Dear Brethren, February 2010
Greetings in the most precious name under heaven given among men to be saved, it is wonderful to
believe and trust in Jesus Christ whom was crucified for our salvation. I pray that our lives call attention
to Jesus Christ, seeing the wonderful work that He has done in our lives.
Dear beloved, there are no words to express the warm reception that I received upon arriving in
America. It was very difficult returning to Africa. It brought great bouts of depression knowing that my
return to the mission field meant leaving so many loved ones behind. This is a different world and
operates differently. I will always cherish the memories of those whose homes were opened for my
comfort and sacrifices’ that were made to help further the cause of Our Lord here on earth.
My travels in America not only brought me moments of happiness to see brothers and sisters living for
our Lord, but it also brought me face to face with brethren who were suffering due to the trials their
children were going through in this world. Please remember to pray for one another when illness and
rebellion enters our lives because they will happen more and more as the day approaches.
My travels and visits were successful only due to the love for this Missionary. Thank you all for your
patience and understanding for my lack of experience during my deputation. Thank you for all the
spiritual and financial support received during my visit to America.
My experience in America brought me to recognize that our teachings must refresh our faith (belief
system) and practice (lifestyle) according to the teachings of the scriptures. I have borrowed a few
lines from a beloved brother regarding ‘What is a Biblical Christian’ it is not just attending church on
Sunday and living like the ungodly the rest of the week. But loving the Lord their God with all their heart,
soul, mind, and strength and his neighbor as himself.
The Bible has forewarned that in the ‘last days’ there would be a ‘falling away’ or apostasy from biblical
Christianity.
Mission work
After three and half months away from my ministry while travelling in the states, I was struck very hard
by the reality of the great responsibility God has placed in my heart to teach and preach the gospel of
Our Lord Jesus Christ to the people of Malawi Africa.
In the United States we are having difficulties in the financial world causing changes and adjustments
and reductions to our worldly goods. In Malawi Africa we are having an economic meltdown, broken
homes and relationships, hunger, unemployment and rising criminal activity.
Christ promised that ‘in the world ye shall have tribulation’ some villages have received ample amount
of rain to raise their corn; however, some districts in Malawi did not receive an adequate supply of rain.
This has caused great hardship and will bring famine in some areas and souls will be tested to
remain faithful and stay the course.
Upon my return, I received messages from pastors that some have departed to follow after more
profitable promises. Although it is hard to understand spiritually, it is also very difficult to see your
family wake up hungry and have nothing to eat. It is easy to comment when your belly is full, and
therefore we must look to Jesus for comfort and understanding in this difficult time. I was able to repair
and replace the Pressure plate and clutch in the Isuzu truck after several weeks. This vehicle
consumes less than the Toyota pickup for travelling in Malawi. The price of parts and availability has
become a struggle with rising prices and shortage of diesel fuel.
In January, we visited Pahlombe district and invited pastors and secretaries from surrounding areas in
Malawi and the neighboring country of Mozambique. We presented lessons on the characteristics and
traits of the new Testament Church and the importance of the membership being born again
individuals and carrying out the Great Commission to further the work Our Lord Jesus Christ on Earth.
We selected pastors and teachers with a theme for each gathering and bible lessons were taught to
different groups. Brother Saidi Phiri and I summarized the important points and encouraged
faithfulness required to be Christians and Baptist. Attendance was over one hundred people. The
Mission (me) provided food and writing utensils and made arrangements for their overnight
accommodations. The pastors from Mozambique traveled several days to reach our location; some of
them travel without food or bedding. They responded well in the classes, and they took notes if they
were able to read and write. On our last meeting we brought pastor Phiri a young man living in Balaka
that spoke fluent Mozambique Portuguese and informed pastor Saidi Phiri and I that a Missionary in
Malawi was contacting groups in Mozambique and Malawi and offering bicycles, food and clothing to all
new pastors joining his work. The visitors and new comers wanted to know our counter offer for staying
and what financial assistance and materials we plan to offer them for staying and following our
teachings. These groups of people are illiterate and required teaching and training before being
established as New Testament churches and receiving scriptural baptism. They were very disturbed
when informed that we were not in the business of hiring pastors. It is unfortunate that even in Africa
success and progress is still measured with statistics, the great sin that causes people to feel more
secure. We pray that God’s word will help them understand that it is our Father in heaven that gives the
increase.
