Malawi and Coronavirus

Coronavirus. COVID-19. We all have heard these words a lot in the past few weeks.  How is it affecting Timotheos and our projects?

Originally we were working with our project officer, Benjamin, to instruct the teachers and children about spreading out in the classrooms.  But as you can see, when you have 62 children in one Nursery Feeding Program (preschool) classroom it is a challenge to space out accordingly. 

Spacing out the children in the NFP classroom.

Then last week Friday evening, March 20, President Mutharika closed all schools and banned public gatherings over 100 due to the threat of coronavirus. He ended his announcement by: “Let’s join together as we pray for God’s heart of love, mercy, and truth to dwell in us and show us how to face the challenges posed by coronavirus.  We should not panic. Let us all unit in prayer of faith to a God that answers prayer.  With spiritual grace and scientific resilience, together, we shall overcome this epidemic.” At the time of this announcement there was no confirmed case of the virus but there are many unconfirmed reports.  We must remember that for most Malawians, going to a hospital and testing requires funds they don’t have so often diseases go undetected. 

This prompted the Timotheos Malawi Board to call a meeting on Saturday March 21st where it was decided that all of our Nursery Feeding, Adult Literacy and Elderly Feeding Programs will temporarily close.  The Child Care Centre (elementary school) is closed but we are still cooking for the children and they are coming daily to pickup up their food to eat at home.    Our Foster Home continues to run as is other than they are not allowing any visitors.

Gerrit found and purchased plastic containers for the children’s lunches as well as supplies to help prevent the virus.  The teachers will be monitoring the children during food pick up so they were instructed on how to teach the children proper sanitary measures.  Here one teacher is giving a good example of hand washing while the other teacher faithfully counts to 20.

Hand washing techniques taught to the teachers so they can educate the children when they come for their daily meal.

Although we closed our programs and put the requested measures in place, we fear that a virus like this would spread quickly.  Trading centres, water pumps and living space are typically crowded with people. Many of our orphans are cared for by elderly grandparents so it is a great concern to us.  As Gerrit wrote in one of his updates: “Also these things we will have to leave in God`s hand, and we pray that it may yet be used for the extension of His kingdom.”

Last Sunday the Oomen family attended church at our child care centre.  The local Reformed Presbyterian Church is too small and in poor condition so they use the main building at the Child Care Centre to congregate.  Even though the president forbids gatherings of over 100 people, they were sitting in church with approximate 230 people.  After the service Gerrit asked the pastor to please hold a Bible story for the children separately during the service the following week so that the group would be split into two.  After the church service the children stay for a Sunday school class as seen below. 

Sunday school following the church service

Please remember Malawi in prayer also during these uncertain times.