and as a church. For those close to the cities this may be a reality. For those in the bush – to sell their crops from small garden plots would mean starvation to the family. All these people have to tithe is their small harvest of fruits and vegetables and a little kwacha amounting to pennies in our U.S. economy. Hopefully, this will bring understanding to those who are not fully aware of the lifestyle of these poor people who live in a country with no industries to earn money.
Our mission stories are unending – the prevailing plea for help meets us at every turn and movement in this poverty stricken society. Some we can help others we must turn away – due to human impossibilities. Always, we can offer the one who never slumbers or sleeps and who without fail will meet their desperate needs – He is the Almighty God, El Shaddai, the all Sufficient One, the Nourisher, the Strength-giver, the Satisfier, and Jesus Christ, their eternal salvation.

We have 430 churches. Many of them are still in need of iron sheeting for roofs to replace grass roofs that fall in the rainy season. There is a need for cement to replace dirt floors and cement pews to sit on. Some or mostly all need a baptistery. To prevent the thought of favoritism and the feelings of jealousy we try to help the older established churches first. Due to changes in government we are being forced with higher school fees for our school kids (Children’s Home) and higher paid certified teachers. The need list is never-ending and sometimes overwhelming when you are 2 or 3 lone full-time missionaries surrounded by thousands of needy people who are looking to you to help them in their dilemmas. The “CRY” of the missionaries is as loud and real as the “CRY” of the poor. May God help us all! And send laborers and financial aid and your prayers!! The Homeless – Naked – Hungry – Sick – Diseased – Sinful; the task is exhausting but rewarding when we personally see the hundreds come to Jesus Christ weekly!!


Sincerely in the work of Christ and His church,
Gardiner & Alice Gentry “The Beggars”

Please don’t forget:Container cost to ship $11,500 "II Cor. 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

May 5th

The Team Harry Schenimann and son Eric have arrived safely in Malawi and headed to the round house. Harry and his wife Marilyn have been to Malawi a couple of times helping with the every day needs of repairs at the Children's Home, handing out tracts, soul winning, etc. There is plenty to do!!! They also saw the need for the children to have skills when they reach age of leaving the Children's Home. Harry and Marilyn have been fund-raising to purchase computers so the children can learn skills. The computers arrived(usually not the case) with Harry and Eric, however the government wants duty fees paid. Rackson has been at the Government office trying to get some waiver. It is in God's hands!!

Thank you for your prayers for the Kennedy Family and Dr. and Ms. Alice Gentry. Please continue to lift them up to God.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Prayers Needed

Please send prayers out for Denise Kennedy! She is in the hospital for kidney stones and hopefully a procedure today. They have tried lithotripsy and will try another procedure because of the size of the stones. Denise Kennedy is Dr. and Ms. Alice Gentrys' daughter. As a wife of a Pastor and mother and etc. etc. etc. The family is in need of prayers.

Many have asked how is Dr. and Ms. Alice doing? The weather caused excitement this past weekend but no flooding where they live. Dr. Gentry is feeling better, so much he is on his tractor clearing debris from the winter. God is blessing them with better health. Please keep them in prayers also so the trip to Malawi will be soon.

Thank You and God Bless for adding these dedicated servants of the Lord to your Prayers.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Missionaries to Malawi John & Darcy Fullford


And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. I Chron. 4:10

As missionaries we continually bring our request up to God’s throne and the more we get involved, the more opportunities we see! We desire God to enlarge our coast in the ministry here at Good Samaritan.

In March of this year God laid it upon my heart to call the owner of the land next to the orphanage in Mapanga. We wanted to know if the land he owned was for sale or rent. It is about the same quantity as the orphanage property, about 11 acres, but it has a house on it, (though it is in need of repair and refurbishing) and several out buildings. The response from the owner was that he would be willing to sell or rent if that was our direction. It was during our 2nd meeting that God directed me to ask him about his eternal salvation. As most Malawians would, he stated he would go to heaven. When I asked him why, he stated because he went to church. At that point I took the scriptures and showed him God’s plan of salvation. Both he and his companion believe and received Christ as their personal Savior! We see this added land as an opportunity to:

1. Build our own secondary school. This would allow us to have our own curriculum, have control on Bible teaching and also not to have to spend the money to transport 26 students into the city of Blantyre every day.

2. Build a Bible College that would be self-sufficient and separate from the orphanage compound.

3. Give us greater growing capacity; it already has many banana, papaya, avocado and mango trees on it.

4. Build a new Mapanga Good Samaritan Church that would help control people coming into the orphanage compound.

We are still negotiating for this land and Lord willing we will know the cost within a short period of time.

Also in March of this year we received a letter from the Minister of Lands that they are going to give back 100 hectares of land, up at Ntcheu, to Good Samaritan that they seized almost 1.5 years ago. There has to be a formal meeting at the project site with local authorities and the people of the area. This is an answer to pray! It is exciting to see God work, and to patiently wait on Him to open the door so that we can begin again the construction of the new orphanage up at Ntcheu.

On March 18th & 19th we had a two day school for pastors and their wives. The subject was “God’s Design for a Biblical Marriage”. John taught the men during the two days. Darcy and Sharon Goodman taught the women. We have translated and printed lessons into a book form that shows from the Word of God, His standards for marriage and our responsibilities to our spouses and children. We had over 120 pastors and their wives attend. Good Samaritan provided transportation, housing and food for three days. The lessons were well received and Lord willing they will change many lives. On Friday the 19th Brother Gil Anger came later in the afternoon and talked first just to the men, and then to all for about two hours. It was great to see Brother Anger again after over two years.

