Moving Forward

By: Kaitlyn Miller

Malawi has seen more than it’s share of disasters and trials this year. From floods to drought and back to floods our friends are facing a genuinely challenging year. We are so thankful for you, our Circle of Hope community, and the great response we have received. We have seen an outpouring of prayerful and financial support for those affected. To-date $5,075.00 has been raised for storm relief!

Food shortages are so drastic, elderly grandparents left with small orphans to care for are finding it impossible to feed them. Verentina came to live in Patricia's Home last week. 

So far, with this money which was raised, we will be able to repair the houses of three of our staff members! Mayi Lumbe, Henry, and Kennedy all had their houses severely damaged last week and thanks to you we will be able to reach out and assist them during this challenging time. (Look at our previous blog to see pictures of their homes.)

In addition to new roofs, we will be able to purchase staple food for 20 families in our community who lost their food supply in the floods. We are so excited we will be able to reach out and help in this way! Can you imagine all your food for a year being damaged or washed away and not knowing how you could get more? We are so glad 20 less families have to face that reality and this will enable them to keep going for the four months until their harvest. God is so good and we are blessed to have your support to do this!

We are still need to raise $5000 for a fourth staff member’s home that was devastated in the storm. James works at our textile center and due to his difficulty walking needs a home close to campus. The home his family was renting was greatly damaged in the storm. We want to build James and his family a home on our campus.  He is a very talented tailor and hard working man: we are excited to see how God guides the hearts of those able to donate to see his talents fully utilized and his handicap not hold him back!

James in front of his rented home which was destroyed in the terrible storm last week.

Sadly, the storm last week is not the first disaster to have greatly effected food supply in Malawi this year. It is estimated that 2.8 million people will be without food in Malawi this year due to the sweeping floods then intense drought that devastated the country earlier in the year. Fields were planted then flooded then re-planted and hit with drought. 

We have added a school lunch program to our schedule at the Grace Center so our children are now getting TWO hot meals per day! This is a huge step of faith and we need partners to join us in our quest. To do this, we are starting a new campaign called Feed Malawi and are working to raise $40,000 by November 30.

School kids lined up for lunch.

It only cost $0.50 to buy lunch for one child. How many lunches can you buy? 

With each passing day, more people run completely out of food. The hungry season is starting much earlier than normal this year and families are faced with impossible choices and situations. Pastor Phiri told us that more people show up on campus hungry and completely without food every day. They still have the entire growing season to go with a new harvest not expected until March.

We are excited to see how Feed Malawi will spread and God will provide for the hungry tummies He has given us to care for.  Sometimes this can seem like a far-off problem but for those who are without food and will not harvest until March this is a VERY harsh reality. We believe that it does not have to stay a bleak situation let’s save $0.50 at a time and encourage those around us to do the same and see how many meals can be provided!

Time is of the essence!

Click here to donate to the Feed Malawi campaign and to see how close we are to our goal!

Continue to follow Circle of Hope International on Facebook and Instagram and the Feed Malawi Facebook page to see our updates as the days until November 30 quickly count down and our goal is met! (See how excited and confident we are?)

We have seen amazing response from our supporters, friends, and staff as we work to approach this food shortage. Challenge someone around you join in! Think how much impact we could have if we stepped out and asked those we know to think about buying lunch for a Malawian child!