I've just checked the website. Oh, last entry 100 years ago. My primary thought was to change the design. But it's actually about more than that. It's about fundraising. Not exclusively, but it's important to me to find a balance between Shaba and his church's own efforts and my or our commitment.

When I talk to some people about my commitment, my "project", my heartfelt concern, they always shake their heads and don't understand. Some say I'm just being exploited. Others say that I can't save Africa on my own. Not even Malawi.

Others say that we have enough problems of our own in our own country or even in our own family. Others don't say it, but perhaps think that they need to get their own house in order first. I don't mean that as negatively as it sounds. But everyone certainly has their own economic hardships and times really aren't rosy. I can certainly understand your own existential fears.

What fascinates me about Shaba and why do I support him? He is a doer. A bit like I am or want to be. We're both working on the same thing. What Shaba is already implementing on a somewhat larger scale is something that is close to my heart. We are interested in evangelism, we want people to come to faith in Jesus Christ because we have both experienced how our lives have been transformed or turned upside down. But it is not because we are under pressure to do something humanitarian that we want more and more.

Evangelization

As a rule, people run away from God. Like Adam and Eve, they hide from God. Their sin and our sin are comparable. The fruit of the tree of knowledge is our freedom to live our own lives, to make our own decisions, to want to live our lives without God. "Should God have said?" is the introduction to disobedience where no disobedience was necessary because evil did not exist. It was logical that this led to consequences back then. Our disobedience also has consequences. We are like children, even now, as adults we are children and we know our guilt. In any case, we know that something is wrong. Not at all. Even if we haven't done anything, we feel guilty. If not, we distract ourselves with all sorts of things. There is a primal guilt, a primal sin so to speak: we don't trust in God, in the Father. Our fig leaves are just different.

Well, you only understand that if you have faith. Our faith does not make us good people. We still sin. We may not be quite as carefree as our unbelieving neighbors. Our faith also offers us a way out that they don't have. No forgiveness. We have it. We experience grace for grace, which they know nothing about. They take everything for granted.

But what are believers? I think believers are close or closer to God. For us believers, our relationship with God, with Jesus, is important. Some of us ponder God's word day and night, some more, some less.

When I look at Shaba and his church, they tend to be believers who are more bent over God's word or in prayer with God.

Where does that come from? I think it has something to do with the life experience of these people. The difference between Malawi, or Africa in general, and Germany or the West in general is extremely big. Everything that we take for granted is not taken for granted in Malawi. We (still) have an infrastructure that makes a comfortable life easier and possible. We (still) have an industry and an economy that gives us jobs that pay well. We (still) have cheap energy that ensures growth and thus keeps poverty low. Our social system is (still) based on solidarity, so that the poor, the elderly, the sick and others in need have a livelihood. We take all this for granted. This is our comfort zone. This is exactly how we want to live our lives.

Africa is different. There is hardly any infrastructure and if there is any, it cannot be maintained, let alone expanded. There is no industry worth mentioning. Agriculture is the closest thing. And raw materials. Work is poorly paid. The government needs exports to bring money into the country. However, this money is often eaten up by debt servicing or expensive arms purchases to secure its own power. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank dictate what happens. Governments have to dance to their tune. We have no idea. And a social system? There is none. The WHO provides some kind of care. But actually it's all more of an alibi. Vaccination. It's a perfidious business model. Countries like Malawi can't actually do anything. Nothing is changed so that at least a few privileged people are supplied.

And the people in the country? The elemental forces are simply present. Sometimes floods, sometimes drought. Sometimes no gasoline at the filling station. Sometimes no electricity. Sometimes nothing to eat. Sometimes unrest. Sometimes illness. And more often death. People long for God's order so much more than we do. We grumble at the government. Ok, there too, because they are mostly corrupt. Or only look after their own people or sell off the country to the Chinese or Russians.

Shaba, my friend, Pastor Killion, Apostle Killion knows all this. He cares about his people, he cares about the elderly, he cares about people and with his activities he is doing something incredible. People are fed with hope. Yes, Jesus will come again. We believe it, he knows it. People believe it.

In the meantime, everyone has to survive. There is no government or party that can fulfill this hope. The people themselves must take action. Shaba is helping them. We help them with modest aid. If you can plant a few hectares of rice, it means that many people will not go hungry. The workers earn something with which their families can survive. It's not about some grandiose project. I don't have the means for that. I have ideas, but not enough money. The radio brings in income and the word of God can be proclaimed. The church is being built and it can grow. It's like a grassroots movement. Starting something small and with God's blessing it becomes something worthwhile. Perhaps a small hospital will be built. A children's home. A school. Elderly people are cared for. Poverty will be alleviated. Something is growing in Malawi.

Above all, hope. Joy. Trust. Faith.

Speaking of which. That's right. Fundraising. I would like to urgently appeal for support for this project here and now. It's really bad right now. The government has devalued the kwatcha, the currency, by 50% overnight. Inflation is at 38%. Once again there is no gasoline. On the black market, a liter costs 9000 MWK, almost 5 euros.

Please support my project.