On the 25th of March the Greenfield family, Neal, Leslie and Lacy, came to help out in the ministry for approximately three weeks. During that time frame they went out soul winning to many different areas, and taught Bible studies in different villages every week. They also went to a different village every Sunday to teach and preach the Word of God. Many people received Christ as their Saviour during this time. They also accompanied us up to the new orphanage project site at Ntcheu to attend to the sick during one of our “medicine ministry” trips. We saw and treated over 450 people on this day. They were a great encouragement during their stay!

We continue to translate and print books and Bible helps to get them out into the hands of the people. We have to pay much Kwacha for this ministry and Good Samaritan is praying about buying a used printing press. This would cut cost down, and give us a greater freedom in printing. It would also allow us to train and involve more of our young men in the ministry. We have contacted Jeremy Johnson, a missionary to South Africa, for his assistance in locating a used press for sale. Lord willing He will “enlarge” our coast in this area.

On the last Friday night of March we had our monthly “Preacher Boy” night and it was just great! We had 15 young men preach for up to 10 minutes each. There was much enthusiasm from all those that were in attendance, both boys and girls.

At the beginning of April we started up the Good Samaritan Junior Bible College for boys and girls at the orphanage. It will run through August of this year and the classes are:

1. Minor Prophets

2. Homiletics-Boys only.

3. “Seeking God”-Girls only.

4. Old and New Testament Survey

5. The Life of Christ

This year we are scheduling time teaching/meetings in the south of Malawi and northern Mozambique that will last from 3 to 5 days each. We have many Good Samaritan churches in these areas; East Bank, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Lower Shire, Mozambique #1, and Mozambique #2. They have been asking for teaching assistance and we are going to assist them to the best of our ability. We will take as much printed materials as our vehicle can hold and Lord willing we can impart a spiritual blessing on them.

We want to thank all of the faithful saints who give month after month to the Good Samaritan Ministry! At times it may seem that what you give is not making a difference, but I can assure you that souls are being added to the Kingdom of God and it is because of your selfless giving! Also you are making a difference in the lives of orphaned boys and girls that will one day preach and teach the Word of God to others.

PRAYER NEEDS:

1. That the land next to the existing orphanage property can be purchased, and God will

provide the necessary funds.

2. God will raise up other families to come serve in this ministry:

Teachers

Medically trained personnel

Missionaries

3. The health of Dr. Gentry

4. God will provide a printing press and the personnel to help set it up and instruct the young

men to run it.

5. Protection as we travel to outlaying areas and into other countries.

6. God would open the Ntcheu project this year and provide the funds for the new orphanage.

GOD WILL NOT GIVE TO YOU WHAT HE CAN’T GIVE THROUGH YOU!

By His Grace & Mercy,

John, Darcy, Sarah

& Johnathan

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

More April Birthdays!

Evance Jana


Birthday April 15th
School: Eagles Foundation Secondary
Evance is from the Zomba District and his favorite subject is the Bible.
He is one of the students in the Jr. Bible Study Group which helps his training to be an Evangelist. His favorite activity is soccer and Yellow is favorite color.
His Favorite Bible Story is Life of Christ.



Yolamu Kalemera
Birthday is April 16th
Attends Good Samaritan Primary School


Favorite subject is Science and Agriculture which gives time for soccer (futbol)
The color of Orange is his favorite and the Bible Story is John 15:15
You will see this young man as a driver when he grows up.


Lemon Nikolasi
Birthday April 23rd
and attends Good Samaritan Primary School
Social Studies is his favorite subject and the Bible Story he enjoys is about Abraham
Soccer (futbol) is where his free time is spent and the color of orange is his favorite. Which will be found on his clothes and the truck he wants to drive when he grows up.



Here is Magret Maganga born April 23rd
She attends Good Samaritan Primary School and her favorite subject is Science.
You will find her reading alot and enjoys the Bible Story in Psalms 1. Her favorite color is green and she would like to be a nurse when she gets out of school.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Birthdays for April!

Birthday April 1, 1998,
goes to Eagles Foundation Secondary School
Favorite subject is English and his favorite activity is playing.
Favorite Bible story is about Joseph.
He wants to be a Pastor when he grows up.


Martha Kumdaka
Birthday April 9, 1998
Martha goes to Good Samaritan Primary School and her favorite subject is English.
Her favorite activity is drawing and her favorite Bible story is in Matthew 5.
She wants to be a soldier when she grows up.

Weekly news!

The rains have been heavy and that means among many things: Malaria, no internet and most of the time bad phone service. It took most of the day but I was able to get through and get some updates.
The Fullfords', The Greenfields (visitors from Bible Baptist Fairbanks, Ak)Rackson Kaiwe, Japeth and Jason James went to Ntcheu yesterday for clinic. Ntcheu is three to four hours away. They arrived about 8:30am to see approximately 450 - 500 people. Bro. Neal Greenfield was able to help some with open wounds. Jason James went to the people to tell them about Jesus. There were many SAVED! It was a very long day!
Today the group went to Thyolo (cho low) for another clinic, where they met with 60 - 70 people. They are in need of more clinic. Which is simple medicine. Aspirin (needed for malaria), worm medicine and wound care.
Tomorrow starts the Jr. Bible College. Rackson will be teaching also. There are 25 girls and 17 boys signed up. They can't get enough word.