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Monts Malawi Mission

Deb and Chuck’s Year of Volunteer Service in Malawi in 2023

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Updates

Kuzuna-o-Kukoma (Sweetology)

May 21, 2023 by Chuck Monts 1 Comment

On the top of Nkhoma Mountain this past Thursday (see pics below), a 4th-year degree student said “Kuzuna-o-Kukoma.” I asked what it meant and was told “Sweetology.” As the sun shined down, and the breeze refreshed after the steep ascent, and we ate peanut butter sandwiches, we looked out over Nkhoma Village and miles beyond to the smaller remote villages, and nodded, “Sweetology.”

The same student theologian then gave a brief prayer and sermon about the passage in Mark where Jesus quotes the two Great Commandments–loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength; and loving neighbors as we love ourselves.

Just so happened I was preaching in the Seminary Chapel service the next morning at 7am. I had spent a week preparing one sermon, but I was moved to build off of the sermon on Nkhoma Mt and use the Markan passage as well the very next morning; here is its gist:

After the student’s thoughtful sermon on Nkhoma mount, I, the dutiful Instructor, asked him a couple questions. Question 1: “Can we love God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength without loving our neighbor as we love ourselves?” The other six seminary students thought a minute and answered, “No.” The two Great Commandments go hand and hand and cannot be separated. To fully love God necessarily means striving to love our neighbor as intended and demonstrated by Jesus.

Question 2: “We know we are to love our neighbor (Jesus says so very clearly even as he referred to Leviticus 19 where God tells the Hebrew people to love their neighbor as themselves), but what does it mean to love our neighbor? What does it look like? What does it involve?”

With 24 pastoral students graduating in two weeks–the future leaders of the church in this CCAP Synod of Nkhoma–my sermon explored loving our neighbor in WORD (in our loving speech and verbal witness to God’s grace in Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit moving within us and through us), and in DEED (in literal actions of loving service). We didn’t have all day in the brief Chapel service, so I condensed it down to the following faithful loving actions: not judging others by seeing the speck of dust in their eye before removing the plank in our own eye; forgiving others 70 X 7 (Deb is surely above the first equation of 490 times of forgiveness across our 33 years of marriage); helping the orphan, widow, handicapped, hungry; including where Jesus says in Matthew 25 that when we do not feed those without food, do not give drink to those who are thirsty, give clothing to those without clothing, do not visit those who are sick and in prison, we are not doing these things to Jesus, himself, who lives within our neighbors in need.

My ending paragraph to the future leaders of the church here in Malawi: “Please, my prayer and my plea: help your churches, the body of Christ, to be generous, giving at least 10% of tithes and offerings back out the door of your churches to those neighbors in need surrounding your churches.”

Kuzuna-o-Kukoma! Jesus’ call to sweet, yet strikingly demanding, theology-in-action.

Filed Under: Updates

Four-Month Check-In

May 15, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

[ ] The Rainy Season has given way to the Dry Season with absolutely no rain for weeks. Maize in the fields is being harvested and the stalks rustle in the breeze like fields corn in the U.S. in October. Nevertheless, still plenty of flowers and flowering trees. And, no rain has translated into virtually non-stop electricity the past month!

[ ] One week until many of our friends from The Netherlands leave for home; they have been like extended family (younger than our sons). We’ve shared wonderful hikes, meals, and fellowship. And we will be stopping to see them on our way home in October!

[ ] Two weeks until the end of the semester! So much reading, so much learning, so much connection with my six students, so much inspiration from God’s self-revelation in Old and New Testaments.

[ ] Many former and a couple new donors helped us raise $1500 for Frank’s Carpentry Business Ministry! Thank you! Thank you!

[ ] BIG Summer Plans Ahead…in upcoming post…

[ ] Scroll down for pics from this past weekend. Blessings.

Filed Under: Updates

Crocodile Debbie

May 15, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

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Nice to Meet Your Acquaintance

May 15, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

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Pardon Me, But May I Have My Hat Back?