In February and March we focused on the Liwonde district and presented New Testament doctrines on
the Church and taught on the Doctrines of Grace. These doctrines are repulsive, hated and
misunderstood. These gatherings were held in Liwonde Secondary School, Sanama village, Ntaje,
Salema area and Balaka villages. We have received a good response with new pastors visiting our
gatherings; some of these new groups have invited the Missionary to their villages. We also had to
deal with several pastors requesting a formation of an executive body to manage and control the
progress and business of the Mission. It is unfortunate that we are dealing mostly with illiterate people,
they are not educated and their learning of the Bible has come from earlier involvement with
Pentecostal Churches (aka Evangelical Baptists) that are often supported through non-profit
organizations that accept alien baptism and who believe in governing bodies.
Radio talk programs that are saturated with Catholic teachings and easy believing faith asking the
acceptance of Jesus but lacking confession and repentance and biblical conversion also floods their
minds.
We also have been visiting a group of women that have gathered together in the Balaka area and
refused joining Pentecostal groups and other denominations. They wanted to scriptural baptism and
contacted Brother Saidi Phiri requesting a visit from our Mission. We have visited them monthly and
have had a good reception; however, the doctrine of election is difficult to understand for them. They
want all their relatives to join the church, a mistake that could lead to many unsaved individuals being
added into their membership. The challenging opportunity is that they have elected a Pentecostal
trained individual as their pastor. We have shared many lessons about the truth and he appears to
agree with them. We are praying God will provide the knowledge and understanding for his ministry.
We also visited Lima village in Mangochi; unfortunately, on this day, we received a day of rain and our
companions in the back of the truck we thoroughly drenched upon our arrival to the village. We had
hoped to present several lessons on The New Testament Church and Salvation through Faith. This
people have been under a denomination called the Ethiopian Church, which has very liberal and
modern easy believing doctrines, which will cause difficult understanding of our biblical beliefs. Their
customs and beliefs of their village life will also prove difficult. These are people that wear some
modern clothing but have remained rooted in their traditional beliefs. We are planning to revisit them
under better road and weather conditions.
In the U.S., it was easy to form a plan and prepare what I thought was God’s will, only to postpone
those lessons and plans in Malawi. The progress for developing pastors over a three year program will
need to be delayed. We must first teach and discuss lessons on the New Testament Church, and
Doctrines of Grace. I will often incorporate Bible characters and Great events of the Bible to help give
them a small Bible survey while learning a doctrine. My greatest obstacle is the Chichewa Bible they
use. It is a translation from the NIV used in the United States and Canada. In many occasions a lesson
will require taking note of several points made by the scriptures in the King James 1611 version only to
find that their copy of the scriptures does not contain or have the same key points or translation. Some
of the more educated have begun using the Kings James version but it is a slow and tedious progress.
I am constantly being asked for financial support or supplies to help restore or build better meeting
places; unfortunately, my budget is stretched thin as it is, and helping one group only leads for others
to hope and plan of receiving their fair share in the future. It is unfortunate that this people over the
years have learned to associate kindness as financial aid. We have helped families and individuals in
difficult times, but this has to be done very carefully and quietly. We have helped some of the key
people with medical assistance and supplies; it is customary that the visiting village provide food and
comforts to the visitors. We often provided during these visits to help, but it soon becomes a handout
and they are quick to learn to and will approach the Missionary for help. Please remember me and pray
that God will give me the temperance, patience, compassion and wisdom to help bring the gospel to
these groups of people.
