Please send your contributions to Word and Deed, and please be specific about it going to the nanganga nursery school fund.
if you dont know the address or cant find it please let me know
thanks
Lenelle
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Nanganga nursery school project-
Merry Christmas!
This past summer we had the privilege of working with the Nkhoma Orphan Care Project in central Malawi. Many of you were influential in allowing us to have this opportunity, for which we are very thankful. While each of us had heard of conditions in Africa, actually living and working in Malawi gave us a completely new perspective. We encountered extreme poverty and seemingly hopelessness circumstances.
One of the best tools to combat poverty and disease is education. The Nkhoma Orphan Care Project supports Nursery Schools within villages. They not only provide early childhood education but also child care for the local village and promote community hygiene training to combat disease. However, an even greater opportunity for the Nursery Schools is the teaching of Biblical truths to the children. Nursery School teachers are encouraged by the Orphan Care Project to use their position as teachers to provide the entire community with a greater Biblical knowledge.
One of our first projects involved visiting Nursery schools. While it may be possible to explain the sight, smell, and sounds of our first visit; it is impossible to convey the feeling that accompanied our first experiences of seeing toddlers and young children in tattered clothing and without lunches sitting in the dirt. Rather than a wash of emotions, the shocking poverty of life leaves emptiness. However, through the power of touch and giving the gift of love, you find that your emptiness is filled as much as theirs.
While working in various villages throughout our time in Malawi, we became especially involved in the village of Nanganga. The children in Nanganga had never seen a white person before our visit. They were extremely distrustful of our strange white faces and funny hair. The first several times we visited they cried the entire time. However, by the end of our time there the children overcame their fear. The older children would run out to meet us and hear the Bible stories.
Currently, the Nanganga Nursery school operates out of the home of the local village chief. However, this accommodation is becoming more demanding for the chief's family and is becoming less practical as additional villagers are sending their children more regularly to school. The Nkhoma Orphan project requires that the villagers provide the bricks, transportation, and building site before they are given the financing to build the school.
The local orphan project committee has worked hard to encourage village participation in the programs which support the orphan's life within the community. They currently provide a lunch program once a week for families supporting orphans. They also engage local villagers to help in purchasing and transporting half the bricks needed to build the school. The village chief has designated a plot of land within the village on which to build a school.
While at Nanganga, we told the story of the widow's mite from Mark 12. We explained that even those with only a tambala, a penny in Malawian currency, still have a gift to give the Lord. The poor of Nanganga have given the gifts they have of time and labor. "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9.
This Christmas season there are many opportunities to give to those in need both to those with economic difficulties in our own nation and many worthy organizations working around the world. Our request is simply that you consider donating a small amount to give a child the gift of education.
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
Matthew 25: 40
Thank-you for your prayers and support,
Lenelle Moerdyk, Katie De Jong, and Ruth Ann Freswick.
This past summer we had the privilege of working with the Nkhoma Orphan Care Project in central Malawi. Many of you were influential in allowing us to have this opportunity, for which we are very thankful. While each of us had heard of conditions in Africa, actually living and working in Malawi gave us a completely new perspective. We encountered extreme poverty and seemingly hopelessness circumstances.
One of the best tools to combat poverty and disease is education. The Nkhoma Orphan Care Project supports Nursery Schools within villages. They not only provide early childhood education but also child care for the local village and promote community hygiene training to combat disease. However, an even greater opportunity for the Nursery Schools is the teaching of Biblical truths to the children. Nursery School teachers are encouraged by the Orphan Care Project to use their position as teachers to provide the entire community with a greater Biblical knowledge.
One of our first projects involved visiting Nursery schools. While it may be possible to explain the sight, smell, and sounds of our first visit; it is impossible to convey the feeling that accompanied our first experiences of seeing toddlers and young children in tattered clothing and without lunches sitting in the dirt. Rather than a wash of emotions, the shocking poverty of life leaves emptiness. However, through the power of touch and giving the gift of love, you find that your emptiness is filled as much as theirs.
While working in various villages throughout our time in Malawi, we became especially involved in the village of Nanganga. The children in Nanganga had never seen a white person before our visit. They were extremely distrustful of our strange white faces and funny hair. The first several times we visited they cried the entire time. However, by the end of our time there the children overcame their fear. The older children would run out to meet us and hear the Bible stories.
Currently, the Nanganga Nursery school operates out of the home of the local village chief. However, this accommodation is becoming more demanding for the chief's family and is becoming less practical as additional villagers are sending their children more regularly to school. The Nkhoma Orphan project requires that the villagers provide the bricks, transportation, and building site before they are given the financing to build the school.
The local orphan project committee has worked hard to encourage village participation in the programs which support the orphan's life within the community. They currently provide a lunch program once a week for families supporting orphans. They also engage local villagers to help in purchasing and transporting half the bricks needed to build the school. The village chief has designated a plot of land within the village on which to build a school.
While at Nanganga, we told the story of the widow's mite from Mark 12. We explained that even those with only a tambala, a penny in Malawian currency, still have a gift to give the Lord. The poor of Nanganga have given the gifts they have of time and labor. "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." Proverbs 22:9.
This Christmas season there are many opportunities to give to those in need both to those with economic difficulties in our own nation and many worthy organizations working around the world. Our request is simply that you consider donating a small amount to give a child the gift of education.
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
Matthew 25: 40
Thank-you for your prayers and support,
Lenelle Moerdyk, Katie De Jong, and Ruth Ann Freswick.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! what an exciting time to be able to start something new, pick a New Years resolution to start off right.on the last post I mentioned the nursery school that needs our help in getting money for supplies to finish building their school, kitchen and bathroom for the kids.
I learned recently that Nanganga isnt the only one that needs a building. the first picture I posted is of their school right now. Yes, it is on a big rock, and since they dont have a building, just like Nanganga, when it rains they wont be able to have school.
So I am challenging you all to consider all that you have and all they have and please prayerfully consider making a donation to the building of these nursery schools. they both need about $3,000 each to finish thier project. It only takes $50 -$100 from each person to add up quickly and we can reach our goal. If you cant do $50, we are willing to take anything that will help us reach our goal.
thanks, and God Bless
lenelle
please contact me at my home number, if you dont have it send me an e-mail.
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