I have been able to walk in some of our toughest communities in Malawi so far off the map that it causes cars to break down. I’ve served alongside Zimbabwean leaders who give everything to reach the most vulnerable children in communities all around them. We have joined together with 50 of our leaders (African and International) for a time of repentance, confession and commitment to go even further in reaching Africa’s most vulnerable.
Back at the beginning of September, I had the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe (for the first time) and join a team of us to share in a wedding of one of our long term Zimbabwean volunteers, Andrew. It was a time of true celebration as people from all over came together to celebrate Andrew and Kuda getting married. As with our own wedding, many of the Hands family rallied around the wedding organisation and helped make the day as memorable as possible for Andrew and Kuda.
Following the wedding, I stayed on for a week to support our Zimbabwe team and to get to see some of the communities I had heard so much about. It was a surprise and joy to be able to visit a young girl named Mary* on one home visit I did. She has been struggling with seizures for many years and doctors have tried many things to help her. Over the years, I have seen her name come through the receipts, when specific medical care and attention was needed for her but had never met this young girl. It was such a joy to finally be able to put a face to this name! While visiting her home I learnt that next term she would be able to return to school because her seizures were now under control enough for her to be able to make the walk to school safely. When I am working in the office, it can be easy to become disconnected from the children, sitting behind a community and working with numbers. I have to remind myself, each number is representing a vulnerable child. In this particular case, the link was so clear and I thank God that he took us to that home when I was in Zimbabwe. Please join with me in continuing to pray for Mary as her improvement continues and she is able to attend school consistently.
At the beginning of October, Morgan and I travelled to Zambia to prepare for our annual gathering. We knew this time would be a bit different as it was a much smaller group of African and International leaders coming together. We had many times throughout the week where God revealed to us the brokenness in our own hearts and repentance that was needed between each other and to God. At the end of the week, everyone was empty on energy but full of the spirit. We were ready to reach our vulnerable children with a new energy and ready to make situations even more personal.
Immediately after this gathering, I travelled to Malawi by bus with member of our local office there. It was a long journey but we made it safely to Dedza, right on the border of Mozambique. I was spending time with the Service Centre (SC, local office) team to help with budgets, projects and planning for 2017. I had one day where I was able to visit a community. Chinku is a community about an hour off of the main tar road. We took a taxi along dirt roads right into the mountains very close to the border of Mozambique. Many of the children we care for in this community are from families who have fled Mozambique. While driving from one of our Care Points to another our car broke down. So our driver and one of the local staff stayed to fix the car, while Catherine (our Care Worker), Ivy (our bookkeeper in Malawi) and I started on our Holy Home Visit from the car to the home. On our walk, I got to know Catherine’s story and how for the last few months, the children have been coming to receive their food and care from her own house because the normal Care Point had fallen down and was being rebuilt. When Jesus speaks of sacrificial giving, this is a true example! When we reached the home, we met Gogo Florence*, who was looking after her granddaughters, Cindy* and Naomi*. Cindy was at school when we visited but Naomi was not able to attend school today because her family could not afford the exam fees. When we talked through the situation, we learnt that the Gogo was going to sell some of the little dried grass she had to raise money for the exam fees. The family had recently been given some old maize cobs from another family who had discarded them because of the quality. Gogo Florence, and her girls had to pick through the maize to get rid of the rotten kernels, so they could use what was left. It is nearing planting season, so Gogo sends the girls to the field nearby to plough it in hope that rains will come in a few weeks’ time. If the rains don’t come and the drought continues, this plough will all be in vain. It’s heart-breaking to see how the drought continues to affect so many families across Africa. Please continue to join with us in praying for the many families across Africa who are being affected by the drought.
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| Gogo Florence, Naomi and Catherine |
Over the next few weeks, we have time at our home in South Africa and then at the end of November, my parents are coming to visit which is exciting. A couple of weeks later Morgan’s parents will be visiting. We are blessed to have family willing to visit us as we continue to serve Africa’s most vulnerable.
- T