Family life
These are very trying times for my family and I. Transportation repairs, school and legal fees, and
medical issues have come frequently and sometimes unexpected.
Gertrude almost became involved in automobile accident that shook her very much and she pulled
over to catch her breath and another vehicle pulled out behind her car and asked if she was alright.
She responded that she needed to drive her car back to the house and take the Toyota pickup as her
brakes were not working properly when her friend asked if we were still looking for a parcel of land.
She drove back with her friend Mr. Khoromana to our house and requested that I drive to see the parcel
of land. I must confess that we had become tired of looking due to prices and poor locations. Suddenly
not too far from our current home there was a two acre parcel in a prime location and Mr. Khoromana
was asking for a price considerably lower than any property we had looked at in the last two years. We
agreed to purchase the plot as we felt it was God’s plan and borrowed the money from friends. It may
seem a bit bold but prices on land are constantly going up and suitable locations are not easily found.
Also, lease and rent prices are constantly going up, this was truly a God send and we are happy and
give God the glory and honor for this wonderful opportunity. We are praying that God will provide the
means to repay the debt and begin making plans for our home. Renting has become expensive as
most landlords do not repair and maintain properties leased or rented.
The adoption for Sean has gone through after many ordeals and legal fees. Our son wanted a biblical
middle name, so his legal name is now Sean Caleb Padilla (my wife named him Sean because she
always liked Sean Connery). He is currently on his second year at the secondary Kalibu Academy
School and doing well in his classes. He is fourteen years old. Please pray for me, it is my first
opportunity to be a father and learning to be patient and understanding because sometimes I expect a
lot from those who have received God’s blessings.
Owens Chikopa has graduated from secondary school and taken the exams for entering the
government universities in Malawi. Owens has become a good student of the Bible and translates for
the Mission in some of our travels.
Update on my application for a permanent visa in Malawi, the information was gathered, letter from my
sponsor The landmark Baptist church of Liwonde with pastor Saidi Phiri the chairman providing the
invitation letter, police reports and letter from Attorney and documents for verifications of support and
character. I thank God daily for his support and contributions made by members and Churches across
America that helped pay for all these fees; although, I still need funds to pay for the visa. The total cost
for preliminary reports and services have cost $1,800.00 with the remainder of $3,200.00 still to be
paid. Please keep me in yours prayers that God may deliver the needed funds.
These are turbulent times for my family and ministry and it appears that as we make headway,
unexpected surprises come. But God has always provided sufficient support through our friends and
Churches in America.
Summary
This work in Africa has always been led by God, and we have obeyed. It has brought many
persecutions here and abroad, but my heart remains strong and hopeful of future blessings.
My health was tested and doctors requested that I take time off and just relax. It is easy to tell someone
to relax, but your heart will not let you. God has given me a great responsibility here in Africa and the
challenges keep coming, so many times I have trusted Jesus only to find how often I have knowledge
of Jesus through the Bible but we do not know the Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ. Many times as I
looked upon this simple people that God has given me to be responsible to teach and it reminds me
how He “justified the ungodly” - it sure takes all the boasting out of the ego.
Please understand that without you (everyone that believes) my ministry will not survive, because Bible
study and experience has taught me that God works his miracles through believers. I would like to
request the following books for my English speaking students, Theology For The People by William S.
Plummer, D.D. and Biblical Christian and Christianity 101 by John VonDoloski, and A Gospel
Catechism by Dr. William R. Downing.
We have found that making copies here in Malawi Africa is devastating to my support which is only able
to meet my living and travelling expenses. It cannot support any emergencies, printing of good works
by writers and supplies for gathering the pastors and students and paying their fare which has become
too costly for their budget under the present economical conditions of rising costs. God has helped me
tremendously in the past, but my personal retirement accounts for my old age has suffered and only
He knows the future.
May the Lord protect everyone back home in the United States and give you encouragement for the
great hope of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your Brother in Christ,
Joe Padilla, Missionary to Malawi Africa.
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