Christmas Programs and Hampers and Cyclone Chalane Update

The time just before and around Christmas is often the start of extra challenges and worries in the Southern region of Malawi. November brings on the rainy season which would typically equal planting of crops and extra labour for those who have seeds to plant and an area to till. This year, no rain had fallen by mid December which brings on worrisome thoughts to everyone living there. How do they plant crops without rain? Will they receive any harvest come March/April? Normally they are not able to produce enough for even half a year’s worth of food, how will it even be close to possible this coming year?

Then to add to their worries, the government has warned them there is a cyclone forming in the Mozambique Chanel and they should brace for extreme weather in the coming days. The weather experts are advising `people to exercise great caution in the coming several days in view of expected sporadic and scattered storms to be accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning`. Cyclone Chalane is expected to follow a similar path to the previous Tropical Storm Idai that caused devastating destruction almost two years ago. This morning the storm made landfall in Mozambique and is tracking inland and towards Zimbabwe. It appears that the brunt of the storm will pass just south of Malawi. The storm has sustained winds of 85km/hr and gusts exceeding 120km/hr. People have been asked to move away from areas that are prone to flooding. Please pray for our beneficiaries and their families in the Nsanje region.

Cooking Mothers preparing the meal for at the Christmas Program.

Supplies for the Christmas Hampers

As an organization we arrange a Christmas program to put extra emphasis on the Christmas Story and to share some hope for the coming months leading up to their anticipated harvest. This year we invited a pastor from a neighbouring congregation, Abusa Paul Davies, to preach on the Christmas message. After that the children recited Bible verses, did some singing and displayed some the things that they had learned. We had speeches and enjoyed a meal with everyone. Christmas hampers were gifted to each family - many practical items that will help provide some sustenance in the coming difficult months. All the children receive a backpack with sugar, salt, soya pieces, cooking oil, a drink and some biscuits. The employees received a Timotheos shirt, Bridge to Genesis in Chichewa, as well as a monetary gift. Also the local chiefs received basically the same gift as the children but a bucket instead of a backpack.

School results were read per class and some awards were given to the top three students of each class. Also a report was given on one of the girls in our program, Feliah Yobe, who is both deaf and mute and attends a special school for disabled learning in Chiradzulu - she ranked third in her class!

Three students receiving top recognition in their class.

All the employees and the children and their families went home thankful and grateful. We heartily thank all of our supporters for providing the means to allow us to work in these impoverished regions and we pray God will bless the work being done, especially in the sharing of His Word.