Mphatso.org

Update October 2008

Robyn Casey writes.

 “Mphatso Children’s Foundation is employing an incredible 53 staff. PLUS the community garden workers who each receive Kw200 ($1.60 Aust) each time they work. Ten people per group working on a rotating roster five days a week. Each family (150 on the register) has 1 member working- that’s a lot of families being impacted by the gifts that are being given. For 7 out of those 10 that $1.60 will be their only income until their turn comes again. Also 28 groups’, churches and football teams are on the list.   There are now eight nursery schools with an average of 140 children at each one.  We are supposed to have a 100 limit! Each nursery school is made up of 4 -5 different villages and in some areas more than that. We are providing porridge for 10 babies (all orphans) plus more that are on baby formula. Fifteen of our elderly and those too sick to eat anything other than porridge, mostly HIV sufferers are also being blessed with a meal a day. These numbers fluctuate but we are using an extra 50kg bag of porridge per week for those in desperate situations. A packet of sugar is Kw120 (95 cents). A cake of soap for bathing is Kw50 (40 cents). Some buy sugar one week then wait weeks to buy tea with the next Kw200. Robyn asked some of the staff if it was true that the Aid Agencies in Malawi say that if a person has a wage it directly affects 40 other people. They laughed and said that would be easy to do. “

Adam Kelsall reflects on his time in Malawi…

Sometimes I went for a run up the beach of Lake Malawi and the locals would laugh and point. After all, I wasn’t chasing a ball, so what was the point of running? I’ve questioned the point of many things since I’ve been back in Australia, and spent a lot of time doing pointless things to stop the questioning.
Africa rattles you. Sure a lot of people are hungry. A lot of people are sick. I think mentally you step off the plane prepared for that. What you are not prepared for is the beautifully simple gift of friendship.
The chief is a big man with a hand shake that speaks of toil and a smile and laugh that makes you a local. Bruno and Renae teach you how to eat the staple diet; sema, a dough made of maze, rolled into balls and used to scoop fish or pumpkin leaves into your mouth. Jonathon will walk with you and show you the way through a maze of tracks, no matter how far away or how hot/humid/rainy the weather. As soon as you stop the car the kids will come running to help you carry your gear to the house. Sixty+ year old Pastor Peter will walk an hour up the beach in searing heat to invite you to a dinner where they will serve you a week’s worth of food. Alice and Juliet will offer to carry 50kg bags of porridge..…on their heads. Blessings will give you a guided tour of the island in his dug out canoe. Ssiou and Uledi will take you to watch their favorite Nigerian movies in a malaria infested shack, then guide you back through darkness so thick you can’t see your own nose, guiding you with their laughter and enthusiastic chat. Amongst this is a woman who I am in awe of. When the sun opens for business, Robyn’s back door opens and it’s on. A maelstrom of visitors, knock after knock. There’s the community garden that needs work, this child has malaria, that student needs school fees. Then it’s off to nursery school. By now the humidity is pressing in and Robyn walks probably between 15–20 km each day - into town to check the mail (empty again, c’mon Aussies), talking to this person and that person each with pressing needs. Somehow she squeezes in a cup of tea, then another, then another. Early arvo and Maudi, Alice and Tawonga come over for a chat on their way to washing in the lake, Robyn finds out a baby is not heavy enough and heads out, walking again to give the child some formula. Robyn gives and gives. Not because of pity, I learnt that we should never feel pity for these people. Our pity would only demean their strength and resilience. Robyn gives because God has put a love for Malawi and its people in her heart. It is a love that tests, frustrates, stretches and demands and yet Robyn is faithful because she wants to see a harvest in Malawi. She wants to see the people know the freedom and joy that comes with having Jesus as Lord!

