06 April 2006
World Hunger Generosity Gives Hope in Malawi
An $11,000 World Hunger Fund grant was sent to Malawi in December for
ongoing famine relief. This follows a $10,000 World Hunger Grant sent in
November. The initial dollars focused on meeting immediate hunger needs. The
follow-up funding will provide for seeds, fertilizer, and their transport
for prolonged relief. All famine relief work is being overseen by senior
Malawi church leaders.
|
Kazomba leaders in their fields
expressed greetings and gratitude. |
Beginning in late November, four Africa Mission Field staff spent 10 days
in a whirlwind of visiting and sharing with 21 Malawi congregations. During
these encounters they witnessed great suffering as well as joy. In a
guesthouse room in Lilongwe, Malawi, at the end of these travels, Bishop
Malcolm Stephenson gathered his thoughts about his experiences.
Malcolm said, “It is hard to explain the feelings associated with the
time I had here. There was significant pain in seeing the people who are
struggling in survival mode—due not only to the failure of having enough
maize, their staple food, but also because of the prevalence of HIV-AIDS.”
He continued, “Oh the number of widows and orphaned children we met. The
newspapers are full of little else—HIV-AIDS and famine.” Yet amid all this,
he said his overall emotional memory will be “that the hope of the gospel is
alive and thriving within these people.”
On behalf of the Malawi church, Malcolm expressed his gratitude for those
who have contributed to the World Hunger Fund, making it possible for the
church to respond quickly and positively to these needs. He said, “That
support has been such a blessing. I wish I could capture the joy the people
experienced as they heard the news so that all our contributors could feel
it too.”
June Stephenson, Leadership Development officer for the Africa Field,
expressed the gratitude of the people she had met. She said, “The people
were joyful to hear of the support of sisters and brothers from around the
world through the World Hunger Fund of our church.”
The rainy season was beginning even as the Stephensons prepared to leave
for Johannesburg, South Africa. Many Malawians were already working their
fields in anticipation of planting. The generosity and love expressed
through contributions to the World Hunger Fund have truly helped relieve
hunger and brought hope for the future to sisters and brothers in Malawi.
How to Give
Contributions can be made to the World Hunger Fund using Mission Tithes
offering envelopes; by mail to World Hunger Fund, 1001 W. Walnut,
Independence, MO 64050-3562 USA; or online at
www.CofChrist.org/hunger/
using a debit or credit card.
