If you asked me to describe 2018 in the shortest way possible, I would say it was slow, but it went by so fast. Do I even make sense? Anyway, here’s a round-up of all things 2018.

Top 5 places I visited:

1. One January morning, mom woke me up to drive her to Jokala because it was a market day. On the way back, we stopped at a place called Pa Jokala for a drink. This place is one of my favourite places in Zomba. Great view. Serene. 

 

2. Same January, my girls and I went up Zomba Mountain for a picnic.

 

And all the other times I visited Chawe. It always feels like the first time. I truly am proud of my home…

 

 

3. In April, Martha a.k.a. my travel buddy went to Satemwa Tea Estate in Thyolo and had a meal at Huntington’s House.

 

4. Kachere Kastle was AMAZING in September. You can read this blog post I wrote on our time there.

 

 

5. End of September, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya for a learning visit and the Segal Family Foundation Annual Meeting where I represented Little Big Prints. I was in the company of amazing people who are doing great things for Malawi. The minute I met them at the airport, we were already acting like a family.

 

You can read this blog post by Chimwemwe John Paul Manyozo and Wangiwe Joanna Kambuzi on the SII Learning visit to Nairobi.

There was a free day, and I decided to meet up with a sister I started talking to via Instagram called Grace. Everyone thought I was nuts for planning to spend a day with someone I had only talked to online but she’s a SISTER lol I really wasn’t worried. When we met, it was as if we had known each other for years! She introduced me to another sister called Joy. We went up the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre where I was blown away by the view of the city.

Grace, Faith, Joy.

Needless to say, I was tempted to relocate to Kenya.

 

 

Top 10 Books I’ve read:

This year, I’ve tried to get into reading books again so I can improve on my writing skills and just really escape for a while. Here are my favourites.

1. I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani – I had to put the book down a lot of times just to laugh for some minutes. Funny, sad, dramatic, and relatable.
2. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah – I learnt a lot about the Apartheid through this humorous account. When you read this book, you will understand why Trevor is one of the most loved comedians from Africa.    
3. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin – wow! This work of fiction blew me away! The way the words are beautifully woven in this book. Yhooo. Blown away.
4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hossein – OK, so I was late to the party. Yes, I cried guys. I totally cried. Beautiful piece of work. I’m yet to read The Kite Runner, but I definitely will.
5. I Can’t Make This Up by Kevin Hart – Hilarious, packed with key life lessons. I also love how this book was laid out.
6. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi – This book makes you THINK. Very few books about death intrigue me. This was one of them.
7. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman – Another book that just helped me escape into someone else’s mind.
8. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes – A beautiful work of fiction. Interesting to see how people handle illnesses and death.
9. Kuwala by Tamiwe Kathumba – A poetry book from Malawi! And a GREAT one too! I stay quoting her poems. You can download it here.
10. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – I feel like everyone should read this book. I put it off for a while, then I decided to read it. Some things were basic, but it was good to be reminded. A great guide on how to be a people person.

 

10 songs I overplayed in 2018

1. Psalm 34 – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
2. Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship
3. The Answer is Jesus – The Cockman Family (shoutout to my awesome friend, Rachel Mwale, for hooking me up with the Discography of the Cockman Family).
4. I Will Sing – Wambali
5. I Will Carry You – Selah (A friend of mine lost her baby and we overplayed this song together. It was such a comfort).
6. Lover of my Soul – Jonathan McReynolds
7. Comparison Kills – Jonathan McReynolds (You know what, just download his “Make Room” Album).
8. What Heaven Means to Me – Donny Reagan
9. Victory Belongs to Jesus – Todd Dulaney (thanks to my dad who always puts it on repeat).
10. Deep in Love With You – Michael W. Smith. (I lost a good friend of mine in July this year. This song was sung on her funeral. Keep resting in Peace, Mwayi.)

 

Link Round-up

1. This cute site is like getting a hug from a friend when you really need it. Check out Chibird for a little motivation.
2. This Christian tumblog called worshipgifs gives me liiiife.
3. Looking for scholarships? Fellowships? Grants? Regularly check opportunitiesforafricans.com  
4. I got this link from my friend, Angasa. If you want to improve your writing, check out writerswrite. Also check Angasa’s blog, she always has awesome reviews and round-up’s.
5. Some of the most pressing questions you may have about your destiny, about the Serpent Seed, Baptism, etc, are answered on themessage.com with bible references.

