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Gabriel Padlock |
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Gabriel is a perfect example of the huge difference you can make in the life of a child.
His smile is a warm and genuine as the African sun. You would never know by looking at this joyful face how difficult his life is with the disability he has. His palsy and limited motor skills don't keep him from helping out his mother and four siblings.
We included him in Miqlat's program due to his pressing needs, knowing that the Lord would provide a sponsor like you!
To sponsor Gabriel,
ID#10250531or any of Miqlat's other precious orphans click  here or on Gabriel's photo. |
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Click here to join the fun on Miqlat's Facebook page! Become a fan and post messages to our staff and sponsored children. |
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| A Big God |
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"We have a big God with a big heart for a big world---almost seven billion people, many of whom have no opportunity to see 'Jesus with skin on.'"
Donna Partow
If you would like to be "Jesus with skin on" like Suzi Kneedler (photo above) from Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, click here to get information about an upcoming missions trip to Malawi with Miqlat in the fall of 2010. |
| Prayer Requests |
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Prayer is as essential to this ministry as air and water!
Pray for more financial partners as the Lord continues to expand Miqlat's ministries.
We are asking the Lord to provide Miqlat with a reliable pickup truck in Malawi.
Pray for continued safety and good health for our staff in Malawi and USA.
Our COO Charlie Dean returns to Malawi in March after his furlough. Dan Gillespie will be flying with him to stay for a few short weeks. Pray for travel safety, stamina and multiplied time for them both.
Twenty-three children need to have sponsors.
Various groups of volunteers from the USA (both alumni and new teammates) will be returning to Malawi for specialty projects in March, April and May-August. Pray for provision and God's perfect timing.
Rejoice with us as Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church from Fair Oaks near Sacramento, California has joined Miqlat in partnership to open a second Hope Center in the Chiradzulu District. Look for March's newsletter for all the wonderful details. | |
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| Miqlat Ministries Newsletter |
With Love, from the USA and Malawi Miqlat Team!
It seems as though the Christmas decorations were barely put away before the store shelves here in the States were loaded with Valentine goodies. Looking at all those lacy hearts can't help but remind us of the true and perfect love that Jesus Christ offers to each of of us. We see the love of Jesus demonstrated in you with your loving and generous prayers and support of our Miqlat team. For this we are truly grateful.
You can give us a Valentine gift for free by clicking here to forward this email to some of your friends.
Yesu ndiye muzu weniweni wa chikondi!
(Jesus is the main root of love!) |
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What Love Looks Like |
 The main reason I (Laurette Hoagland, Miqlat's Board Member) kept noticing Josephe amongst the crowd of kids at the Hope Center was that he was constantly hitting and tormenting the other children. He started hanging around with the hopes of a bite of leftover lunch from someone's plate or the trash cans. When I asked the staff about him, they could only say "this one is NOT wonderful!" Upon further inquiry, we learned that Josephe was a double orphan, and had recently come to live with a relative near Miqlat's Hope Center after his mother was murdered by his father.
The Lord really pressed this little guy into my heart, and the verse "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me (Jesus)"; hit me like an electric shock (Matt 25:40). Suddenly Jesus looked like a little love-starved and damaged six year old boy. So we promptly enrolled Josephe into Miqlat's Orphan Feeding program. The Lord also assigned me the task of loving Josephe into better behavior, and giving him an assurance of his place in God's Kingdom. With a hot lunch warming his tummy, new clothes warming his body, and the love of Jesus shared through our staff and myself, the changes in this little boy were nothing short of miraculous.
This story gets even better! A couple of months after enrolling Josephe, he came to me one day with a very raggedy little friend who had a huge sore on his foot. Josephe put this little boy's hand in mine and simply said "help Chisomo". This was also evidence of the miracle in Josephe's heart as we had been working on his violent jealousy of my attentions on other children. As soon as I could see through the tears, we helped Chisomo, starting that very day. After getting him into Miqlat's medical clinic, 
we gave him a hot lunch and dug up a new pair of shorts and a t-shirt to replace the "barely there" rags he was wearing. We learned that Chisomo (the name means Grace in Chichewa) lived with a mother who is mentally ill and no father. He changed so completely, that I didn't recognise him a few days later with his huge bright grin, all fear gone from his eyes and a big playful bounce in his step.
A few weeks later, Monica Diaz, a dear sister  from my home church in the USA, arrived in Malawi for a short-term missions trip, listened to Chisomo's story and agreed to sponsor him on the spot! Truly a love story of God's provision and grace. So, what does love look like? Love walks in obedience wherever God places us so that we recognize what two little "least of these" brothers of Jesus needs.
Love can be as simple as that. |
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Miracles from God |
 For several years now, we have been praying that the Lord would supernaturally provide HIV/AIDS testing for every child in Miqlat's care. And just last month, He did, in the form of thirty-six student nurses from Wisconsin! They tested and screened and loved and played with our children tirelessly for an entire week. What an amazing gift from God!
As thrilling as it was to to have our prayer for testing answered, the miracle arrived with the results of the testing. Out of all our children , less than 2% tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Compare this with the national average of 11-17%. Only God could protect our beloved children from contracting this dreaded disease as many of their parents are now deceased from HIV/AIDS. Join us in a mighty shout of praise to our Jehovah Jireh, who provides, and Jehovah Rapha who heals! Will you also continue to partner in prayer that the five children who tested positive will be completely healed by the Lord while taking antiviral medications. |
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Happy Birthday??? |
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Do you know the date of your birth? Of course you do! But this isn't a silly question in Malawi. Most of our children don't know the day they were born, and some are even unsure of the year. Considering the illiteracy rate of most adult villagers and the hardships of their lives it becomes understandable why details like dates and birthdays become lost. This is why Miqlat is so passionate about each child getting a good education and requires every sponsored child to faithfully attend school. No more "lost" days, no more "lost" opportunities. | |
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This is the lean and hungry time of year in Malawi, the few months before harvest season. We are praising God for your faithful partnership with Miqlat that keeps little tummies full during the time when many children die for want of anything to eat. Words are inadequate to thank you for the difference you are making in God's Kingdom work.
Miqlat Ministries |
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