My re-entry this time was very different to last year. I came home stronger physically but pretty raw emotionally. I even ate some airline food this time which is a huge change for me. It’s not that good though is it?! I was sitting next to a nice man & we had some interesting conversations.  In one of them he expressed his opinion that ‘people dying in Africa is nature’s way of culling too many people’. Like I said, we had some interesting discussions. I’m glad that I know & believe that God doesn’t make mistakes & He created us all uniquely for a reason. I think that one of the reasons that I slipped back into the western way of things so quickly was I want to be normal! Yes, I know normal & Robyn never are used in the same sentence, but with the death of some of our precious babies just before I left for home I think that I was trying to block it all out. That’s why we do what we do, these people in Malawi are precious in His sight, just as we are.  

A ‘normal’ day in Robyn’s life (taken from Newsletter #6)……
5:20am & one of the students phoned from the hospital to say that one is ready for home & one is staying. 5:50am Harrison came over to get their printer back, I had kept it for a couple of days! 6:00am a young lady came with a baby on her back, she told this gut wrenching story about the Ama of the baby dying 2 months ago & they were keeping the baby alive with water from a spoon, I asked to look at the baby & she was a fat little thing so after a little more questioning it turned out to be all lies, she just wanted us to buy her goats milk I think. Growled at her & sent her back to her own village. 6:50am The 10 Community Garden workers are here to collect their Kw200 each, I need to go to my secret safe but William is standing in the door waiting for the money. It isn’t a secret anymore. Money was given out & they all look very happy! I hope that they buy food or something useful. Last night after marketing day there were too many drunk people sleeping on the beach, we had some of the young guys here doing ‘peace’ work during the day, carting water etc, they feel very important if they have money to spend on marketing day. It is usually Kw10 (10cents) each so I don’t think you can buy much booze with that. But if I find out that they were the drunken ones – no more peace work for them.  7:15am Esau is back from the bush with sticks to make a garden bed. He is standing them all on end with a piece of bamboo holding them altogether. The teachers are here for nursery school & they are trying to tie blue tarp to poles because it is blowing a very hot wind. The thatching is blowing off their classroom. The cooks are here to start porridge & we have just given out all the porridge & bowls etc from our storeroom that is working a treat. 7:30am one of the students came to borrow transport money to go home to Salima to see why his Ama hasn’t sent money for this terms fees.  He has run foul of the VIBITAC administration department! That means a book somewhere in Sydney’s house with a cross beside his name! OK I’ve had 2 cups of tea but no wash, can you imagine me seeing all these people at home without even cleaning my teeth. Glad this is happening in Africa. I’m trying to make a break for my toilet but not having much luck, here goes!!
It is sooo hot & just 7:30am, it won’t matter what I wear I will be hot & need to change again by lunch time. Bucket shower, beautiful, hot wind blowing in between the bamboo & through the triangle gaps above the walls, really no need to use a towel the wind is like a big hairdryer. 7:50am the bread man calling out Ama Robbiee Ama Robbiee, bought a bread roll for the workers, 10 cents each for really big buns. Hair standing on end but at least clean, still no teeth cleaned (they don’t even notice). I’m hot, I’ve been out of the shower 15 minutes!
Just out to check on fences with Richard, one of the little girls crying at nursery school, turns out it is her first day so a little orange teddy bear to the rescue, his name is ‘First Day’ she will care for him today then he goes to live in Lake House 1 until needed again. 8:15am Went over to see Bruno about some of the students & classes etc, Renae his wife is sick with malaria. Sydney has gone to South Africa with Harrison to a meeting of some kind. Bruno was saying that a bridge has collapsed near Nkhota Nkhota so I hope that he doesn’t get stuck on the way. They may do what they did in the floods & canoe people across then get a waiting mini bus. Richard has just been having a very heated discussion with a poor little girl with her head bowed, seems it is his daughter from another wife who lives at Chifira. Great another wife, I mean, how many does one man need? Just washed out a few of my clothes, talked to the girls about using too much porridge. Got a grass mat for one of the kids to lay on, she is looking like she may have malaria. We have sent a message for someone to come & collect her. We made the decision earlier in the year that we wouldn’t be responsible for carrying sick children home, mainly because we would be blamed if anything happened on the way home. I am serious when I say that malaria can kill these littlies in a matter of hours. They physically collapse before your eyes. It is quite frightening. OK it’s 9:30am & I have lost track of what has happened, I thought that I might take you through a ‘normal’ day in my life but I give up. I’ve had 3 more people to see me for different reasons & I haven’t time to record everything. So there it is my diary notes up until 9:30am! Bet that is going to make interesting reading NOT!  To read the rest of the October newsletter, go to Newsletters in the menu.                 