 

Top 5 Apps

1. Samsung Health – I slept on it for a whiiile. But it’s really helped track my health- from my sleeping trends to the amount of steps I take in a day.
2. Flo – If you are a female, you gotta have this amazing app on your phone. Packed with really helpful insights. Thank me later.
3. Lifeline – If you are a message believer and never even heard of this app, I am here shaking my head. But worry not, it’s not limited edition. A great app with Quote of the Day, testimonies from people who were in Brother Branham’s meetings and awesome wallpapers. 
4. BerryBee – this app brings Malawi to your fingertips – from events, things to do and where to grab a bite – all the information you need. It’s available on the Play Store.
5. Chitsitsimutso Songs – My friend, Brother Fodrick Nyirongo developed this app. It’s a song book with hymns in both Chichewa and Chitumbuka. Also on the Play Store.

2018 has been an amazing year all in all. I was feeling discouraged because I haven’t achieved the things I thought I would, but when I started looking at all the positives, I really surprised myself. So, before you start beating yourself up, sit down and actually think of the things you are grateful for that 2018 taught you.

Thank you, dear reader, for being part of my journey. I truly am grateful! I know there’s so much stuff on the internet you can spend your time on, but you somehow chose to read this. THANK YOU!

I wish you a blessed and fruitful 2019. May you never stop counting your blessings.

-Fai x

I’ve thought about writing on this topic for a while – actually, years – and I’ve fought it for so long. This is because this is something very personal and I worried that some people may misunderstand me or call me a fanatic… ongozitengela or okokomeza. But I am finally writing about this simply because I can no longer silence the voice that keeps telling me to write about it, especially this past week. I hope that somehow, this will be a blessing to your heart and hopefully leave your heart burning.

Let me start from the beginning. I have always known that I was born privileged. This is mostly because I was not just born in a Christian home, but to a Message Believing home. My parents even married in the message, and I grew up learning about Malachi 4: 5 – the prophet sent to this Laodicean Church Age. I went to Sunday School like every other “Bring-Them-In” child. I memorised William Branham’s birth story and cried every time I heard how Sister Hope and Sharon-Rose passed. My 3 sisters and I grew up keeping natural hair, wearing floor-sweeping skirts and dresses, and singing Christian music. I got baptised when I was 13 and I did so not because I was following what some friends did, but by my own conviction.

However, along the way, the devil convinced me that the story of my salvation was not enough, simply because I had never really experienced “worldly” life. I didn’t quit church or went running around; but what happened was that I became a lukewarm Christian. One of the things involved listening to worldly music, sometimes right after service! You can read this post I wrote some years back on how I quit secular music (update: I have never gone back to secular music, praise the Lord!).

To cut the long story short, along the way in my late teens and early twenties, I became very ill regularly. I got so ill that I knew that I could die any moment. I often blacked out and sometimes got admitted in hospital for a while. This made me think long and hard about my eternal destiny. There’s this quote that I think perfectly describes my experience.

“Sometimes God lets the very props be knocked from under us. Sometimes He lets sickness strike us. He lets disappointments, heartaches strike us. Sometimes He does that to get you where you’d be influenced by the Gospel. Be wise enough to catch It. Don’t be stupid enough to walk away from It. Uh-huh.” – 62-1013 – The Influence of Another, Rev. William Marrion Branham.

By the grace of God (and it brings me to tears to think of how good God has been to me) I made my life right and decided to rededicate my life to living the Word of the hour preached through Brother Branham. It was a hard road coming back, but I’m glad He picked me up before I went deep into the world. I’m also grateful that I have friends who have been of tremendous help in getting my Christian life back on track. For some years now, I have seen how I have inched closer to Christ. His Word keeps changing me, and making me into His image as I continue feeding on His Word.

Last month, I hit a new low. My body begun to fail me once again, and I suffered heavily. It all started very simply, and those around me thought it was gonna be over soon, like it’s been in the past. But this time, it was the worst. I was in so much pain that the strongest painkillers we knew were not working anymore. The doctors didn’t know what to do or what to make of the situation. We came back home from the hospital feeling helpless and hopeless. The nights became very long, and sleeping was a privilege. I lay in bed for weeks, crying out for healing.

