A most exciting and wonderful development has just taken place this month here in Malawi. The Lord is so thrilling and His ways are totally amazing. I wanted to share this tremendous news with you as part of this great Malawi vision.

As you well know, we are over the top and on the home run in the completion of the Academy, the motto of which is, "Striving for the Spirit of Excellence."   We placed our first advertisement for the best young teachers available in Malawi and within a day, letters started to arrive requesting application forms.  We are going to be flooded with requests for teacher applications.

Across the river from us is a prime piece of farming property.  It is 25 acres of FREEHOLD land. In Malawi, freehold land is so prestigious as very little freehold land is available anymore.  I have stood on our hill and looked at that land so many times and sighed, "Lord, we really need that land."  One day, I simply said to the Lord, "We just have to have that land. Please Lord, give it to us."  I never troubled the Lord about that land again.

The owner was adamant that he would never sell.  Not only is it prime land but it is bounded by a natural forest reserve, Michiru Mountain Reserve making it even more attractive.  It will be perfect for hostels, playing fields and many other facilities for the College.

Two weeks ago, out of the blue, the owner advertised that piece of property.  By the time I heard about it, the bids through an estate agent had already closed.  There was only one answer.  We tracked down the owner and started personal negotiations.  He declared that all the bids he had received were far too low and that he wanted treble the amount of the best bid.  Too bad, I was NOT paying that outrageous price.  I told him, "When you are reasonable, contact me again."  I walked out thoroughly convinced that all negotiations were off as the man was adamant about his price.

Last week in a desperate call, the owner pleaded with us for a little more than we had offered.  It was an African face saver.  I grabbed the opportunity.

Today, we signed the legal agreement for the purchase of the land that now belongs to Kalibu Academy.  This now gives us a College property of some 60 acres in total.  The only area where the City of Blantyre is able to grow is towards where we have the Academy.  In ten years the airport will be totally surrounded by city.  This amazing piece of ground will be worth four or five times what we have now paid but we will not be selling.

This is truly a gift of the Lord and an answer to prayers as we have fully flowed in the will of the Lord concerning this whole school project.

The land purchased is bounded by the Likubula River on one side which is already a common boundary with the College, Michiru Reserve on the other side and the farm of our friend and a College Governor, Mr. Oreste Yiannakis on the final side.  This means that the College is now fully surrounded by arable land that not only protects us but gives us plenty of room for expansion.  Only the Lord could engineer such an incredible blessing and masterpiece of strategy.  The land already has both a borehole and ESCOM electricity.  We will also be able to keep a few animals to supply our own beef.  This is tremendously exciting news in the on-going development of the Malawi Miracle.  What is even more exciting is that the Lord just seemed to have blinded the eyes of everyone to this piece of real estate.  Freehold land means precisely that.  It is full ownership to do whatever one likes in perpetuity. Such land is highly prized by the Asian community in Africa.  Usually, they grab such opportunities and they have the money to out pay any other offers.  That they did not even see this property despite national adverts is beyond comprehension and further shows that the Lord had ear marked it for us.

As ever, if any of our partners and friends would like to partner with us in contributing to the purchase of this amazing piece of property please mark your contribution "CHILEKA LAND."  With all the relevant taxes and transfer fees the total cost is US $48,000.  This may appear to be a considerable amount but do remember that it is 25 acres bordering right on the river and it is absolutely strategic.  Such a piece of land anywhere in USA would be a great deal more than that.  The other wonderful fact is that the land is wholly virgin organic so that we will have the most wonderful fully organic vegetables and fruits.

What an amazing blessing this will be as we feed and house the Bible College students who will be coming from all Africa and the world to be trained in Holy Spirit power and strategy for 21st Century.  This is what you will be supporting:  LIFE.  What a solid investment into a vision that is not merely starting but is almost completed.

It is thrilling to see the College shaping up.  The water pipes are all situated, the power is connected, the windows are all paid, ceilings are in and doors are being made.  Only the final finishing touches are needed for the classrooms.  We are living in the most exciting times and what a fulfillment of a vision and the enormity of God's faithfulness and the incredible and wonderful support and endorsement of our Partners and friends who have stood so faithfully with us.  Our joy and reward is also yours.

Thank you for trusting and believing is us and what we have been doing.  It is not only the College and land but our Pastors support programme has exploded and we are roofing churches and giving out bicycles every month.  There is no other Ministry that is consistently and faithfully investing into Malawi as Kalibu.  This is your Ministry...A pastor and friend wrote recently and referred to "Our College in Malawi..."  That thrilled and blessed me.  Indeed, it is "Your College in Malawi..."

May the Lord continue to increase and bless you abundantly.  You are equal part in the spoils of this war.  What a war it has been but victory is now complete.  This is the Lord and it is marvelous.  We have the complete endorsement of the Ministry of Education and the Permanent Secretary is doing all he is able to assist us.  We are ALREADY RECOGNIZED by the Ministry in Malawi in acknowledgement of the fine work that the College has become.

Thank you and bless you for your amazing and deeply overwhelming support.  We so appreciate all you have done.  You have a reason to shout and rejoice.  Next year we will have 1000 students being bombarded with a fine education and the powerful Word of God preached right in the classroom by Holy Spirit powered teachers.

NEW PROPERTY IS OUTLINED