McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope Children’s Village has a huge impact not only on the children of Malawi but those here in Idaho as well.
McKallie and I have just recently returned from being in Malawi for over a month. Once again we have seen the work of our Lord in progress. Many exciting things continue to happen at the children’s village as we prepare to take care of our first children placed in our homes. In my next news letter I will talk about the things experienced on this recent trip but for the purposes of this update I’d like to share how the village has an impact on not only Malawi’s children but our very own here at home.
I have recently been reading a book by Duane Elmer titled Cross- Cultural Servant hood Serving the World in Christ like Humility. He states the first principle of servant hood is openness; openness he describes is the ability to welcome people into your presence and make them feel safe. Openness with people different from ourselves requires that you are willing to step out of your comfort zone to initiate and sustain relationships in a world of cultural differences with Christ like humility.
On my last trip to Malawi I was accompanied by Sarah Roeloffs a young woman from New Life Community Church in Wendell and who is now a freshman at Azusa Pacific University. What I saw Sarah exhibit was the exact kind of servant hearted openness mentioned above. With her permission I asked her if I could share in her words what she experienced as written in her journal.
I was so excited to actually see this amazing place, we arrived it was so hot like a sauna. I was in awe of the poverty here as we drove to where we’d stay. It’s amazing how much we take for granted. Tracy’s manager is sick, we went to the hospital to see him, and the smell of death was all around me. It was crazy to think of me standing in a room where most were dying of HIV/AIDS. George had severe malaria; his wife died 3 weeks before. I met his eldest son George Jr. 18 years old, we were instant friends I felt so bad for him. I questioned him on the things of Malawi to take his mind off the situation, he told me he had few close friends, I told him he could consider me one of his close friends now. Tracy transferred George to a better hospital. That evening while having been there only a short time a young girl was rushed in. Next thing I heard was screaming. She was in the same area as George. I was dumbfounded to find out she lost her life right in front of my eyes. A daughter, a friend, a classmate, a sister, dead! In one short afternoon and evening I witnessed multiple people on their death bed, a son watch his father dying, children on the side of the street with no parents around and a mother lose her daughter. We cannot judge reality by our own limited experiences. This is reality. Welcome to Africa.
Sarah goes on to write as her trip continued…….
Seeing all the death and struggles with just daily living all around me was overwhelming. This experience has made me not underestimate the power of God. He is great! Although I saw so much suffering and poverty I also witnessed Malawians worshiping, singing and praising God in church wanting to pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have been inspired by the people’s inner strength; they continue to smile through their pain. All this has had a huge impact on my life. Knowing how fortunate I am to live where I do, have parents who love me, not having to worry about malaria or clean water. The very kinds of needs the children’s village will try to meet for orphaned and abandoned children when it is fully completed here in Malawi.
Having returned to the US I looked at things much differently. When we wake up we think what I shall have for breakfast, what shall I wear today, what should I do today. My Malawian friends wonder IF they will eat today or even survive another day. American and Malawian cultures vary greatly. Seems we value such different things, even in this economy we are in what we have to remember is how much worse others still have it. We actually have beds to sleep in with roofs over our heads. Nothing should be taken for granted. I have learned which values to cling to and how to live them out. I have changed for the good, being closer to God, looking at life with a whole different perspective, making life changing decisions based on experiences I’ve had in Africa. God has a plan for me, all I have to do is walk on the right path and let Him lead. It may lead me right back to Africa where reality sets in!
Wow! Sarah had the right heart to serve. She saw the people and children with an open heart. Although Sarah came to help in the school more importantly she came with a servant’s heart and was open to what God had planned for her which on this trip was comfort children who had lost their parents by simply being among them. I can say she served with Christ like humility and by the sheer hostility of the environment many are taken out of their comfort zones but Sarah was right at home.
Sarah with the school kids
Many people who go on mission trips feel unless there is a specific task to complete they have not done anything. It has been my experience that’s not the case. Just being among the very people who you are serving, spending time with them, showing compassion and concern is as important at times as putting up buildings. It is my prayer we spend time doing both. Not simply being task oriented but meeting emotional and spiritual need along with the physical ones.
McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope is progressing as the Lord has allowed. Meeting the needs of the poor and feeding orphaned and vulnerable children each day who attend our school. We trust the Lord for the future of the village. We are so thankful for the way TFRC has contributed in prayer, offerings and other support in this kingdom driven mission.
May God continue to bless you!
Tracy Hills
McKallie and Taylor Vincent daughter of Roger and Kelly Vincent playing with our school children learning the famous African way of tying a child to your back. Taylor visited us in Malawi in September and said of the poverty and need. “It’s not something anyone could possibly explain to you. It’s only seen to believe. The work of the children’s village is so needed”.