"Supporting the Light"

2006 Feeding the 500

The team consisted of three ARO workers, Pr. Timothy Muyanganira, & Brother Charlie, ARO’s project manager and New Life Prestwick’s conference coordinator. Shown are Christopher, Thom, Aubrey and Charlie

Maze corn, rice, tea, suger and goats had to be purchased months in advance and stored until required. Our thanks must go to the directors of ARO who kindly let us use their facilities, their 4x4 and workers!

In addition to the food that was needed, Brother Charlie and Pr. Timothy had to arrange for a kitchen to be built in the grounds of the Cuppen Hall

Cooking enough rice or maze corn to feed 500 people in one go would be a challenge, so extra large cooking pots were purchased and firewood was gathered in advance

As the majority of the pastors would need to remain overnight sleeping in the Cuppen Hall, a washhouse also needed to be built and made ready for use

Cooking and washing require water, lots of it, and as there was no tape water at the hall, volunteers were enlisted who would carry the water from the pumps to the hall

Cuppen Hall proved to be an excellent facility but although during the day it could be likened to a 40C fan oven, at night, the pastors slept on the concrete floor and so it was also necessary to provide grass mats

Many pastors travelled a great distance and arrived by bike. By Monday afternoon it became evident that the hall would be half filled with bikes so a watchman was employed to guard the bikes outside

The meals were simple – rice or maze corn washed down with a cup of tea. Goat meat was also on the menu occasionally

Although the meals were simple, during the conference, many eat more regularly than they had eaten during the previous weeks

Of course feeding their physical needs was not the main purpose of the conference but a blessing that they also received

The provision of a bible in the Chichewa language and a week of bible instruction was the main goal and much appreciated

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