Missionaries

Martin and Julia Etter

August 2011

Please pray for Malawi's political situation and economic situation. We have had demonstrations and unrest about two weeks ago when 20 people were killed, shops were looted and property damaged. Renewed demonstrations are planned for the 17th August. The demonstrations are in response to perceived regression in democratic processes and an increasingly difficult economic situation which is particularly affecting the poor. For months the country has been in the grip of a deepening fuel shortage due to lack of foreign exchange as donor nations are withholding funding due to perceived poor governance. Tobacco sales, the major foreign currency earner, have not brought the hoped for revenue as prices have been low. It is predicted that the country will run out of foreign exchange in October or November, so we seem to be heading for a very difficult time. Businesses are struggling to operate and there are rumours of closures.

On Sunday, we are planning to drive to the coast in Mozambique for a family holiday. All our girls are with us now. Rachel has applied to two Universities in England to do a Masters. It is great to be reunited. We have had a wonderful time together with John Wibberley. He has been a great encouragement to our team. The Christ and Creation Workshops went very well and we pray that the seeds of God's Word and many practical ideas that were shared will take root in the participants. We are thankful that Nehemiah has been able to start work again after his two and a half months recovering from his accident. He and Chrispin are training a group of church members as course facilitators over the next ten days.

Thank you for your support and friendship.
Martin and Julia, with Rachel, Miriam and Nicola
Malawi/Zambia teams