As we drove to ministry, I looked out the window at the beautiful landscape of Malawi. We took a familiar route, so I had an idea of where we were going but had no idea what ministry was going to look like today. We pulled into the drive of Children of the Nations, and I was a little confused because I was positive that our host told us we would be working with widows today. As we walked past the children all lined up to get their dinner, we entered a room full of women singing and dancing. I was instantly excited for what was in store for us.
Today I met a woman named Grace. In 2004, her husband died leaving her with seven children that she would have to provide for on her own. She explained that this was not an easy task because Malawian women rely solely on their husbands to provide for the family. Parents are more likely to send their son to school rather than their daughter because their daughters will be married and then she can rely on her husband to care for her and the family. Several women are illiterate and don’t know where to start in providing for a family. She continued to explain that they are typically forced out of town and into the villages because they can no longer pay rent. When the husband dies, his family will come and take all that is theirs and leave the wife with nothing even if there are children to care for.
Grace explained that Children of the Nations took care of two of her children, but she had five more to take care of and limited knowledge and resources to provide for them. Children of the Nations is an orphanage and child care center. The children are cared for physically and spiritually.
In 2006, the Widows’ Program at Children of the Nations began. They had a room to hold meetings and a sum of money to get a business started. The Widows’ Program teaches new skills to the women to help them to get back on their feet. They teach the women how to sew bags, aprons, coin purses, bow ties, etc. They make bracelets and necklaces and sell some of the things that they bake, as well. They are given some practical skills and a small sum of money to start their own business as a way to provide for their family.
Over the past ten years, the Widows’ Program has blossomed. They have graduated six classes and can stand on their own without the financial support of Children of the Nations. They have opened up the program to all women because they have seen the empowerment that the widows acquired with this opportunity.
Grace is touching the lives of other women all over Lilongwe. She is empowering them to be women of Christ. These women meet once a week to praise the Lord, study the Bible and learn more about business and the different ways they can provide for their families. One of the last things that Grace said was that she knows that she is no longer a widow because she is married to the Most High, and she carries so much joy and confidence because of it.
Grace provides a beautiful example of how Christ’s love can transform us and by using our gifts, we can help those around us. God works through all people. Even in times of suffering, He puts it all together for the greater good. Grace’s husband died over ten years ago, but because of this, she was able to touch countless lives of other women who have gone through something similar.
