Vale Walter Bruining (23-5-1939 to 26-12-2023)

Orbus Ministries Australia Inc. honors the life and legacy of Orbus board member Walter Bruining, who went to be with the Lord on Tuesday 26th December 2023. The Orbus board offer our sincere condolences to Walter's family, friends and church community.

We give thanks to God for having known Walter. 

When we think of our dear friend Walter, there are so many things we are thankful for, such as his friendship, his wisdom and wise counsel, his love of and obedience to God's Word, and for his deep love of Jesus. There is also the incredible example he was to so many as a loving husband (sixty-four years of marriage), father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

We also thank God for Walter's sense of humour, his sense of duty and honour, his integrity, his service to country in the Royal Australian Navy, and to his King (Jesus) through many endeavours during his lifetime.
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A Burial Service for Walter will be held at 11am on Wednesday 3rd January at Lilydale Memorial Park, 126-128 Victoria Rd, Lilydale.
A Thanksgiving Service will follow at 1pm Wednesday 3rd January at the Reformed Church of Box Hill, 28 Watts St, Box Hill.

BRUINING, Walter | Funeral Notices | Melbourne | Herald Sun

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5)

Despatch from Orbus Visit by Rev. John Wilson
 
The Clerk of the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, Rev John Wilson, visited the Orbus Mission Secondary and Primary Schools in Ngumbe, Blantyre, Malawi on the 24th November 2023.
 
The visit marked the last such occasion in his role of Australian Trustee of the Orbus Centre at Ngumbe, a duty perpetually attached to the position of Clerk, from which John is soon retiring.
 
Following are some comments from John’s report:
 
“Almost the entire morning devoted to visiting Orbus Mission School-a totally satisfying visit.”
 
Commenting on the beginnings of Orbus in 2007, as just an idea, and then the purchase of the Ngumbe property, from the Malawian government in 2008, with nothing but rubble from the old tobacco farm, and lots of snakes, Rev. Wilson said of the vision for the orphan and other vulnerable children of Malawi, “It was a vision of God. Don't let anyone put you down for holding to a God-inspired vision. EVEN when there is nothing to see as evidence. Today there is building after building and a functioning school which provides education for children of struggling parents as well as taking in orphans and other vulnerable children of the immediate district.”
 
“About 535 children are enrolled at Orbus, and they achieved 91% pass rate at their Form 4 examinations (Form 4 read VCE). The Malawian (national) average pass rate is ~52%, so the school is doing well. We can pray for Edmund the (secondary) school Principal, Wills the school Primary Principal and for Moses the Synod Education Secretary (Moses carries a huge work load). There is a new chaplain appointed, but I did not meet him.”

“After touring the property and inspecting the newly constructed science laboratory and library, we discussed (and agreed to) their next big need: a multipurpose meeting hall, adjacent to the boarding dorms, which can facilitate conducting examinations, a meeting place for the whole school out of the sun, and kitchen facilities for the campus. Yes, I know I get excited about Orbus Mission School, but we are entitled to be excited. The project started on bare ground with NOTHING. It is now bringing education to 535 children and allowing them to hear of the love of God in the Gospel of grace and to respond to Christ. How did that happen? Ask Colin Mbawa. Ask Craig Manners and the hard-working team at Orbus Australia. Ask any of that circle of 15 Aussies who prayed in 2008 (though three of them have passed on into glory ahead of us). Or … come with me and visit. Or: teachers on LSL - lend Orbus 3 months of your life - you’ll never be the same.”

“The final blessing of the visit: the whole school Assembly came together under the tress, with a gentle warm breeze to sing, pray and hear preaching from this old Aussie minister. What an awesome experience. It was tough to work out what to say and how to do it - consider there were little ones who don’t speak English yet … through to school leavers … and it was hot. And I had no notes or microphone. And the senior school students were standing. So, I read from Proverbs 30, built a bridge from ants’ God-given wisdom in securing food for their future to us securing security for our future and ultimately to our eternal future and pleaded with them to trust in what Christ has done in dying for sin and rising again for us. It was a lot harder to convey than I’d planned it in my mind because of the conditions (isn’t that always the case?), but it seemed to connect with a few … and, regardless, God takes his Word and secures it in people’s hearts.
 
It was just such a pleasure to come all this way for this purpose. Let’s remember the work of Orbus in our prayers to Almighty God and for whether the PCA can rise to the occasion and support the desired multi-purpose meeting hall.”

PDF of this Despatch with more photos.

Fantastic News From the Orbus Mission Secondary School:

​"Senior Secondary School results have been released. Out of the 68 students who sat for the exams at Orbus, 62 passed. This represents a 91% pass rate for Orbus, compared to the national pass rate for the whole of Malawi of 52%." Edmond Kananji (Head Teacher, Orbus Mission Secondary School)

WELL DONE to all students and teachers!

The Orbus Born to Shine Choir has completed the recording of their first studio album made up of 10 songs. The recording was completed at Alimoso Studios, Blantyre on the 18 July 2023 and was funded by Orbus Ministries Australia at a cost of A$400. We hope to have a link to the whole album for interested supporters in due course. Thank you for supporting this initiative and for the encouragement this has been to the students.

1: Thank you for the funds sent in to assist with the relief efforts following Cyclone Freddy. A total of 1,350,000 Malawi Kwacha (A$2100) has to date been sent from Australia. Much of this will assist in repairs to teachers and staff houses, some to be used to buy and distribute other relief items under the direction of a 7-member committee set up for this purpose.

