December 2004

Dear Friends,

Joyous Advent and Christmas greetings from Malawi!

It is a time of preparation and anticipation when hearts of sorrow take hope in the expectation of new life, redeeming life proclaimed by the angel of the Lord: “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This shall be a sign for you: you will find a child…lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). Are these words of hope, of great expectation? Should we not wonder how is it that joy and new life can be cradled in a manger, in a feed trough for animals!

No room in the inn

No room in the inn! That is the word we of Livingstonia Theological College received as we began our third term in August of this year. The college has been operating out of borrowed facilities, graciously, sacrificially loaned to us by our sister Synod departments. Word had come to us that by the first of the year 2005 the dormitory space our students occupied would be reclaimed by our sister department as they expand their program at their College of Commerce. No room in the inn. Where will our students live? There seemed no options. They would be left without housing to complete their final year of study.

Signs of hope and promise

Behold, Ekwendeni Mission Station has given Livingstonia Theological College the gift of land to establish our own campus, and good news of great joy reached us that a small Presbyterian church of less than a hundred members in Scotland, without knowing our need for a dormitory, has given the college £14,000, a gift which will cover most of the cost of building the dormitory for our students.

Leaping for joy: Great expectations fulfilled

In Luke 1:44 we read that the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy at Mary’s presence with the savior child in her womb. We also leaped for joy as the moderator of the Synod of Livingstonia invoked God’s blessing and broke ground at the ground blessing ceremony for the new dormitory, giving thanks for God’s provision of new life through God’s faithful people, who give as the Christ child gives.

The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10)

Our students have just completed their second of three years of academic training and are now doing five weeks of practical work in congregations before returning for their final year of academic study in January. They continue to perform well, making great strides in their academic performance and maturing in spiritual development. We are very proud of them. This, however, is not without the hardships of being apart from their families and midst the sorrow of death. As they finished exams another student received word that his infant son had died. Infant mortality, mothers dying in childbirth, and death from malaria and HIV/AIDS remain very high in Malawi. Yet our students do not lose hope. We see the joy of the Lord in their lives. The joy of the Lord is their strength!

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy (Psalm 126:5)

Tears of sorrow touched our hearts in February when our good friend and colleague Rev. Martha Mwale died. She was the first woman to be ordained to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in Malawi, and at the time of her death she was the sole ordained Malawian clergywoman in the Synod of Livingstonia. The loss of her presence is still greatly felt, especially by the one following in her footsteps, Rev. Mwawi Nyirenda, the one who has become our source of great joy, who now paves the way for women in ministry.

Rev. Nyirenda was ordained on October 9, 2004. The robe she wears in the picture was a gift from the clergywomen of Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery. New life continues to spring forth, bringing hope and joy through the Spirit of the child born in a manger, who in surprising ways brings new life in circumstances of extreme poverty and death.

Joy to the world the Lord is come: Joy in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11)

We have been busy preparing for the 2005 academic year. As dean of academic affairs, I am in the midst of recording grades, writing annual student performance reports, preparing teaching schedules, and consulting with new members of the faculty. Whereas these past two years I have taught systematic theology, next year I will teach Old Testament III and pastoral psychology. So the journey continues with great joy!

May your Christmas and New Year be filled with the Joy of Great Expectation of Good News that comes to us in surprising ways through the child born in a manger, the Christ, the Savior of the world!

Grace, Peace and Joy,

Rev. Deborah A. Chase

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 58