Last week on the 28th
of July we went to Chimbalanga area to share the gospel and do sport games with
a group of visitors from America and the local village people. This was organized
by PB+J. While most people walked around in the villages to share the gospel I
decided to go to the borehole to get water needed for the games later that day.
I found some girls to help me carry the water as the borehole was a far walk.
On arrival in the village the chief informed us somebody died the night before so most people would be attending the funeral. However he allowed us to organize the sport games so the children could join. At the borehole we found many women talking about the funeral. With my little understanding of the local language I could follow the conversation. The women were talking about the mother who died and left two little babies.
Back at the gathering place I asked a translator if he could confirm the story and indeed I understood them correctly. I asked the girls who helped me carrying the water to bring me to the babies. I found two precious little babies lying in a hut next to the dead body of their mother. I asked the grandmother to explain to me what was happening and so she started talking.
On arrival in the village the chief informed us somebody died the night before so most people would be attending the funeral. However he allowed us to organize the sport games so the children could join. At the borehole we found many women talking about the funeral. With my little understanding of the local language I could follow the conversation. The women were talking about the mother who died and left two little babies.
Back at the gathering place I asked a translator if he could confirm the story and indeed I understood them correctly. I asked the girls who helped me carrying the water to bring me to the babies. I found two precious little babies lying in a hut next to the dead body of their mother. I asked the grandmother to explain to me what was happening and so she started talking.
The mother of the little baby boy
and girl was the fifth wife to her husband. Together they had 5 children. The
husband has a total of 25 children between all the different wives. He takes no
responsibility and doesn’t support any of his wives. The mother was the only
daughter in her family so there are no aunts to help her with the children. The
grandmother is old and HIV positive. There are a few uncles but Malawian
culture says they don’t need to take care for children of other women and so
they don’t.
The chief joined the conversation and I asked him who is going to care for the babies. The answer I got was terrifying. The father wanted the babies to die and informed the family he wanted to bury them alive together with the mother. Malawians believe that if the mother dies soon after the birth of twins you have to bury the children with the mother. If not you will be bewitched.
The chief joined the conversation and I asked him who is going to care for the babies. The answer I got was terrifying. The father wanted the babies to die and informed the family he wanted to bury them alive together with the mother. Malawians believe that if the mother dies soon after the birth of twins you have to bury the children with the mother. If not you will be bewitched.
It could not be a coincidence
that I was in the village just a few hours before the children would be buried
with their mother. God sent me there to save these two little, innocent babies.
I asked the chief and grandmother if they agreed with the father. They asked me to please take the babies and so I did.
I asked the chief and grandmother if they agreed with the father. They asked me to please take the babies and so I did.
This is why my house is so
important. It is not an orphanage but prenatal infant care program. Providing
care for those desperate in need. I’m currently discussing the future for these
two children with the family. It is difficult for the grandmother to allow
adoption as it is not very common in Malawian culture. However it will be very
difficult for her to care for them as she is already caring for the older three
siblings too.
Adding the two new babies there are 12 children in my house now! The extension to the current house is highly needed.
Adding the two new babies there are 12 children in my house now! The extension to the current house is highly needed.
Love,
Nicole
