Hope-Peace-Joy-Love

On Monday we launched Family Hope International’s first food distribution in the village. I had the privilege of taking family photos for the sponsor families in the US. I watched as a crippled woman crawled up the stairs to the location of the photo, other women hobbled in their achy bones and bare feet. I fumbled through trying to ask them to smile in Chichewa. Some faces lit up with joy, while others were barely able to force a smile through their leathered and tired skin. The layers of poverty, heavy laden, suppressed joy that might once have been within them.

As I teach my children about the birth of Jesus, I ask them what is a savior? Someone who saves you they chime in. And what is Jesus saving the world from? Sin! While they know the response, they are yet to understand the gravity of sin in this world and its impact.

I am studying the book of Esther, and as I pay deeper attention to King Xerxes, I am abhorred by who he and Haman were. I think of some of the leaders in the world today, and I don’t know that they are that far off from King Xerxes and Haman. Many leaders in our world are selfish and full of sin. Some leaders make a profit off keeping their countrymen in poverty; we see the effects of us around us. And yet, the reward of our Savior being born more than 2,000 years ago is still making an impact on the world around us.

Malawians living in the countryside depend on the rain to grow their crops. If there is too much, too little, or inconsistent rain, crops suffer, which leads to families suffering. One family amongst the beneficiaries recently went to a neighboring farm asking if they could work on the farm and in return be given green, unripe mangos. That would be the only food they ate.

The level of poverty in this community is too deep for words. I am so grateful for our partnership with Family Hope International, and how we see hope, joy, peace and love in action.

The families in the program will be sponsored with monthly food support, business training, discipleship through a case manager and pastor and a $500 business loan that will be paid off in 2 years. Our team of case managers, business managers and pastors will closely walk with these families over the next 27 months as they crawl out of poverty and in to a life of sustainability, where they will no longer need aid, but will be able to help others.

We invite you this advent season to pause and ask yourself whether you can support a family for $50 a month and see transformation take place in Malawi. Can you or your church community host a fundraiser event to raise funds? We want to see as many families as possible set free from the chains of poverty.

https://familyhopeinternational.kindful.com/?campaign=1371677