Hello everyone. The Foundation has been working hard and you know a lot from Mr Mlambya, but the rest of us haven t spoken to you, the children of the Ibuluma villages, because we are all far from you in distance. So I will be writing you a Newsletter every two months and I hope that you will enjoy it. At the heart of the Foundation there are people from different countries the United Kingdom, Spain and Australia, and there are friends in other countries too. Today I will tell you a little about Gogo. In the next newsletters I will write about some of the other people. This is the Easter Newsletter. I know that there are great plans for you for Easter and I hope that you enjoy them all. I look forward to hearing about the fun you will have, and seeing photos of you. So, Happy Easter. Love from Nkhazi Scotland: March 2018
In 2013 Gogo came to visit me in Scotland, which is the Northern part of the UK. He was able to see all the places where he lived when he was a boy and his old school. Here, he is resting up against a huge gun a cannon which is in a very famous castle near to me Stirling Castle. William Stewart, or Gogo as you know him, was born 90 years ago in Australia. But when he was a baby his parents and brother Alex moved back to Scotland, where they came from. When he was a man he joined the Army and was a nurse first of all. He and his wife Margaret, who is now in heaven, had five children Mary (Nkhazi); John; Jean, who is now in heaven with her mother; Peter and David. They travelled a lot and lived in many different places. William became a sort of nurse for people s minds and then a teacher of other people who help people s minds if they have problems, and that s how he met at a distance your own Mr Levison Mlambya who was learning how to help people. They became friends and decided to start the Foundation.
STORIES FOR EASTER Hazey Rose has written three lovely stories about Starlight the donkey, for you, for Easter. Starlight s Adventure In the light of the moon, just before dawn, all was still, well almost eleven donkeys were excited! News came that Jesus Christ, Son of God, wanted a donkey to carry Him into the City of Jerusalem. Who would be chosen? One little donkey called Starlight said, sadly: I shall never be chosen! No majestic King would want me, I am not beautiful like the others. I am useless, and he went back to sleep. Suddenly, Starlight was shaken! Hurry! Get ready! His owner shouted: Jesus has chosen you! Later, Starlight looked into the face of Jesus and saw his kind eyes, deep, like the ocean. Jesus spoke quietly Do not be afraid! Starlight felt held in a loving hug. He straightened his back and, trotting proudly, carried Jesus through the streets to Jerusalem. Crowds thronged the roads. Glory to the Son of God! they shouted. Jesus gently patted Starlight s ears saying Well done! Starlight had a feeling of joy; he was so happy! This was a day he would never forget! Whenever you are feeling small, lost, or afraid, remember Jesus knows your name, your sorrows and fears; He is with you always! You are special and matter to Him. Jesus loves you for ever more! Hazey Rose 2018
The Road in the Shadows The sky was dark and Starlight's heart was so sad. He closed his eyes, remembering how he carried Jesus, his lovely friend, into the city of Jerusalem. What a memory! The cheering crowd welcoming Jesus a scene of happiness and excitement. Now, there was another scene. Calvary! Starlight wanted to help Jesus in the only way he knew, to carry Him away from Calvary to safety. Tears spilled down his face; he recalled what Jesus had told him: Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Would no one help Jesus? His little hooves trotted quietly to the front of the now mocking crowd and, in the loudest donkey voice he could muster, bravely said: May I carry Jesus or his cross? The answer was swift: No! Jesus, Starlight whispered, I love you and want to help. For a moment, Starlight saw Jesus turn and smile gently into his eyes and Starlight knew this bond of love could never be broken. Not even death could destroy such love. Starlight's heart was torn but he knew this was not the end this was the end of the beginning. Starlight clung to this feeling and as he pushed his way by the crowd, a shadow of the cross fell upon his back. It almost felt like Jesus was saying: I know you want to carry my heavy load, Starlight, and I thank you for your love. In Starlight's sorrow, there was something deep, something he could not yet grasp or understand. The little donkey only knew that as the shadow pierced the dark skies above, beyond was a light, a wondrous, illuminating light shining brightly, like a glorious dawn.
Starlight treasured these feelings; he trusted Jesus would not let him down when he needed him most. He would wait for the dawn rising. Jesus would return. Jesus loves you like no other. There is nothing that can stop His love reaching you. For whether you are high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean, there is nothing in all creation that will stop His love reaching you. So, fear not; the darkest of nights will break into the most beautiful dawn of hopefulness and joy. And, do you know, that to this day, all donkeys have a little mark like a cross on their backs. Hazey Rose 2018 Easter Dawn Morning sun bathed the hills and valleys in golden mellowness. All was bright and still. Starlight opened his sleepy eyes was he dreaming? Something was urging him to step into this new day and the little donkey trotted quickly through the quiet city streets, although he was not sure where he was going. As he turned a corner, a friend, Mary Magdalene called out to him: Jesus has risen! Starlight's heart leaped and kicking his hooves in the air, he brayed loudly. As he reached the top of the hill, dawn burst across the land filling the skies with wondrous light.
Starlight gazed into this shining brightness, where a figure was drawing near. He knew this person could it be? A voice said gently: Yes, it is I, Jesus, do not be afraid. I have overcome death that all may have life and love one another as I love you. There is nothing to fear now. If donkeys could smile, then Starlight would have smiled the most enormous donkey smile ever his heart was brimming with joy! Jesus had returned as He had promised. This Easter may you know the joy of our risen Lord Jesus, that He is with you in all things and nothing can ever separate you from His love. For every Good Friday is always followed by the most beautiful Easter dawn. Hazey Rose 2018 S arah lives in the next village to me. She has been getting lots of nice things for you. Some of these you have for these Easter celebrations; some are on the ship coming maybe in May, and some are waiting to go on another ship. People in our villages here are getting to hear about the Foundation. Last week the nursery school in Sarah s village offered her some Lego. This is a toy which comes in many different shapes, colours and sizes and can be used for making all sorts of things. Here are a couple of photos of Lego:
On the left, the Lego blocks. And on the right, a sample of what can be made with them. You can make all sorts, whatever you want just let your imagination work Yesterday, Sarah went to the nursery school to get the Lego and to speak to the children about Malawi and about you all. The children were very interested to know about the differences between the United Kingdom and Malawi and in particular what the Foundation is doing. BALFRON NURSERY CHILDREN CHEERING AND WAVING TO THE CHILDREN OF IBULUMA The Lego is too heavy to send to Malawi by aeroplane and so it s waiting in the boxes for the ship to go. It may be some months before it arrives but in the meantime, we will be sending a little by air so that you will be able to see it and play with it. This will be a few weeks after
Easter when Mr Mlambya might arrange a small Lego party. He will take photos so that the children in Scotland can see the Lego they gave, in Malawi. WHO LIVES WHERE? So, boys and girls of Ibuluma, all of us wish you a lovely Easter party and a happy Easter. I hope you have enjoyed this first Nkhazi s Newsletter. Here is a card for you. But first of all a little explanation of something. In our country and some others across the world, Easter is celebrated with eggs and by the symbols of the rabbit called The Easter Bunny, and baby chickens. That s why we have sent you little Easter eggs to enjoy.