Joy Is Their Strength

February 5, 2016

The sun blazed hot on my neck as my team and I walked to the mini bus station where we would be starting our journey to one of the villages where the feeding center was located. On the way up I couldn't help but wonder... What we would see there? Would we be faces the people of the village want to see? Would we be able to give them something they need? How many children were going to be there? Would these children know we care about them? We got to the minibus station and filed into the cramped bus as we waited for the last passengers to fill any remaining space. We made a few stops and picked up more passengers and then we eventually made it to the depot where we would get off and start our day in the feeding center. We were greeted by Tinga, friend and translator for us. He welcomed us all and we headed to the village road. Children across the way realized we were there and started calling “Azungu” and I already knew we were wanted. They followed us and it felt as though we were celebrities. The children and adults respected us and were curious to why we were there.

Along the way we came across a young boy lying in the field barely moving. The children, Tinga, and the rest of the team approached him to make sure he was okay. As soon as we saw him we knew that he was really sick. He told us he came back from the journey to the hospital. He was so worn down and struggled to make it home. I asked him if he would like us to pray with him. He agreed and I started to pray for wholeness, for strength, and for complete healing. No boy should have to endure such pain. To think he went to the hospital by himself made my heart ache for him. We walked with him and he set off seemingly stronger and able to make the journey home. I still believe God will restore the boy to full health. That is afterall the desire of the good Lord we serve.

We made it to the feeding center just in time to start the program. They we are sitting nicely waiting to find out who we were and what we were there to do. We greeted the widows as they smiled and welcomed us and greeted the hardworking cooks at the back and sat down. We were introduced and then we participated in some songs and dances with the children leading us. It was a lot of fun! They sure know how to dance :) Afterwards, Sarah taught the children a lesson about sin and it looked like the children loved it. The next part of the program is handing out the food. This is where we saw the great need for the feeding center ministry. We washed and help serve meals of rice and veg to over 300 children. Some of them looked like they hadn't eaten for a while. Their distended stomachs and their eager bodies trying to squeeze into line for their portion spoke for them of their intense hunger.

"And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold." Nehemiah 8:10.

I can't truly explain how much I wished I could just hug them all and tell them everything would be alright. I wished I could say they would never hunger again and that they would not have to be afraid that they might not eat that day. The feeding center usually has enough food to serve the 110 names on the list. However, the feeding center has grown so popular that now it has over 300 children coming daily. We managed to feed all the children as the portion sizes were smaller to account for the great need. It was tough to watch though as children waited for other children to be done eating so that the next group could have their fill. Yet, there were still smiled seen on the children as they entertained themselves and made faces at us “Azungus”.

We must pray for these children that they may come to know their Heavenly Father and His love for them. We must pray for a harvest season in which helps them all recover from last year's famine. We must pray for these children to be strengthened in their times of waiting and when they fear for their lives. This is a burden that the Lord showed me today and I cannot ignore or turn a blind eye to it. As Christians, it is our duty to help feed the poor, love the widows and take care of them. Homelessness and poverty are in every country. I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you how you can help meet the needs in your community.

I leave by saying today was bittersweet. I witnessed great joy from the children laughing and dancing. Even on empty stomaches they were praising God and willing to learn more about him. There is truth that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Truly, I have witnessed God's hand working through us and through the feeding center ministries to reach these young children and fill their stomaches and their hearts. My heart is full of love for each one of them. The Lord has given me great compassion for every child and widow here in Malawi. My prayer life will change. It must.