Day Three: Cornerstone Ministries

Today we visited Cornerstone Ministries about an hour and a half east of Lilongwe near Lake Malawi. When Dave was here in 2014, Cornerstone held their ministries for children in a rented home and in public school buildings. But Cornerstone was one of the ministries that had not yet built nor begun building facilities to house the ministries on their own land. 

As we began the day sitting in that same rented house with the Cornerstone team — Danneck Falinya, his co-leader Leo Chanza, Tionge Matangula and Chikonti Chirwa, who all spent two years as a fellow in the U.S., and two younger
leaders, Glory Munthali and Chikondi Khabaka, who may be fellows in the program next year — we talked about how they are doing so much with so little. Cornerstone faces the ongoing challenge of providing the resources needed in a fast growing ministry. 

This year they had to make the choice between buying books or taking the summer camp children on a trip to Lilongwe, which had been an annual event. Unfortunately, they had to disappoint the summer campers and cancel the trip.  

We then took a 10-minute ride to discover two completed classrooms that will house 9th and 10th grade this year, two additional classrooms almost complete for the 11th and 12th grades, a well cared for garden, a well that grateful village residents have free access to use and a staff of seven teachers in the school. All of this is on a beautiful piece of land they purchased with room someday for staff housing and more. Danneck told us about an anonymous leadership gift that got the ball rolling for the school. We know it’s that kind of generosity, from unnamed people that God is using in powerful ways. 

Cornerstone has caught up! The quality of the leadership is as strong as it is in the other UPI ministries. 

 Glory is a teacher who talked with special pride about how a team of her girls beat the village women in games that combine basketball and handball. The difference she saw in the girls after the series of victories was striking. For these leaders, the goal has never changed -- it's for young people to develop the skills needed to serve God well and the character needed to do it like Jesus. 

All of us shared in a beautiful lunch overlooking the deep-blue waters of Lake Malawi.

These leaders asked us to say hello and thank so many people back home who are praying for them and providing financial support. 

Children living near Cornerstone Christian High School, who may someday 

have the opportunity to attend and be part of this life-changing ministry.  

Tomorrow morning, we meet in Lilongwe with the executive directors for most of the UPI ministries. Our goal is to have conversations about how those of us in the U.S. might maximize our effectiveness as we support these ministries. At the same time, explore how these ministries can give us the information we need to support them. Dave is thinking in particular about how pastors and churches can make even better heart-to-heart and person-to-person connections.

Our days have been  wonderful but tiring. 

Mulungu Akudalitseni (God Bless You), 

— Dave and Nancy  

The Cornerstone team (back) joined by executive director of YouthCare Ministries, Gibozi Mphanzi. 

Fish from Lake Malawi in a hand-carved boat.
No, Dave did not catch the fish! 

I broke the language policy! For students who don't speak English. 

 

A beautiful Malawi sunset taken from the car on the way back to Lilongwe.