Progress at the site of Mckallie’s Home of Future and Hope Malawi, Africa - Abundant water well drilled! 

Forgive me for such a delay in news about the progress of the children’s village. As well, some of you may receive the first blog written back in May for the first time now and others for a second time We sent out information the first time but not everyone received it so we decided to resend again now.

Anyway, I would be lying if I didn’t say it is certainly a challenge balancing life between the two worlds of Malawi and Idaho. So this entry will be blog and a bit of back blog let’s say. 

I have just returned from 3 weeks at the village in Blantyre, Malawi. When I left in May the contractor had just barely broke ground and the trench for the fence had begun. Upon arrival we immediately (I was accompanied by a friend of my son and daughter in law named Rachel for part of the trip) drove to the site anxious to see the progress first hand. I know I am very good at using this phrase but really there were no words to describe what we saw and the impact the rising up of the children’s village was having on the local village community. As Rachel said “there is no way people at home would even be able to grasp what’s going on here unless they see it for themselves”. I had to agree.

The contractor we hired employed village residents to do the construction. Many of which were mothers working all day in the hot sun, carrying their children strapped to their backs while they transport large metal buckets of water from the river on their heads, breaking only for lunch.  They then create outdoor kitchens, build fires and cook their number one food staple called nsima, which they eat three times a day (it’s like overcooked cream of wheat only out of corn maze, not bad really with lots of salt). This process in its self feels like a days work. Yet they are all very grateful to be working at the children’s village site. Their other children hang around the site all day and look after each other as they do in the village. Many of these women are widows supporting a family, working to the likes of what we’ve never seen and happy to be doing it. I felt a tremendous responsibility and to all who have supported, donated, prayed, and have interest in the project you are all a part of making this happen. Although we will not be able to employ all these ladies when we are finished, some we will, but when finished their children may be able to attend school, and the orphans in the village will be cared for relieving the overall burden on the village as a whole. They understand the value in that and are appreciative and accepting of the work and us we are doing.

The men labored hard as well. All the work is done by hand with no machinery to dig foundations, pack dirt or carry supplies. Some have the task of making bricks for the buildings right on our site out of the clay filled top soil and home made brick ovens to cure them. Truly a site to see to understand the process. They are masters with bricks and it is amazing to see how straight and level things turn out with minimal supplies. All of this work is done with few shoes worn, no utility belts in place, no safety devices at hand, yet trust me they knew exactly what they were doing and it’s coming together beautifully. We are anticipating completion of phase one by February or March 2008 depending on recourses and how bad the rainy season is which we are now about to enter into. You can see examples of what the buildings will look like in the photos section of the web site; you’ll find the children’s home and school. These were obtained following much research on functional design of children’s villages and are being constructed for durability.

George our local manger says there are still those in the village who have been skeptical of whether this project will actually come about. Many have come saying they will bring help but left with no results. The village chiefs themselves have offered the same concern. All concerns were put to rest last week with the miraculous result of our water well being drilled. As the largest trucks many living there had ever seen arrived down our terrible dirt road, this along with the progress of the buildings have left no doubt we are there to stay and help them make a difference to their future.                      

When the large drilling truck and compressor came through the newly built village fence it really was a site to see. Knowing just 12 months earlier this was still just a vision that we now see God unfold.

Utilizing a technique I had only heard about but never actually seen done the confident South African well driller who had come to Malawi proceeded to get out his wires and started charging around the property. To my utter amazement I saw with my own eyes the wires cross as he stated the water is here, down below this site. As confirmation the local Malawian working with him filled a glass soda bottle with water and he began charging around the property in the same fashion. As the soda bottle tilted over when he came to the same spot the South African man did, he too said the water is below this site. I was in no position to question these men as they charged through with confidence. And during what is the driest season of the year they commenced to drill for our well in that spot. Having been drilling for what seemed like a few minutes, at just 13 meters under the ground water was struck. Not just water but an abundance of it! As George, Mike and I stood praying the Malawian assistant said, “You must have a powerful God” I said indeed we do. We were told this water well, which is free from the taste of salt, was the most productive successful drill they have ever had in the history of their drilling in Malawi. We do not believe this is a coincident but a blessing to the project. Thank you to all who contributed to helping provide clean water to the children’s village site.

As with each trip to Malawi the needs are always seen in abundance. But my last several trips it has become apparent the need for special education and the hearing impaired. I have on several occasion witnessed George run into children he had taught at Feed the Children’s special education program before services were discontinued, he being the only one able to communicate with the child through sign language. In May my son Preston (see picture below) became friends with a young boy named Junior who would hang around the office all day with nothing to do, there was no special needs program for him to attend.  So on a small scale but yet non the less important we are considering devoting a children’s home and a class room to the needs of special education and the hearing impaired.

Each trip to Malawi is filled with meeting new people, making new friendships, and education in the ways of helping to meet the needs of the Malawian people so they in turn are able to help themselves. I as well research ways that in the future the children’s village will in it’s self be self sustaining with revenue generating activities that may also serve as trade schooling for some of our children in the future. All of this which will take time and patience and will be implemented in phases as we progress. Not to mention the on going understanding and education of the HIV/AIDS crisis and how we as people and churches can help. 

One thing we have implemented is.

A community-based program as it’s called, this is where a project such as the one we are doing extends it’s self to the village community outside the walls of our children’s village and help in areas the village identifies and we are able. My interpreter a great young Malawian man who is also a student at the University of Malawi (who we anticipate a future employee of the children’s village, he has been with us from the beginning) has started a soccer program twice a week in our village.  I was thrilled to see the results of his efforts. Many kids of all ages running drills, practicing skills, and then playing games. This is a great way to build relationships and help mentor other young kids. A small contribution but seen as a valued activity they all look forward to each week.

In the mean time we continue with the vision and focus of phase one, the 4 children’s homes, school, water well, fence, etc…. and give of our time and energy as God has called us in various ways. Whether it be mentoring local women through fellowship and Bible study (as Merrily is seen below) or making friendships with local children or learning the culture from others in the village and most importantly building relationships that will last into the future.

These are a deserving people and as I flew out of the local airport and over the mountain range our village sits at the bottom of I truly felt as if I was leaving home. It is my hope that as many of you as feel called will have the opportunity to travel to Malawi Africa to McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope to see, experience and participate in the warmth of the people we will serve. I guarantee it is something you can’t forget once having seen it.

Returning in January but in the mean time when events and news come up I will keep you informed.

Honored to serve in Malawi,

Tracy Hills