Here’s the latest report from our Malawian Chifundo program director, Moses Mtambo. It includes a story about one of our young men, Mussah Yusufu as well as information on the ongoing program in Kalieka township, Malawi.
Mussah was born on 1st July 1996 at Kamuzu central Hospital in Lilongwe and is a member of the predominantly Yao tribe.He has a younger sister who is also in the Kalieka Chifundo program and is currently in standard 6 at Kalieka School. Mussah likes reading and playing football in his free time when he is able. Although he is generally physically fit, he does suffer with headaches and stomach pains. A young man of calm spirit, Mussah is well known among his friends as a peacemaker whenever a conflict arises.But if the peace fails, Mussah just runs home and hides – he doesn’t want to be involved in fighting or trouble.
Since the death of his father, Mussah has been very responsible boy in the family. I quote his Mother’s words “Mussah is a good boy because what ever I tell him to do; he does without complaints”. Even in the Chifundo program, Mussah is doing so very well – he gets along well with the other children, can recite Bible verses and is learning to sing English spiritual choruses. But he also loves to play with toys and enjoys all of our other activities.
But like all of our children, Mussah has known many problems in his life. His Father died on 26th May 2003 from malaria and is raised by his mother Agnes Rajabu – a 32 year old woman born in Mangochi into a Muslim family from Yao tribe. Agnes he did her education up to standard 8 and now, as a young widow, is struggling to provide for her two growing children and her mother – who, according to Agnes, is very old but sells beer at a local bar. Agnes is part of the Chifundo team, a hard worker who cooks the children’s meals and helps in many ways. But she says that her greatest need is to find someone who can help me fund her small business so she can support her children and Mother.
Outside of the core Chifundo group – the 20 children that receive the most support, food, supplies and care – we continue to teach and feed more and more children weekly. The reason for this is simple: our Chifundo program is the only feeding program in Kalieka township. The attendance varies from 55 upwards to 70 children at any given time. This is obviously a challenge , not only because of limited resources but space, as well. But we simply can’t turn a hungry child away and trust God to continue to provide for those He sends.
I continue to visit the children in their homes, to speak with their guardians, listen to their concerns and pray with them. Recently I visited young Luka’s home and met his mother who was pleased with Luka’s progress of Luka’s, spiritually and socially. She also shared the burdens on her heart and told me of the challenges she is encountering since Luka’s father became paralyzed. She is trying to do a small business, but is still unable to provide for her children – to buy them clothes or provide proper food. The small profit she makes is too little to meet all these needs. I encouraged her with the word of God and prayed with her. ( Note:The term “small business” has a different meaning in Malawi than here in the USA. For one woman it may mean selling a few used clothes or small bags of charred wood as charcoal , tomatoes or small packets of groundnuts – on the side of a dirt road. Other more successful businesswoman may be able to buy ingredients to fry and sell African donuts or cups of tea. However, they make very little money because everyone is trying to do the same thing – simply survive.)
I admit that it is an ongoing challenge for me to constantly be presented with needs and requests for financial assistance by the children’s guardians, because it is beyond my capability to address their needs. And the children who are not in the core Chifundo program continue to come on the days they are not supposed to – because they know there is food and safety and the love of God here. But it is so difficult to tell them they must only come on their one certain day and to send them back to their homes. You can tell from their faces that they are deeply touched when you attempt to send them home – their faces are so sad and it makes our hearts sad as well. The need here is overwhelming, but our God is bigger than any need and we will continue to trust Him to care for His little ones.
Thank you to all of you of give sacrificially to feed and care for these desperate children. Along with my team and with the children, we continue to ask God’s richest blessing on your lives.
Pastor Moses Mtambo
Chifundo’s Baasket Ministry Director
Kalieka Township, Malawi, Africa