Day's Diary

June 29, 2007 ~ One Life

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The team from Pittsburgh is returning from Malawi and from all reports, they had a meaningful time while here in the Warm Heart of Africa. But the question is asked frequently by many in the Presbytery, “How significant can a short two week trip to Malawi be?” I want to share a story about one of those trips and the impact it has had on one life in Malawi and is having on the church in Malawi.

In 1995, a group from Pittsburgh came to Malawi.  Among that group was a fellow from Central Presbyterian Church in McKeesport, Vince Veltre. Vince was with the music team that trip, he sang tenor. One young Malawian, who was in the tenor section of the Malawi Partnership choir that joined the Pittsburghers, was Anderson Juma. Anderson was the choirmaster from Kachere congregation. He had grown up in the church from the time his parents divorced when he was about five years old. His mother was a committed Christian but she divorced Anderson’s father, a Muslim, when he wanted to take a second wife. She struggled to raise her family of six children, living in the Ndirende section of Blantyre, one of the poorest and roughest areas in the city. Like many youth, Anderson did a good job of playing the part of a Christian on Sundays and living as he pleased during the week. Just a few months before the Pittsburgh team arrived, one of the members of Anderson’s church challenged him about his lifestyle. She said that she found it hard to listen to his music when she knew that he was going out drinking every night and living in a way that was so opposite to what he was singing about. Anderson was brought up short because he knew that was true. He loved the wild side of life, so much so that he had been dismissed from three different schools because of his behavior and his mother and older brothers refused to give him any more money for school. He still had two years to go to complete his secondary education. This woman’s remark drove him to look at his life and he made the decision to recommit his life to Christ and to give up drinking all together. He was trying to live up to that commitment when he met Vince. Vince had (and has) a strong faith and a powerful witness and he made a great impression on Anderson. Anderson took every opportunity to stand next to Vince when the combined choirs sang. They found opportunities to talk and Anderson shared his story and his struggle with Vince. They prayed together and began to develop a friendship, even if only for a few weeks. Before Vince left, he was led by God to tell Anderson that if he could get accepted in a school, Vince would pay his school fees for him to complete his secondary education. Anderson says he took the challenge seriously because he realized this was an opportunity from God. So he worked hard to find a school that would accept him and then notified Vince. Vince was good to his word and sent the school the necessary fees. Anderson got another chance at education because of Vince’s generosity. This time he made good use of the opportunity.

(Anderson Juma is on the far right. He went with me to Linthipe Church,
along with Winston Fatsani, second from the left,
whom some in Pittsburgh may recognize.)

That was 12 years ago. Today, Anderson Juma is a pastor in the CCAP church. He has served three congregations after earning a diploma from ZTC and now is finishing a bachelor’s degree in Theology at Chancellor College and hoping to be accepted to study for his master’s degree.  He says very clearly that Vince Veltre changed his life, and next to Jesus, his friendship with Vince is the most important friendship he has had. They are still in communication and part of one another’s lives.

What difference does a Partnership trip make? For a young man who was wrestling with new faith and trying to make a new life in faith, it made all the difference in the world. And the impact of that is seen in the churches he has served and will be felt in the life of the CCAP church for many years to come because of his continued service. His education is ongoing, but it began with being enabled to finish his secondary schooling when all in his family had given up on him and this Pittsburgher was willing to follow God’s lead and take a chance on this prodigal son. That prodigal son is part of the future and the hope of the CCAP in Malawi. And he is firmly committed to the Partnership because he knows the difference it can make.

(Journey 2007)

This is one of a countless number of stories of people whose lives have been impacted by a Partnership trip. Obviously I wouldn’t be in Malawi today without the Partnership. But there are so many more in Pittsburgh and in Malawi who have grown, have made life decisions, have made commitments or recommitments, have shifted their priorities, or have reinvested their resources because of the Partnership. We don’t know what impact this trip will have. It is too early to tell, but I’m guessing God has some plans for them and for their lives that will bear fruit in others’ lives in the future, just as Vince’s did in Anderson’s life.