Wes & Lorrie Jonat
Investing Time and Prayer
Wes and Lorrie have invested time and prayer into building the kind of relationships that will be beneficial to the work of the Lord and the people of Malawi.
Job Description — Many Different Facets
The job description of a missionary has many different facets and from one day to the next Wes often does not know what will be required of him. Some jobs that he does regularly are:
- Teaching and preaching;
- Evangelism;
- Short term team director;
- Famine relief coordinator;
- Food delivery;
- Orphan care;
- Orphan feeding programs;
- Bags of Hope;
- Youth pastors consultant;
- Conference speaker;
- Discipleship;
- Mediator;
- Motivator;
- Taxi Driver;
- Driving instructor;
- Farmer, plumber, builder;
- and more…
Developing Friendships
Wes can be found relaxing in the village with some gentlemen after an active day of teaching. Many times this is where friendships are forged that will stand the pressure of cross cultural relations, developing relationships that benefit each one.
Hand washing is an active part of every meal both before and after you eat.
Wes takes turns serving and being served by fellow pastors. This is one of many cultural customs that Wes has learned to enjoy.
In Malawi Wes has the opportunity to visit many of the ACOP churches and after almost every service he has the pleasure of visiting someone's home for a meal.
The people of Malawi are tremendously generous with what they have and Wes has been honored by their kindness.
“It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ many be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.’
— Ephesians 4:11–13 (NIV)
It is important to see small businesses develop for the women. A business like this one, selling bananas and fritters, can help a mother provide financial assistance for her family. She might be able to pay school fees, buy clothing or supplement the nutritional needs of her children with an income as little as $.50 or a $1.00 per day. Lorrie attempts to set up individuals in business through providing small loans.
Spending time together discussing our children, our marriages, our struggles and our fears is just one way that Lorrie is involved with the women of Malawi. We are all the same with stories of tragedy and triumph and as we take time to hear each other well, we are able to strengthen one another in ways that go beyond language, culture and borders.
The people of Africa know how to sing!
Wes and Lorrie spend many hours enjoying choirs and concerts that are spontaneously put on for everyone's pleasure. Lorrie will often join in with the ladies singing and dancing around the village.
To be a part of what is important to them is important to her! There are moments of great wonder and delight as we all embrace the charm of Africa.
“I will praise you , O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.’
— Psalms 57:9–11
www.jonats4africa.org/wes_lorrie.html
Updated: October 10, 2009
