The end of 2008!

January 1, 2009

The first day of the New Year brings opportunity to reflect back and look forward. I am still overwhelmed with the last three days of 2008!

On Monday we left early in the morning to take part in the off loading of maize in Ulongwe. It was still foggy on the way out but the roads were busy with the daily business of going to work, going to the markets and working in the gardens. Just imagine that Malawi’s land is almost totally worked by hand!

Amazing balance these men have with these kind of loads

We came to our destination where we interviewed young men and women for two jobs as supervisors for the Food for Work projects. It required much stamina as the distances would be very long from one center to another.

At the same time Hans was trying to trace the maize trucks. Where were they? They were supposed to be here by ten. It was noon already. Finally a group went out looking for the lost trucks. Fifteen kilometers up the road, way beyond our center one truck was found. Unfortunately the truck tried to turn around but got stuck in the soft sand.

Before the day was over two trucks were stuck, one of them twice, needing to be off loaded before they could be unstuck and then loaded again. But with the help of amazing villagers and some intuitive problem solving, all the maize ended up at the center safely stored by 8:30 that night using two flashlights!

Another early morning and we were met by a huge crowd of people patiently waiting for their bag of maize. It was astounding to see these people having walked or cycled for kilometers and kilometers, some for as many as thirty-five. Most of these folks were not eating any more maize-based meals and were depending on what was growing wild. The mangos were just starting and so green cooked mangoes were often the only food they had. Even all the committee members, the volunteers felt they were fortunate to have one meal a day. Everyone is hungry at this time of the year (the hunger months.)

However there was much celebrating as the poorest would have some sustenance which we know they will share. It is overwhelming to see the joy and the thanksgiving offered to God and the donors. Because it is a Food for Work project, 80% of the beneficiaries will work in community projects every week to strengthen the food security of their community. The other 20% are people who are very vulnerable and are either, sick or elderly.

The volunteers worked so hard for three days and they were like all of us grateful for all that was done. We thank God for the experience to work with the people here and at the same time are so challenged with the craziness that those who have one basic meal a day do not see themselves as the poorest. And yet they go hungry everyday as well.