So much to say...

A day, so full of so many emotions! So much to say, but alas, we lack the words!

First we visited the garden project and received a short tour from one of the farmer. Some were busy selling mustard greens to a local buyer, others were tilling new plots for fresh tomato plants. One farmer had his little son along for the day because his wife had to take their 6 year old child to the hospital. From what I understand this young boy struggles with severe anemia and an inability for his little body to digest food well. They were told that today their would be a new delivery of medication for him so they had to go to the hospital today. How different an experience of what health care is in other parts of the world. It was nice to see some productive crops and have conversations with the farmers.

Let’s skip to the highlight of today - visiting the home of each of our sponsor children. Mbousa Laimu, the pastor from the Chigumukire Child Care Centre, took us for a walk through the village. I recall walking through a remote village for the first time and expected that this would most likely impact our children the most. Many discussions have been occurring to process the emotions of seeing the living conditions of people in this remote part of Malawi. Visiting the home of someone you have thought of, prayed for and received sponsorship updates of for the last few years has extra impact. And we come for just a moment - now to realize these people live here everyday and never experience anything different. Powerful.

At each home the pastor takes time to pray, read a portion from God’s Word and speak a short meditation on the Word which was read. At each home a small gathering hears the message delivered. We pray it may be blessed.

At the end of the day, we return to a local lodge for a warm meal of fries and chicken (well, other then Ben who chooses to eat nsima and chicken - he loves nsima! Says it brings him back to his childhood breakfasts of cream of wheat!) while all these other children and people remain in their village - no power, little food, little warmth (their winter now!), only some protection from the elements, etc.

I wish I had something impactful to say, a way to share how vital the support these villages receive from Timotheos is. I wish there was a way to share how healthy the Timotheos children look in comparison to their fellow villagers. I wish there was a way to share how some of these children and elderly intently listened to the pastor and at times audibly agreed with his message.

I wish there was a way to show you… Your support matters.