Charlene, who is from Missiouri, recently participated in a Visionledd Short-Term Missions trip to Malawi that had Home-Based Care as a primary focus.  We thought it would be good for you to hear about her experiences on the second day of the trip.  If you would like to join a Short-Term Team in 2010, check out the dates on the “Get Involved” link on this website.

Our second day  in Malawi we went to Mgona – the poorest area of Lilongwe.  It is here that more than 20,000 orphans and vulnerable children make their home.

As our van pulled into Mgona, several Home-Based care volunteers greeted us.  As we got off the bus, the women overwhelmed us with their enthusiastic welcome. The love and grace these women poured upon us was amazing.

We parked the van near the Feeding Center that serves as place to feed orphans, a meeting area for HIV/AIDS Support Groups and HBC volunteers and a place for early childhood education.  Our arrival distracted the children who were in school, but after a short period of time we left and “school” resumed.

Mgona consists of thousands of one-roomed mud huts without windows or doors. The roofs were of cardboard, straw, old tin, whatever material that had been salvaged.  The children played everywhere; mostly unattended by adults.  There were many children, even as young as 6 or 7, who were caring for younger siblings, carrying them on their backs.  The children were so excited to see us.  They ran behind us calling, “Azunga, Azunga, Azunga (white man, westerner, foreigner). We loved stopping and talking to the children.  They loved shaking our hands and having their pictures taken.

Our group split up into two teams. Each team had two members from our Visionledd team and three or four of the home care volunteers and a community pastor.

My team had the privilege of visiting three patients.  In the first home, we met Iznut who had just given birth to her seventh. As we entered the hut, the care workers were assisting Iznut to a sitting position.  She had been lying down on a makeshift couch, which consisted of an old couch frame that had been salvaged.  On top of the frame was a large piece of salvaged dirty foam.   With much effort and pain, Iznut sat up, but was very weak.  She motioned for us to sit on either side of her.  Iznut explained to us that since giving birth to her baby, she got very ill, her legs and feet are very painful and swollen and she is unable to care for herself or her children.  Iznut said her husband abandoned her when she became ill.  She has not heard from him.

As we sat talking with Iznut, she motioned to a blanket lying on another small chair in the room.  Again, this chair was a salvaged frame with a piece of salvaged old dirty foam.   Inside the blanket was her precious new baby girl named Ida. This 6 week old baby weighed about 4-5 pounds.  We had the pleasure of holding the baby and telling Iznut how beautiful she was.  Iznut is a believer in Jesus, however, as we talked with her, we could feel the despair in her voice concerning herself and her children.

We prayed for Iznut, her children and her husband.  She was so grateful to us for coming to pray for her.  She spoke with emotion as she thanked us for coming so far to visit her.

As we walked further into Mgona we visited Yusito.  Yusito was recently widowed and has many health problems. With swollen legs and feet he can’t get around very well.  He is being cared for by his 14 year old daughter. As we visited with him, we could tell this gentleman was grieving very deeply for the loss of his wife.  The daughter, as well, was very sad. There were no smiles on their faces today, as their grief was too great.  We spent time in prayer for Yusito, his daughter, and his family.

Our last visit was to a young woman, Rosemary.  Rosemary was HIV postive.  She has been taking medication, however, she has continued to decline in health.  Her sister and brother-in-law brought her to their home, in Mgona, to take care of her.  Rosemary accepted the Lord as Savior in 2006.  Her sister and brother-in-law are strong Christians.  Rosemary’s family greeted us very warmly as we entered their home.  Rosemary sat on a mat on the dirt floor of the hut.  She was propped up against the mud wall with a blanket wrapped around her.  She was very thin and frail, quiet and reserved.  She did not speak much but answered our questions as we talked with her.  We prayed for her and her family.  Pastor Charlie read the 23^rd Psalms and prayed for her.  As we left, Rosemary’s brother-in-law told us how grateful they were to us that we had come.  He said it was a great thing for us to come to Malawi to visit them and to please, please, please come again, as it was very much needed in the community.

As we headed back through Mgona, we walked by makeshift stands where people had set up “shop” with their goods. We saw women washing clothes in a dishpan.  We stepped over trash piled on the mounds of dirt. We went around open holes of sewage next to where children played.  We were embraced and made welcome by the women and we gave our hearts to the smiling faces of the precious children.

These beautiful African people have such a love for us.  They are so appreciative to us for coming all the way from America to pray for them.  They feel they are “chosen by God” because we do come.   They have captured my heart.