Incredible...

I am feeling exceptionally blessed to be able to experience Malawi with both Ben and three of our children. After years of my family watching me work on, and at times helping along with clerical items for Timotheos Canada, it was beyond special to introduce them to the Chigumukire Child Care Centre. A day much anticipated…  

We first greet the senior staff at the centre, and then the head teacher leads us through all the classrooms where they sing a welcome song for us upon entrance.  We take a moment with each class letting them know where we came from and the purpose of our visit: to connect with them and gather information for a future sponsorship update.  The children in Standard 7 chuckled when Ranen said she was thirteen… they can’t believe how tall she is compared to them!

Following classroom visits we met at the central hall for a Bible story from the Pastor Laimu and all the children took their turns receiving lunch – nsima and beans. At this time the girls took their two skipping ropes out of the vehicle and what fun we had! Interesting trying to teach them how to take turns or that if they crowd the rope, we can’t turn it. Drawing a circle in the sand worked well, as long as we redrew it occasionally!

When bringing us to the airport, my mom had asked my children what they were most looking forward to – they all unanimously replied, “meeting our sponsor children”. Instead of “paying allowances” for jobs at home our children have always known that they “work” for the sponsorship of their child in Malawi. They have all been supporting a child since 2017 and today Katie got to meet hers! What an incredible experience. Beyond words. In 2018 I met Esnat for the first time, an incredibly timid preschooler sobbing on the nursery room floor, exhausted and clearly bothered by something. Today she ran to us, recognizing me from previous trips, with a large hug and incredibly warm smile. So, so special! Hopefully tomorrow, Ranen and Owen will also meet their sponsor brother and sister!  

Balls – for both soccer and netball – one of the most anticipated items that comes with visitors! Thankfully teachers offer to help us coordinate two reasonably great games! The girls much appreciated their netball and the boys played an enthusiastic game of soccer.

By 3pm some of our children were feeling a little “touched out” and as one of them says, I sure hope you let your volunteers know that if they at all get claustrophobic, they probably shouldn’t apply! We hop in our car and travel south a little to the village of Nsanje.  Here I show the family the lodge I stayed at in 2018 and now they really appreciate the lodge we are staying in tonight. We also visit the Nsanje port and watch a man fish for a little while. 

It’s 5:30 pm and darkness has set in. Dinner will soon await us and then we will be ready for an early night. What a day! Thankful and feeling incredibly blessed.