When I thought that I had reached the pinnacle, I started to pray and beg God to let me die. It felt like the only way to escape the pain. I no longer cared about work, or even my personal projects which are so dear to me. I told mum and my two friends, Phaless and Martha, that I was tired of the constant illnesses. I said I wanted to go. I was no longer afraid of dying like I used to be when I was still a lukewarm Christian. It was something I looked forward to because I had heard through the prophet how indescribably beautiful and peaceful the other dimension is. Of course they encouraged me, and told me not to think of death. But when they left the room, I still thought it was the only way out of my misery. But God didn’t answer that prayer and I finally realised my time hadn’t come yet. I still had work to do, I just didn’t know what it was yet.

My health was getting worse. I was tired of all the medication I was taking and I decided enough was enough. God had promised to heal ALL my diseases, why should I let this get in the way of my healing? So in the middle of another gruesome night, I selected a message called “A Time of Decision.” I had downloaded the sermon some time back, but I hadn’t gotten round to listening to it yet. Before I listened to it, I prayed that the prophet may pray for me, and specifically for my illness. However, I didn’t know whether there would be a prayer line or not. By the grace of God, there was a prayer line after the preaching and He specifically mentioned my illness! I was rejoicing in the middle of the night, so happy that I had received my healing. I didn’t get up the next morning completely healthy… it took some days before I could even walk, but I still held on, believing God had healed me.

While I was ill, I managed to watch some videos that had been sitting in my laptop for some time. I listened to the testimony of Brother Billy Paul Branham, and Brother Ed Byskal. One thing I realised is what a great messenger I have had the privilege of knowing and receiving. This truly was no ordinary man. But I felt a great sense of shame that I hardly testify the Word to others. Not that I am ashamed of this message, but I just haven’t testified enough, and I have no excuse! This was not just another preacher –  this was a prophet… no wait, THE Prophet; why wasn’t I spreading the good news? Why was I not on fire? That day, I decided that things had to change. I realised that there was a lot more work I had to do that God was showing me during this illness.

So, to my born-in-the-Message friends: first, let me tell you a lie the devil will tell you. He will tell you that you need to go out there and ‘enjoy’ before you really give your life to God. Two things… 1, you may go out there and never ever come back… 2, you may eventually come back, but guaranteed, there will be scars, and your way back will be very hard (In Brother Billy Paul’s testimonies, he says time and time again: the way of a transgressor is hard). You are safe right there under mum and dad’s message. That is the best thing you can ever have in your life! There is nothing you are missing out there, no matter how colourful a picture the devil might try to paint.

Another thing you must always remember is that God has no grandchildren. It doesn’t matter how much of a Christian your parents are, YOU must know and receive God personally. We have the entire message in our phones and laptops, we will have NO excuse on that day. We must take time on our own to feed from the message and pray earnestly. And no matter what you do, make receiving the Holy Ghost your priority. I kid you not, a lot of things people struggle with are much easier when being led by the Holy Spirit. Often, you don’t even DO the cleaning up yourself – that’s the Purifier’s job! As time passes by, you will look back and see how much progress you will make, all by His grace.

I know that we are eaglets and eagles, destined for the great skies. It’s so easy to look down upon people who don’t believe this message and ‘throw stones at the chicken yard’. It’s easy to label who will go to hell by our standards. But let God be the judge. Also, what have you done to bring some lost souls in? Have you contributed to the efforts? Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be physically going out into the streets – sometimes it’s supporting financially and/or through your prayers. This is good news! We have heard the countless testimonies of the mighty works He did through Brother Branham. We have heard how he revealed the Son of God and the restoration message and oh what a blessed people we are, but don’t we think it’s time more people heard of this message?

I just want to end this post but saying I am not a perfect person myself, and I don’t deem myself better or holier than anyone. I have my many flaws that I believe God is still working on and I’d just like to say the only thing I ever cling onto to, is that Blood He shed for me. I know without it, I am doomed. I want to thank you for managing to read this long post to the end. I hope that somehow, this has been a blessing to you, and that you will join me in the efforts to spread the good news. I hope your heart burns to listen to the sermons He left us, and that you will NEVER EVER let this message become common to you.

