July 14th 2009
We spent one more day with the children of ChristCares Ministry on Monday, sharing a meal, chit-chatting, getting to know them better and watching them sing and dance. You can see that they love the program and that it is having a holistically positive influence on them. It was wonderful to catch a glimpse into their lives and be moved by their smiles. Speaking of moved, on Saturday we visited the nine young women who are attending high school due to ChristCares. They are attending boarding high schools, meaning they live on the school compounds and only go home over breaks. When asked if they miss their families, they all responded “no” and giggled because this opportunity is so great. To have a safe place to get an education where meals are provided and there is time to study is priceless. Prior to the opportunity at these boarding schools, if these girls wanted to attend school, they had to travel great distances every day. One girl said that she had to walk 7 miles each way! The truly sad thing is that attacks and rapes are all too common among the paths that they have to walk. So, not only would she be required to walk 14 miles every day, but the constant threat of being raped is a heavy burden to bear. Could you make the trip? Not to mention you don’t get lunch (nor did you have breakfast), when you get home you need to help wash, cook and care for your brothers and sisters, then find time to study and do homework, all with the expectation of doing well in school. The obstacles are just too great. It is true that America is the land of opportunity. If you have the desire and ambition, there is a way to seek your dreams and better your future. In Malawi, if your lot is not right, it doesn’t matter how bad you may want it, it is impossible; unless there is something there to break the cycle, a catalyst to jump the track of despair . . . a mechanism like ChristCares. In a world where there is so much, it is amazing to see what so little can do. Meeting these girls and seeing the relief and hope in them was inspiring.
But now we have said our goodbyes, and although we are staying in Lilongwe, we are moving on to YouthCare Ministry, where we are meeting up with Gibozi Mphanzi. YouthCare has been established for five years, so it has had more time to grow roots and extend its branches. Lindsey and I will also meet up with Roger and Kristin Nielsen, who will be traveling with us for the remainder of our stay. That means we are at the two week/half-way marker of our visit. Traveling is funny, because there are so many new experiences, the days seem full and long, yet ‘time flies when you’re having fun’, so the weeks go fast. We will continue to soak up each and every moment.