NEWS
April brought COVID restrictions and limited movement. We slowed things down this month and I wasn’t able to visit. I did take a trip in May with Stanley to visit a new home built for a family, bring some household items to a few families, and also check out the maize harvest. This month we also distributed hundreds of buckets and boxes of soap to schools, churches, families, and other local organizations. Not much social distancing or mask-wearing in rural areas by this time.
The maize is changing color, which means we’ll harvest in the next few weeks. Visiting people in their homes (especially elderly people) is an important part of Malawian culture. The ABC students do this so well, and pray for them before we go. A couple of pictures from life in the village: buckets on your head for water and a game of Bao to fill the time. Chris, in the blue shirt at the bottom, is one of our longest serving staff members. He’s standing on our land just in front of the dam we use for irrigation.
It’s a blessing to have students from African Bible College at Bright Vision on a regular basis. This month they were planting trees, spending time with the kids, and distributing food.
It’s rainy season! The maize is growing high and we have plenty of tomatoes. Another highlight is that every year we plant thousands of trees in the area. We know it is important to involve the children, so that they begin to value the responsible use of trees and battle the deforestation that is plaguing Malawi.
Because of the very difficult harvest last year, food is running short in many homes. We made some large purchases of maize and distributed it to 200 families.
Hundreds of families in the area live in homes that in terrible condition. The mud bricks have not been burned and deteriorate in the rain. The roof is thatched with grass, which leaks during rainy season and attracts bugs. Beams are eaten by termites and the house is liable to collapse. A new house alleviates these problems and instantly improves the lives of these families. Last year, at the Bright Vision golf fundraiser, we had two participants donate money to build new homes for two families. It was very exciting to be able to tell Stanley, our Director, that we could do this. He really cares for the people that Bright Vision serves and improving their lives is a great joy for him. I enjoy seeing him excited about special things that we’re able to do.
In an effort to benefit as many people as possible in the Chamademga area, we hired local builders (who have worked with us before) to complete all phases of the house. These houses are different from many around them: using burnt bricks (that are not affected by rain), plastering the floor and interior walls with cement, painting, securing the roof with metal wire, and fixing an iron-sheet roof. Both houses are identical in design and include a sitting room and two rooms for sleeping and/or storage. They are simple but well-built and a massive improvement over what the families had before. We started building in October and finished both houses just a few weeks ago. Pictured: Foundation work and roofing
With the help of local chiefs, we chose two families from the area that Bright Vision serves, based on the condition of their home and other circumstances that would make them especially vulnerable. The first was a Grandmother who has several of her grandchildren staying with her. Sadly, this type of situation is very common, with parents either absent or deceased. The oldest grandson is one of our secondary scholarship students named Esau. Pictured: Old house that they were living in and new home they have moved into (with Stanley)
Jesse and her children have been enjoying their new house! Philip is 11 years old, with physical and mental disabilities, and is not able to speak or walk on his own. But he has a big smile! A new home means a lot to them.
We had a wonderful celebration with several hundred people attending for the celebration. The program included local choirs and preaching from one a student at African Bible College. The special meal included rice, beef, and juice: all special treats the children don’t get to eat very often.
Oftentimes, the world of urban influence does not intersect with that of rural poverty. Today a group of 20 students and staff from ABC Christian Academy visited Bright Vision. It is good for Bright Vision and good for ABCCA students that these intersections happen. There is learning and service on both sides. May God bless the seeds planted today.
The past few years have been difficult for Malawi in many ways, not least of which has been the poor rainfall resulting in poor harvests. When visiting the homes of the 10 families receiving support, we asked, "How can Bright Vision help you?" In each one of these 10 stops the first thing mentioned: "There isn't enough food for our children." "We are hungry." "We have almost no maize left." These families' homes are in poor condition, they have very few clothes, they sleep on the floor. But for each of these families the most urgent need is food. They literally FEEL it every day. This trip to homes to do a "needs assessment" quickly became as clear as day: we need to help people with food.
I wish I could say that Bright Vision was able to provide enough food for every family and child in Chamadenga, though I'm not sure this would actually help long-term. It would most likely create unhealthy dependency with lingering consequences that would end up hurting more than it helped. It's not that simple of a solution. But wow did that walk around the village help me to understand the importance of food in what Bright Vision must do.
Two weeks ago we finished our feeding program for 2016-2017 (we will continue to feed our 100 or so nursery school kids every weekday until June). When this all started in 2005, Stanley (Bright Vision's founder) was feeding 50 kids once every couple weeks when he and his friends could scrape together enough food. Over the past 12 years the Feeding Program has been a vital part of Bright Vision's work. It's not the most sustainable program we have, but when I see hundreds of hungry kids coming for what may be their only meal of the day, how can we stop?
Two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter at Bright Vision with a special meal and special program. It is a time of double thanksgiving. The harvest is ready and people have food in their homes again. The feeding program is closing and it marks yet another year that God has provided the means to offer over 14,000 meals in the six months we run the feeding program (November to April). And to then couple that with our celebration of Easter, remembering so clearly the death and resurrection of Jesus: God's gracious provision for our utmost need. There is a certain depth and richness to these two celebrations coinciding: God's faithfulness to satisfy our most urgent need for a Savior and a most urgent need for food.
One of our ABC students, Sam, preached that Saturday, about the purpose behind Christ's death and resurrection. This day was a snapshot that captures what Bright Vision is about: meeting tangible needs while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Special Easter meal
Looking ahead to the new crops recently planted with our irrigation scheme.
Kids eating Likhuni Pala (locally produced, high nutrition porridge) at nursery school.
We're buying beans from local farmers for our feeding program 2017-2018.
One of our African Bible College students, George, leading the kids' program.
Sam, an ABC senior, on his way to BVOC fields
We can't reforest all of Malawi (which is being deforested very quickly), but we'll give it our best shot around Chamadenga.