May God richly bless you.

Sister Faith

–But let everyone hear, here and on the tape, or wherever it may go. Don’t never go towards that regions of the lost. You can’t picture hell being that bad. And whatever you do, don’t you never get any…forget this, that the regions of the blessed…I would say this, with Saint Paul, “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or either could it enter the heart of man, what God has for them in store that love Him.” So stop, if you’re listening at the tape, turn the machine off, and repent if you’re not saved, and get right with God. 63-1110M – Souls That Are In Prison Now, Rev. William Marrion Branham

-What about you? How many souls you won since you’ve been in Christ? Christianity just goes from one to another. How many souls you won since you been a Christian? If you’re not winning souls, you are guilty, you are barren, you have brought shame on the Church and the Gospel. How many people you get out for Wednesday night prayer meeting? If you’re not doing it, you ought to be ashamed of yourself before Christ. You’re guilty, and your place is at the altar. I invite you to come with me, for repentance. [Brother Branham pauses—Ed.]  56-1125E – A Blushing Prophet. Rev. William Marrion Branham

 

If you would like to know more about William Marrion Branham, and/or download His sermons, visit branham.org.

For answers to some pressing questions like Life After, The Serpent Seed, visit themessage.com.

Here’s a video on the 20^th Century Prophet.

 

I wrote a thread on leadership on Twitter some weeks back, and it got the attention that I wasn’t expecting. Several people said it was insightful, so I thought of sharing it here.

So a friend of mine and I were talking and we happened to get into the topic of some harmful leadership habits. One of them is being obsessed with looking important and wanting your absence to be felt by the team. Some leaders do not teach the team how to do really important tasks just so when they leave, they can be seen as someone important and valuable. It’s like creating a dependency mentality in the team by taking on all the responsibilities.

Firstly, I think it’s kind of childish to be a leader that is selfish by being obsessed with looking important. A good leader should be one that can teach and have a sustainable organization. Imagine doing even the most basic tasks yourself just to look important? It’s damaging! Even parents at some point don’t expect their child to be so dependent on them. They are told they are spoiling their children. It’s the same with leadership. A good leader will have a team working even when s/he is gone (temporarily or permanently). A good leader delegates. A good leader trains and mentors. A good leader has vision. A good leader, in the long run, also creates leaders.

When I was still in college, I started mentoring secondary school girls under Little Big Prints. In my 4th year, I took on the role of heading the mentorship team as Project Coordinator. One of the mistakes I made when I started out as a leader was not delegating. I took all tasks myself because I thought my team wouldn’t do it the way I wanted. But in the end, it left me drained; and when I was absent, there was disaster. But it was MY fault. The team didnt know what was going on because “Faith amapanga zimenezi week ili yonse” (Faith is responsible for this every week).

Elita, who is the founder, was away for a Master’s at this point. So I talked to her about how tired I always was and she simply said, “Faith, learn to delegate.” Fortunately, I took a step back and evaluated myself. Where was I going wrong? How did Elita manage to mentor me into being a leader too? Well, she never took all the responsibility herself. Even better, we always made decisions together, even the big ones! So I learnt to delegate and make decisions together with the team. It really improved things for me (I got my rest) and for our overall objective. I learnt that your team can tell whether you trust them or not, and if you don’t, it is damaging in the long term.

In summary, a leader should learn to put their ego aside and think of sustainability. I don’t mean you should give out ALL your tasks to the team or that you shouldn’t have some kind of control. You must learn to balance and THINK LONG TERM. What if you fall ill? Will the team go on the day without you and make decisions? Can they perform even the basic tasks?

I think overall, I am thankful to be part of Little Big Prints. It is honestly the dream team. Everyone has their own skill that put together, fulfils our objective. We have also incorporated training the college mentors to not only be mentors for secondary school girls, but to be future leaders.

If you would like to know more about Little Big Prints and follow us on our journey, you can like our Facebook page.
Also, a big shoutout to Elita Chamdimba for being selected as one of SADC’s Influential Person. Congratulations! This is well deserved!