Mission Moments: Malawi
Seeing and walking with God in His creation
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Damson Samson heads for the hills in southern Malawi.
In his 33 years of walking the earth, Damson Samson never had experienced anything like “evangelism week” on Malawi’s Mulanje Massif in June.
Climbing For Christ’s missionary to East Africa has taught many lessons and led many studies in the first two years he has ministered with us. But to speak about God’s creation, discuss sin, teach about teamwork, provide Bibles to and also pray with guides and porters while trekking was unlike anything he had done before.
Damson considered himself the wealthiest and happiest man alive in those moments.
Mountain Club of Malawi map of huts and trailheads on Mulanje.
“We started all together with our Fort Lister brothers to Sombani Hut,” Damson said, describing the trek. “On our way we had time to review how God made it possible to bring out such a wonderful creation. Then we learned that it was His will for a man to stay at a wonderful place on earth.
“Considering that it was all creation first before a man was made, and then after a man was made to take charge of all that was created, for it pleased God to have a great honor to a man.”
Damson was speaking about the creation of the world in Genesis 1 and the creation of man in Genesis 2.
“Going up (the mountain) we saw how sin was brought about by just seeing our beautiful creation, which has been vandalized by man,” he continued. “For example, those who are smoking automatically put down the wonderful healthy life they could have lived and given thanks to God.”
Those who drink beer, he said, give up the ability God has given them to determine right from wrong.
“We had more to share on our way, looking at how we shared (carrying) the bags,” Damson said. “We came to understand how wonderful it is working as a team.”
Damson first organized this team in February and then began evangelism training for them in April.
“As C4C members, we need to learn to be working as a team and this is the will of God to be successful in all we are doing,” he said. “Many churches and organizations are not growing due to the self-doing life, which is not depending on teamwork.
“Every human should learn to respect creation,” Damson went on, “for the spirit of destruction has come to bring tears to life on each, and reduce our appreciation as well as the thanks we are giving to God.”
That night at Sombani Hut, the group prayed together. God’s plan also had them meet others at the hut, one of nine maintained by the Mountain Club of Malawi (MMCT) and the Forestry Department.
Damson had an opportunity to share from Genesis 1:26 (“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”). He explained that “man (was) to be in the nature of God right here on earth.”
After delivering this message the group was able to put the lesson into practice, praying for a sick woman. “By the grace of God by morning she was completely healed,” Damson reported.
“Asking them to give account about what they have seen, they thanked God for such a wonderful opportunity given to them,” like none before. “There has never been any church to come to them. They thanked C4C for doing it.”
The following day, they trekked to Thuchila Hut – about a six-hour hike from Sombani. They met some brothers there from Tinyade. There were also two tourists from New Zealand at the hut. They were not Christians, but appreciated what the Climbing For Christ members had to offer.
“We shared with one another from the book of Mark, chapter 2, verses 1 and 2,” Damson said, referring to: “And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.”
“The main emphasis was bringing up Jesus as the man of influence, and where He is available many are gathering and there will be a great change to the lives of many. Those who receive Him must know they possess great things and (provide) revival to those afflicted around the globe. We can be more influence to others in Christ Jesus.”
As Damson met with a dozen C4C members at the Thuchila Hut, he distributed Bibles. We purchased these Bibles so the guides and porters had their own, some for the first time in their lives. “Some were saying they had to borrow from other friends, but now that will be the story of the past,” Damson said.
From Thuchila it was three hours to Chisepo Hut and the base of Sapitwa Peak, Mulanje’s highest point at 3,002 meters (9,849 feet). They met brothers who hiked in from Likhubula. There was also a large group of eight tourists who arrived at the hut, but they were tired from trekking and went to bed.
Again, Damson distributed Bibles and “we came together for a Bible study and (a time of) prayer” as a group that now numbered 10. This is where we talked about holiness from Matthew 5:8 (“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”). We highlighted that as people who are ready to share the Gospel we need to maintain our holiness for it grants us the possibilities to see God.”
That night, Damson talked to the guides and porters about having goals in life. He says this is a major challenge for those working on the mountain. “They don’t have a plan for life,” he explained. “Whatever they get vanishes in a short time. It keeps them struggling with life.”
Those struggles include carrying more weight that is recommended on the mountain. Mulanje today is like the more-popular and much-higher Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania two decades ago. (Damson also disciples guides and porters and joins us in teaching evangelism among members of our Kilimanjaro Chapter. He’ll join us in climbing on Mission: Kilimanjaro 2016.)
“In most cases, the porters carry big bags of 30 kilograms (66 pounds) and above, while the recommended weight is 18 kilograms (40 pounds),” Damson said. “But they don’t have any options.”
The excessive weight hurts the men’s opportunity to answer divine appointments. “They are weak with the heavy loads they carry.” The possibility of us providing a scale so weight can be better distributed is one potential solution as we desire to see God’s message delivered among the many peaks that make up the Mulanje Massif.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
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