Many Learning Experiences...

Written by the whole team

The past few days have been full of learning experiences. Yesterday at Mulinga Childcare Centre we had the privilege of teaching and helping at the agogo feeding (feeding the elderly Malawians) which is outside of our regular program. This is also a program through Timotheos which ensures the elderly are fed and taught from Gods Word during some of the dry months.

One of us was able to teach the Bible story of David and Goliath. Their wide eyed attention was very touching to see. Some of them even leaning forward to catch every word. We were met with smiles, bows, hand shakes, and “zikomo’s” (thank you’s) as we handed out their meals.

Meanwhile at the Mbulumbuzi Child Care Center, we had an emotional experience. We had decided that we would try to organize a dodgeball game with the older children in the afternoon. They managed to figure it out pretty quickly and we got to the game.

A game of dodge ball

As we were playing a few of the oldest boys were throwing the ball pretty hard. At one point, a ball was thrown and hit a lunch container. A little boy (about 10) sitting beside one of us had suddenly burst into tears. We realized quickly that it was his lunch container and it had broken when the ball hit it. The little boy was upset and cried for a long time.

This is the boy whose lunch box shattered… The team has been in correspondence with Janneke and they said that the lunch box will be replaced.

It sunk in for us that each student's container was their way to access food for the day. We acknowledged how many of us have a drawer/cupboard full of Tupperware at home that we take for granted. Without it, this little boy had no way to get breakfast or lunch. He was quite upset for an hour and finally managed to calm down enough to join in a game of kickball with everyone to finish out the day.

The day ended with a group zoom call with the Timotheos consultants to debrief on our trip so far. We shared a few highlights as well as a few low points, and are very thankfully for the consultants support throughout the trip, especially as the reality of what we see begins to sink in.

The children are taught a Psalter and Bible text - here they are reciting Proverbs 3:1 "My son, forget not my law but let thine heart keep my commandments"

Playing one of our games with the children

Below are some pictures of gifts for the foster home and packaging thank you gifts for the teachers and staff at the centres.