2: For a short video with one of the Orbus choirs singing "Crown Him" please click the image above. For a longer audio of this singing please click here.

3: For a general letter of thanks from Orbus Australia to all supporters please click here.

Further to our update of the 15th March I can confirm that all Orbus staff and students are reported to be unharmed and well. The Orbus Head Teachers, Edmond Kananji and Wills Mbewe and other friends at Orbus have provided recent updates to me, and while things have not been as bad at Orbus a lot of houses have collapsed and lives have been lost in surrounding areas. Eight Orbus staff have been affected by the storm with damaged or collapsed homes but thankfully they and their families escaped unhurt.

“As of today, 21st March 2023, the number of displaced people is at 553,614 with 543 camps set to accommodate the displaced. The death toll has risen from 499 to 507 with 1,332 injuries. The number of reported missing persons is at 537 from 427,” (Source)

Bodies are still being retrieved from the mud and rubble. There has been a big response from neighbouring countries, the UN, and international organizations providing assistance, but more will be required as the devastation is too great for Malawi to handle alone.

There has been a slight reprieve in the rain, and the sun has been shining over the last two days. Schools are still closed as some are being used to house the homeless and displaced. Orbus is expecting to re-start some secondary classes next week.

Food shortages could become a major problem very quickly. The crops I saw everywhere when I visited in February pointed to a bumper season for Malawi, even though there was a shortage of fertilizer, however much of the maize crops in southern Malawi will have been damaged or destroyed.
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Although many people in Malawi received a cholera vaccine in February, there remains a real risk of a worsening cholera problem in Malawi, along with other water born sicknesses.

​I spoke with the government regional health coordinator onsite at Orbus in February and was informed that most of the Orbus students had by then been offered a cholera vaccine, and while there were cases of cholera in the vicinity no cases had yet been reported at Orbus.

Combined with seriously storm damaged infrastructure, especially roads and bridges, these looming problems all point to major challenges ahead for southern Malawi, so please continue to pray.

I asked what the greatest needs are, and how best Australian friends of Malawi could help in this situation, Edmond suggests the needs are mostly for food, clothing, buckets, blankets and plastic sheets. 

Assisting the Orbus community in whatever way we can is our objective in coming weeks. Orbus staff are able to purchase items for distribution and Lameck, our in-house building project manager, is ready to assist where needed to assess and facilitate urgent home repairs. With this in mind we will seek to establish a committee of Orbus leadership and staff in Malawi and myself to oversee and account for an Orbus Cyclone Freddy Relief Fund. 

As part of Orbus’ involvement in providing relief and development in Malawi, donations to Orbus Ministries Australia Inc. are tax deductible for Australian donors. If anyone would like to contribute to providing some practical assistance through this fund, please specify "Relief" clearly on your donations or by email to us.

Orbus Australia sending people to help, given the cost of doing so, is deemed unattainable and sending funds to facilitate local efforts would seem the way to help in this instance. Ideally if funds were available to do both there is very much a strong desire to do so.

Please feel free to contact me if you would like further updates in coming days.

Craig
[email protected]
0434 1968 29

Above: Some of the Orbus maize crop in February 2023.

On 11 March 2023 some of the senior students from the Orbus Mission Secondary School visited the Mulanje Mission Hospital nursing college for career information. The students enjoyed the day and the interactions with medical personnel.

Photos at the Orbus Mission Primary and Secondary Schools taken over a two-week period in February 2023 are available at: PHOTO JOURNALS FEBRUARY 2023

In February 2023 Caleb and Craig Manners visited the Orbus Mission Primary and Secondary Schools to strengthen relationships, assess recent projects funded through Orbus Ministries Australia Inc. and assist with various other matters. By way of reporting on their visit please see a visual report and read a letter and report from Craig and a short video put together by Caleb. We are amazed at what God has done with Orbus in Malawi and convey very sincere gratitude to all supporters over the years for their involvement through prayer, financial donations and volunteering.

A video from Caleb in February 2023:​

Published January 12, 2023 5:51pm EST

The worst cholera outbreak to affect Malawi in two decades has now claimed 750 lives, a government minister said, while the World Health Organization chief described the southeast African country as among the hardest-hit amid ongoing global epidemics that are "more widespread and deadly than normal."

Malawi’s Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda on Thursday ordered the closure of many businesses that lack safe water, toilets and hygienic refuse disposal facilities, and announced restrictions on the sale of pre-cooked food.

"We continue to record rising number of cases across the country, despite signs of reduced transmission and deaths in a few areas," Chiponda said in a statement, and urged adherence to sanitation and hygiene measures.

On Wednesday, Chiponda said 17 people had died from 589 new cases of the waterborne disease "in the past 24 hours." She said the country has recorded 22,759 cases since the onset of the outbreak in March last year.

Figures show that about 15 people have been dying daily in recent days, with 155 deaths recorded in the past 10 days. Nearly 1,000 people were hospitalized as of Wednesday.

www.foxnews.com/world/worst-cholera-outbreak-two-decades-sweeps-malawi-claimed-750-lives 

In September 2017 the Orbus Mission Secondary School was registered and commenced with a single Form 1 class of students. In October 2021 we celebrate the first cohort of students to go through the school and graduate from secondary school. We praise God for this milestone and pray for His rich blessing on these students as they embark on their post-schooling lives.