I am so excited to go to Africa...I can't really think about anything else at this point. This morning I watched videos that I found on YouTube from other mission teams who had been at Esther's House Orphanage where I will be staying for two weeks.

I am currently spending time planning the lessons that we will teach the widows from the surrounding village of Madzanje. At first the story of Naomi and Ruth from the book of Ruth was suggested and I thought that it was a good suggestion. The story would be encouraging to the widows.

As I considered this opportunity to reach women much like those that I work with here in the states every day, I couldn't help but think of the despair that comes from being old and alone. This last season of life can be both a burden and a blessing. The average lifespan in Malawi is 34...and yet these widows are in their seventies and eighties. They have survived in a society which does not recognize them without a husband or son. Their bodies are forced to walk and work for even the most basic of needs; food and water. They sleep in huts made of Sticks with thatched roofs held down by large rocks. Like their U.S. counterparts, these women have failing eye sight and hearing, they have arthritis, gout, and dementia.. Can you imagine the residents of an American retirement home living in a stick hut, sitting on a straw mat crossed legged on the dirt floor of their home, eating nsema (basically a mashed cornmeal starchy food like mashed potatoes) and walking for miles for water which they then have to carry home?

I started sponsoring a widow shortly after making the decision to go to Malawi. Her name is Files Yohane, and I will be meeting her in 8 days! As I think and pray about what to teach the widows (one of my Team assignments), I look at the picture that I have of Files. The deep lines in her lovely chocolate brown skin mingle together on a worn and yet joyful face. She is 70 years old and lost her husband to illness two years ago. Thanks to Esther's House, she has been able to survive. Now, for as little as $20.00 a month (!!!) she has the peace of mind of knowing that all of her basic needs will now be met. For $20.00 a month, which is what it costs for me to get a fast food meal for my family, I can provide for all of a person's basic needs. 

Files is my target audience for the Widow's lesson. I know that she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in 2011. I know that God has blessed me in allowing me to bless her by meeting her physical needs, and now I want to complete the assignment, and address her spiritual needs as well. These ladies live an inconceivably rough existence, and yet the pictures and videos that I have seen, prove them to be joyful, appreciative and strong.

Further prayer and consideration have left me to settle on the story of Anna the prophetess. In the book of Luke there are only a few sentences about this incredible widow. And yet, these verses are jam packed with the powerful result of a life fully committed to the Lord. The life in this case was a widow's life, the lowliest of members of the Israelite culture other than children and lepers. Widows had no rights to land or food or anything with out husbands or sons. They were on their own, just like the women of Madzanje Malawi.

Anna is called a prophetess in the biblical rendition of her story. There were only six women noted as prophets in the bible (pretty distinctive for a widow!) and of them all, she alone, had the pleasure of telling people the news of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. (Quite the privilege for a widow!) Anna was only married for seven years before she became a widow. This meant that she was young at the time and would have more likely chosen to remarry for provision, protection, and social standing...but not Anna. We find Anna at the age of 84, in the temple day and night.

"There was also a prophet Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying." - Luke 2:36-37

Instead of choosing society, when left abandoned and desolate, Anna chose God. Anna committed the rest of her life to worshiping and serving the Lord. She was provided protection and food and the basic needs of survival as is proven by her age of eighty-four years. She had such a close enough relationship to God that she heard from him about the coming messiah. She was bold and well respected as many listened to her prophesying and believed. She continued to trust in the Lord steadfastly until his promise finally came in the form of an infant, which is most likely not what she was expecting.

"Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." - Luke 2:38

This story also includes an elderly priest named Simeon. He too was old. So here they were...two very wise, very old people, both of whom ended up committing their entire lives to God. Day and night they worshipped...they prayed..they fasted...

Although Simeon and Anna were very old, they had never lost their hope that they would see the messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit, they were among the first to bear witness to Jesus. When God promises something, he always delivers it, but His timetable is much different than ours. Waiting for God is never futile.

The bible makes reference in Isaiah 54, Jeremiah 3, and 2 Corinthians 11 that God himself is our "husband". I want to combine these promises of His provision, protection, and love, with the story of Anna to show these widows that God himself sees them, respects them, will provide for them and protect them. That if they choose Him as their husband that their lives will be full and abundant despite the cultural dilemmas that they face. They too can live a good fruitful life to a ripe old age in Christ.

Anna had learned to - put God first - to live a life that honored God - to surrender her heart completely to Him...It could have been easy for Anna to let her life sink into despair after her husband died, instead she devoted her life to God. Anna chose a different path.

If Christ had come the first day that Anna was widowed, think of how many people would never have heard the message of salvation! The lesson here too is to never give up...your life has a divine purpose for God.

Anna did what God told her to do. You can be used by God no matter who you are, even if you are widowed and poor. God provided for Anna. God is providing for Files Yohane. God is the best husband that one could can ever have.

Anna was courageous, humble, patient...It is wonderful to note that  the name Anna in Hebrew means "Grace". God's grace is sufficient. God's grace is endless. God's grace longs to reach an open and receptive heart...