Orphan care is one of the most pressing issues in Malawi. This is especially true in the villages. It becomes the village’s responsibility to care for their orphans. They cannot wait for well-wishers from outside the country to rescue the orphans. The villagers need to care for their own first. Many times this means family members taking in several children. Sometimes it means child-headed households, watched over by members of the community. As the numbers of orphans increase, the communities are working to find the best possibilities for their nurture and care.
Chiuta Presbytery is one of our most remote presbyteries and one of the most economically challenged areas of the country. The HIV/Aids infection rate is about 25%, much higher than the 16% national average. The number of children orphaned by this disease is much higher than the national average as well. These orphans are the concern of the small Makogola Church near Lake Chiuta. When their pastor, Rev. Nyang’ama, conducted an elders’ retreat, they did some long range dreaming and planning. The elders dreamed of an orphan care center in their community to minister to these children and youth. They envisioned a day care center for young orphans, a vocational training center for the older ones and recreational facilities for all the youth as part of an after school program. When they returned from the retreat, they began to work on making their dream a reality. After a time of prayer, they approached the village chief about land for the project and he gave them more than 7 acres near the church property. They took plans that one of the teachers in the congregation had from a school that had 4 classrooms and they assessed the materials they would need to build such a structure on the land the chief gave them. They began gathering what they could, including old bricks from a building that was no longer in use. The pastor consulted with a contractor friend to modify the plans for their location. They gathered workers from the congregation who are willing to do the building. What they lacked was money for cement and reinforcement rods for the foundation. The pastor, my son Thomas, came to me to see if I had any ideas for them regarding the money. I had contact with a church that regularly sends money for ministry here, so I asked the church if this seemed like a project they could work with. They eagerly gave their consent. So I passed along to the Makogola church committee $1,000 from the church in the States. They were elated. This would get them started with the materials they needed to begin. They have church and community fundraisers planned to supplement the money. They are taking responsibility for this project, just as they are for the orphans. I am certain there will be more help forthcoming from the church in the States, as well.
Sunday I was invited to the church to represent the church in the States for a cornerstone laying on the foundation of the building. It was a great event. The village chief who gave the land was there. The elders and building committee had arranged for choirs to enliven the celebration. Thomas and I arrived about 2 p.m., after having conducted worship at one of his other churches. The church was waiting for us and warmly greeted us. We went immediately to the building site. I was impressed by the size of the foundation. This is a big project for a small church, but they have the faith that they will be successful. The building chair told me he can already see the children playing and learning in the space. The first phase of the plan is a pre-school program in the mornings and a literacy program in the afternoons. As we walked around the foundation and he talked about it, I could almost see the children myself. When we came to the corner for the laying of the brick, I took one from the assembled pile and carefully lay it in place, amid the cheers of the congregation gathered to witness the event. We then joined the village chief for speeches and prayers. It was a wonderful time to celebrate the vision of a small church that is willing to tackle a big challenge and care for the orphans of their community. I was pleased to be a small part of it
Thomas, the village chief and me
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