Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Interns return to Malawi to begin UrbanPromise 

 Gibozi Mphanzi, Robert Manda, Zamumtima “Za” Chijere, Sullivan Kandulu, Tinashe Saka

Robert, with a solemn look on his handsome face bluntly said, “I just couldn’t do it!”

Robert Manda was attending the African Bible College in Malawi where he lived. He had volunteered, because of his country’s famine, to help distribute food—small bags of grain and rice for desperate, starving families who had been in line for days to receive help.

“In the midst of all the people’s chaos and need I received a call from my supervisor,” Robert explained. “He was in a different region of the country doing other relief work. He instructed me not to give out all the bags of food, because there were transportation problems and there was a good chance the next shipment would not arrive until next week. I just couldn’t do it—what good would the food have done if everyone had died?”

He paused. “I disobeyed the order. But guess what? The food arrived the next day. Yes!”

When it comes to food, the biggest decision many of us have to face is whether or not to eat the last three Oreos in the package.  But experiences like Robert’s, are events that shape faith and define character.

Robert returned to Malawi last week along with Gibozi, Zamumtima (Za), Tinashe, and Sullivan. As they begin three new children and youth ministries, each of them will confront the desperate state of children and their families in Malawi. All three ministries include a feeding program, understanding that eating a balanced meal and having a full stomach are key to a child’s ability to learn, grow, and survive. The next time you are trying to decide how many Oreos to eat, please remember our friends in Malawi and the children they are serving.

For more information on how to support UrbanPromise Malawi please contact: Lindsey Lewis at 856-661-1700 ext. 18 or llewis@urbanpromiseusa.org