We
are in Lilongwe, the capitol of Malawi and have been here for about
two weeks now. Living conditions are much better than last month.
Although we’re still in our tents, we have clean water, hot showers
and a living area. We also have a kitchen to cook our meals rather
than an open fire.
We are working with Children of
the Nations doing various outreaches in the surrounding area. We’ve
mostly been working with kids which has been amazing. Everyone wants
to hold your hand and wants to be held and their all so cute. One of
the places we’ve been going and helping out at is a crisis home for
abandoned, orphaned and HIV positive babies. The oldest baby that’s
there is only 1 ½. We go and just hold babies for a few hours.
Yesterday I went to a village
about an hour from Lilongwe and spent the day at a woman’s house
helping her with daily chores. I think I ended up doing more
observing than helping. Some of the things we helped her with was,
crushing peanuts into flour to make nsima (a local dish),
re-plastering her front porch, washing dishes, wetting her dirt yard
and sweeping it. We also played with the local kids. It was quite the
experience.
On Tue. and Fri. mornings we’ve
been going to a program set up for widows. Their purpose is to help
the healing process begin and to teach the women skills that will
help them make a living. We were given materials to knit or crochet
and we just sat and worked along side of them. Some knew enough
English for us to have a conversation and it was cool to hear after
such loss, so much hope.
Our ministries have kind of been
all over the place but it’s been really amazing to see how God is
working in Malawi and to meet the people He’s using to spread His
love.
