Welcome to the village.
So sorry it has taken me a while to get this together. I have tons of pictures and it just takes a while to upload them.
Anyways, I want to tell you about our Matapila and Katonda experience. Two weeks ago, Dan, Megan and I spent three nights and four days in a village about an hour outside of Lilongwe. We stayed with Gift and his family. Gift is a director of a center about two miles away from Matapila called Katondo. He is also the brother of Fletcher Matandika who is the ABC graduate that started the Ministry of Hope feeding centers in Malawi. Fletcher is currently studying at Westminster West in California.
Ministry of Hope is an orphan feeding program which also focuses on Bible lessons and discipleship, tutoring with school lessons and they have choirs. There are six centers now, each large enough to house and feed 300-500 orphans about three to four days a week. The orphans do not actually live there, though. Some of them come for porridge
in the mornings and then come back in the afternoon for Nzima and lessons/choir practice. The orphans are usually taken in by other family members or close neighbors. The centers are great because they help support the families that take in the orphans by providing food and care for the children. This relieves a lot of pressure off of the generous families, and also encourages others to take in orphans. Here is our connection with Ministry of Hope and the reason why we wanted to visit the centers in the Matapila area:
Two and a half years ago, Dan and I were part of a team that visited Malawi from Green Lake Presbyterian Church in Seattle. It was a short term trip and we were in Malawi for 3 weeks. Part of the team spent a week in this village, doing work with Ministry of Hope. We organized a VBS program for the children, but were mostly there to play with the kids, visit them at home and support the already existing programs. The program used to be held at an old blue and white building. It could not possibly hold all the children, and so they would also meet outside underneath a thatched roof held up by twigs. I always thought it was going to fall on them! We fell in love with the kids. A lot of them were really sick and malnourished, but they still had smiles on their faces, just happy to have visitors. Below is a picture of the old center.
A man named Shad used to be the director of the Matapila center. During our first visit, Shad showed us a large piece of land which MOH had hoped to build on and develop. They wanted to build a new center as well as a chicken house. They also wanted to have a large field for planting maize so that the center would not have to rely so heavily on donations. I remember hearing from Shad all the plans for that village, and he asked us to pray that the Lord would make it happen for these children.
Dan and I were so excited to have the time off from school so that we could plan a small visit to our friends in Mataplia. I was really excited to see the children again, to see how they had grown. I have to confess that although I was very prayerful at first for the new center to be built and such, I did forget about all the plans that Shad had shared with us. So, while we were driving to the center during our most recent visit, we passed right by that old blue and white building. I looked at Dan and said "Isn't that the center?". Then, we rounded a corner, and the new beautiful brick center came into view. It had been done! The Lord has provided for the hundreds of orphans at Matapila. Not only was the new center there, but there was also a chicken house and a large field ready for planting. I was so excited to see a completed project!
As we drove up closer to the center, the children started running toward the car, yelling "Mzungu" which means 'white person'. Before I even got out of the car, I could recognize some of the children that I had played with two years ago. We were introduced to the new director of the Matapila center, Joseph. He has only been the director for a few months, but seemed to have a hold on things. He is sooo passionate about loving and caring for orphans as well as providing good Biblical teaching for young children. We were introduced to the children and then helped with the distribution of Nzima (corn meal of sorts). We then got to hear the choir practice, which is always my favorite part. It seems as though everyone has a good voice here. The children all dance and sing together in unison while an older one leads out. It's truly amazing. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids. Below is a picture of Joseph in the maize stock room.
This is Joseph introducing me to the kids. He asked me to pray but didn't translate. He did that with Dan, too. I think the kids thought it was funny, and none of them knew when the prayer was over unless they heard me say "Amen".
Dan hanging out with the young guys as they ate their Nzima.
The next day, we showed up to the center at 7:30am (actually, we were 30 min. late). We had been recruited to help plant maize in the field. I took a handful of seeds, piled them into my shirt, and started dropping them into the little holes which had been poked out earlier by the boys. Then, I had my friend Ellen come behind me and close up the holes with dirt. They move so fast, and I would get so nervous that I would accidentally drop two in one hole, or skip a hole altogether. Ellen helped to keep me on track and would laugh at me when I messed up.
I knew Ellen and her brother, Leonard, from our last visit. Ellen was a sick girl with some sort of skin condition, so her hair didn't really grow. She was always quiet and shy, but wouldn't mind being near us. Now, two years later, she is singing, playful and outgoing. I loved watching her play with her friends. She has so much energy. It was a joy to see her again, but also to see her doing so well!
Dan and the boys, planting maize.
Ellen and I took a quick break from planting maize. She would sometimes squeal if I messed up. She would also sing songs which made the work go by quickly.
Ellen in the rain. See her smile? I didn't see that smile two years ago, but now, she barely stops smiling!
This is Leonard, Ellen's younger brother. Two years ago, he was a toddler, almost always crying. Now, he is just like all little boys, curious and energetic!
Leonard and Ellen together. They have the same big eyes. I truly love these children.
After planting in the fields, we played more with the children and helped again with the feeding. Since it was such an early morning, we decided to go back to Gift's house to relax for the afternoon. On our way home, we stopped by a chief's house to discuss the outreach program we would be doing the next day.
Gift has two children that are under the age of three. They were so shy at first, but slowly warmed up to us. It was fun to play with them. They were practicing their writing with the paper and pencils that we brought with us.
Practicing for when she probably will have to carry water on her head with a baby on her back!
Gift's sweet little children.
Here I am in the "kitchen" cooking oatmeal on an open fire. I am using a thin rag, but Gift's wife just uses her bare hands. I tell ya, the women here and amazing!