May 15, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

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Two Grand Stories & a Simply True Song

April 29, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

Dear Friends,

There is an old hymn by an unknown author that is called How Can I Keep from Singing?

My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation. I
catch the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.

Refrain: No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging. Since Love is lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?

Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing, It
finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing?

I hope this letter finds you well. From the words of the old hymn, “How can I keep from singing?” is how I feel today. My friend and coworker is very poor. There is no electricity in the home, there are no toys or books for the children, there is no bathroom as we know it. She struggles with school fees, and food, and …… She never complains. If you would speak to her, you will only know of her deep faith and her continual praise to God….for everything. She has three precious children. I enjoy her friendship.

We had a fun day last weekend. I took her and her children to a stream with a small waterfall just outside of town. She and her children had never been there. I took them to splash and play in the water which I did not tell them ahead of time. I just told them that we are going to a waterfall. My friend was so scared. The idea of playing in the water and playing with your kids in the water was a new idea. The idea of play is new. Once we were there, she got used to it and ENJOYED it!! The kids loved playing in the water for the first time. The eleven-year-old said it was the best day of his life. They all wanted to do it again. The kids were off from school, my friend took the kids to the water to play the very next day!! And we’re going again tomorrow! How can I keep from singing!

My same friend’s eleven-year-old goes to the local elementary school. In his grade alone there are 150 students. The school had a spelling bee. He was one of two kids from town here to go to the regional level of the spelling bee with 85 other kids this week in the Capital. Not only was it a big deal to go, but he won!! Now he goes to the National Spelling Bee!! How can I keep from singing!

I have been going out on Palliative Care visits with a team of people from the hospital. It is heartbreaking to see God’s precious people struggle to live with chronic and end-of-life illnesses. I have been going out with the team for about 3 months. The circumstances of two of families were particularly heartbreaking. The children have severe cerebral palsy. The father of the children left the family because the mother “caused” this disability. The mother is struggling to care for and feed her family. The families around them are poor and aren’t able to help. The children are getting bigger and harder to carry. The children mostly stay in their home. The mother has a hard time doing the most basic things because of the constant care needed by her children.

There is another man among the many many difficult situations. This man had a stroke 3 years ago. He has not left the cubicle in his home for 3 years. 3 years!! He has left side weakness; he is not able to leave his bed and be engaged in family life or see people he knows outside his room.

I mentioned the need for wheelchairs for these and other patients to the social worker. With a sigh he gave me the phone number and email for an organization that gives out free wheelchairs. I emailed them and… they responded in less than 24 hours! I had them call the social worker from the hospital. The organization will be coming with 3 free wheelchairs for the families this week! This changes the quality of life for these individuals and families. How can I keep from singing!!

This organization with free wheelchairs is Malawian and located in Lilongwe, one hour away from Nkhoma. But they are willing to partner with the hospital to continue with free wheelchairs going forward. How can I keep from singing!

On a personal note, Chuck and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary. We hiked an amazing domed mountain, rode back to town on a motorcycle and went out to eat. We are healthy and well and thankful. How can I keep from singing!

We are thankful that you are on this journey of life and faith with us. How can I keep from singing!

With Endless Praise to God,

Deb

Filed Under: Updates

Church Youth Choir Practice

April 20, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

Believe it or not, the song is actually from Revelation 12 where there is a cosmic battle between the dragon (Satan, who is leads the world astray), and the angels fighting for the woman clothed in the sun who is going to give birth to a son who will rule the nations.

https://web.facebook.com/groups/bikingforthebowery/permalink/916454032805783/

Filed Under: Updates

Church Choir Practice

April 20, 2023 by Chuck Monts Leave a Comment

“There are so many problems and struggles in this life, Jesus; when you come again, take me with you.”

https://web.facebook.com/groups/bikingforthebowery/permalink/916454032805783/

Filed Under: Updates

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