The Chifundo Kids Christmas party had an extra edge of excitement to it this year. The following is a report of the day from Ancient Path Malawi Director, Pastor Moses M’Tambo.
This year’s Christmas was so amazing and very exciting – the program arrangements, the environment, the attire, and even the food preparation – it was all just incredible!
Christmas preparations started on 23th of December when AP Accountant, Blessings M’Tambo and I went out to buy food and other supplies for the Christmas party.
As usual, on 25th December, our Chifundo team, especially the women – Lucy, Agnes, Angela, Towela and Essay – rose very early in the morning to prepare food for the children. Everything must be prepared by hand and cooked over an open fire for 200 kids and the team. While they were hard at work, Blessings and I were decorating the pavilion so that when the children arrived, they would find everything in place.
By 12:00 noon, we were ready and the kids started dropping in to the campus in their beautiful red AP shirts. At 1:00 pm, the program started with the word of prayer from Essay and then each class took turns demonstrating what they have learned over the past year.
It was also amazing seeing the children tell the story of the birth of Christ in a variety of ways – through drama, singing, dancing, memory verses – and with great passion. After all of these activities it was time for the feast. And what a feast it was! Malawians love chicken on their holidays and on this special day, the children enjoyed heaping plates of chicken and nsima, fruits and vegetables washed down by much-loved bottles of Coca Cola!
After everyone was fed, the children were ready to receive their gifts. The AP team that visited from the US in November made colorful banners for every child – something beautiful they could hang on their walls at home. Each child was also given a soft stuffed toy that had been provided by supporters in the US and carried in by the team.
As we came to the end of the day, I encouraged all the children in their faith, spoke words of encouragement and hope over their lives, and prayed for them. Christmas Day ended with a great joyful dance and the children left for their homes with full bellies and full hearts.
Because of our recently renovated AP house, the newly constructed pavilion and benches, the bright and beautiful t-shirts and our very first Chifundo Christmas tree, this was the most beautiful and colorful celebration yet! We want to thank all of our supporters in the USA for working together with us to give these kids not only hope for the future, but beautiful memories like today. And many thanks to our Chifundo team here in Malawi who worked so hard to ensure that each child would enjoy this special day.
Thank you and God bless you all! Mulungu akudalitseni!!!
Moses M’Tambo – Ancient Path Malawi, Director