The third day, we got ready for outreach. Joseph met us at the center around 10:30am (even though that was when the outreach program was supposed to begin!). We didn't get to the site until around 11:00am. As the choir director started setting up his key board, Megan and I played with the kids and Dan and Joseph went over the message.
This is Ellen, and her good friend. They stuck together for most of the day.
While we waited for the program to begin, Dan got recruited to help this old lady at the well. Here he is walking off with her to help bring back buckets of water.
Someone showed up with some speakers and a suitecase with a car battery inside. Megan and I were cracking up while we watched some guys try to hook it all up together. It was WAY too loud, but we are learning that Malawians LOVE loud music, especially when it is a synthesizer. Suddenly, it began to POUR raining, and so we headed for shelter in the car. We waited for the rain to pass while the kids played in the muddy field. Sometimes, the kids would come to see us sitting in the back of the car with the hatch open. Joseph moved us to a larger location, a school room close by. We didn't know how many people would come, but it didn't seem like many at first.
The kids hanging out under the car hatch.
As we began settling into this classroom, people started pouring in. In the end, I think there were about 200 Malawian people shoved into that room (the size of a living room). There were people sitting on top of people. The choir sang tons of songs and then Dan and Joseph got up to preach. Dan preached while Joseph translated, but somehow, with every small phrase that Dan would give him to translate, Joseph would go on forever! It was so funny. Dan would say something like: "We live in God's world" and then Joseph would "translate" that for 3 minutes while punching the air and waving his hands. It was pretty entertaining. After Dan preached, Joseph continued to preach for another 45 minutes. Megan and I began to wonder if we would ever see the light of day again. It was close to 4pm!!!
This is the Matapila choir. They usually sing on Sundays at the local church as well. I put up videos of this choir in an earlier blog.
Dan raises his fist and speaks one small phrase at a time
Joseph raises his hand and 'expounds' on Dan's phrase for about three minutes!
Joseph finally finished his 'sermon' and we headed back to Matapila. We took Joseph home and met his wife. Actually, it was strange because his house is the same house that our team stayed in when we visited back in 2005! It was a long day. I think I got the best sleep that night.
Here is Joseph and his lovely new wife (only been married for 2 months!).
Our last day in the village, we went to visit the center in Katondo, which is were Gift works. He had asked us to talk about the importance of education with the older school children at the center. Of course, we started the day with playing with the kids and helping with the feeding. Then we spent about 30 minutes talking (with a translator) with the kids about the importance of education. It's funny, because giving that kind of talk in the states would include more tips on getting into college and vocations/jobs and such. However, we were talking with a group of orphan teenagers who live in a remote village in Malawi. They probably aren't going to go to college. They probably will not move to Lilongwe and have their own successful business. It just hit me so hard, the reality of their situation. It also helped me to realize all the lies and stupid reasons as to why we got to school in America (or why we pursue any kind of learning). It is not about getting a good job. That leads to nothing but more money, a better house, another car, and more extravagant vacations.
We wanted these kids to know that school is a wonderful way to learn about God, our creator. He is the King of all knowledge and wants us to know Him and understand the world He created. The knowledge we receive is to be used to glorify God. A lot of the girls there will probably marry very young, have children to take care of, and work the fields like the usual Malawian woman. But, education is still to important for those girls, because they can bring their children up in the knowledge of the world which is given to us by God.
It was cool to talk with them afterwards about what they want to do with their education (nursing, music, etc.). They do have dreams and goals, but for such different reasons that those of us Americans. They want to use their gifts to help others in their community. They see the great need for teachers and nurses in their village and although it doesn't pay more than $10 a month, they want to pursue those jobs. See, these kids aren't going to school to find a position. They will finish school and actually create a position because there is such a huge lack of educated people in the villages.
It was a pleasure to be with the older kids and to talk to them about this issue. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things. We had a great day with them, but sadly had to leave. The car had already been packed, and we would be heading straight home after our time at the center in Katonda. The rains were getting heavier and heavier and we were worried about driving the narrow dirt (mud) roads home in the dark.
Here I am with some of the older school girls. They were SO surprised when they found out that Dan was younger than me. Apparently, it is a BIG no no for an older woman to marry a younger man. Hehe.
Here we are (well, I am actually taking the picture) talking with the older school kids about education.
Here is Dan playing football with the young boys. They loved stealing the ball from him.
Here are the kids in line to get their Nzima.
The two girls on the left are twins. The brownish stuff is the soya meat (a meat substitute made out of soy)
More beautiful children who come regularly to the orphan feeding program throughout the week.
Here is the choir at Katonda being led by Gift. They were so good!
Dan hanging out with the guys. They loved asking him questions about America.
Here are the volunteers at the Katondo center. PLEASE PLEASE be praying for them. They work SO hard and get little in return. Pray that the Lord will bless their work and give them joyful hearts. (Gift is on the far left)
Dan, Megan, Gift and I in Gift's office.
Over all, it was so fun to be in the village. Yeah, you have to use the latrine, there is no running water and no stove, but it is still one of my favorite places to be when in Africa. It is such a different feel than being in the city. It was so funny, because as we were getting closer to Lilongwe, we realized that we were coming back to the 'city'. We laughed because here, the city consists of some paved roads, some restaurants and some tall buildings, but you still have to watch out for the goats and the ox and carts!!!
Please be praying for Ministry of Hope. This small organization is responsible for feeding and spiritually leading thousands of orphans in Malawi. Pray against corruption, and pray for strength. They are truly doing an amazing work. Click
HERE if you want to know more about Ministry of Hope or if you want to contact/support them.
Thank you for considering this challenge. I know that God cares for these babies and will provide for them in His timing with great care and gentleness. Please remember to pray for the orphans of this world, all 143 Million of them.