Below you can see Robyn’s new ‘home’ – what do you think?!  Thank you to EACH & EVERY SINGLE PERSON, however you may have contributed, to make it possible for this home (and the other building) to be built by the work party who were in Malawi recently.  Robyn has now moved in and she couldn’t be happier with it!  And well done to the work party for doing such a wonderful job.  For those of you who don’t know,  the work party consisted of the following people - Geoff, Leanne & Gretah Gray, Kevin & Julie Lee, David Woolhouse (all from Ocean Grove Baps) and Mic Newton (from Bethel), who spent one month in Kande village recently, returning in approximately mid-July.  This newsletter will be a little different, as you’ll discover…….instead of Robyn telling her story, it is going to consist of Robyn’s Aussie visitors sharing about their own experiences and how their trip into the Warm Heart of Africa has impacted their lives.  Robyn has had such a busy couple of months, she says that she hasn’t even had a chance to write anything for me (I know…….….it’s hard to believe going off her usual amount of writing!).

Early June 2006
As I am typing this, the first of the work party (Geoff, Leanne & Gretah Gray & Kevin & Julie Lee) are arriving in Lilongwe, Malawi, soon to be followed by Mick Newton & David Woolhouse. I spoke with Robyn last night & you have no idea how excited she is to have all these people coming to visit & help! She sounded like a kid on Christmas Eve, waiting for the big day to arrive! Kristi Van Es, who has been with Robyn for most of the last 3 months, has finally said goodbye to Robyn & her Malawian friends (welcome home Kristi!). Kristi will be putting something together for the next newsletter which will be fantastic. Naturally, Robs was feeling very sad to have to say goodbye to Kristi after having her there for so long. And she said she was glad the work party were on their way – it was going to help with the inevitable feelings of loneliness & homesickness. When I received the content for this newsletter (& I’ll have you know there were 16 typed pages of it!) Robyn told me she was a bit worried about you all having to read it – there haven’t been any flash floods or car accidents since the last newsletter - & she’s worried that after all the action reported in the previous newsletter you might get bored with more ‘normal’ reading! I assured her that wouldn’t be the case.
Thanks again to each & every person who has helped raise funds to go towards the buildings the work party will be doing. There have been many hiccups along the way, with Robyn discovering the Malawi Government has brought in new rules about buildings, & that she now needs to apply for a building permit! She was advised (approx one month ago) that it would take up to 3 months (& in African time that could mean 6+ months) to receive the approval for the buildings, & as a result, she & Sydney have had multiple trips to Nkhata Bay & Muzuzu in an attempt to meet all requirements & hopefully receive the approval. I haven’t heard the final result of all of this, but the work party are there &, they are there to work!

From the newsletter…….Kristi & Skye have had a great day, come to think, of it so did I! They took the Geelong Football Club (Cats) jumpers that had been donated up to the local secondary school – those jumpers had been sharing the same spot in the cupboard as the Collingwood jumpers – I was sad to see them go! But the school was absolutely thrilled with their gift. On the Saturday, they played against another school at Kande, nil all draw but the kids were so proud of their uniform. Nice one Geelong! Thanks for giving these kids such a treat.

Late April 2006
I can’t believe how quickly the month has gone by! It feels as though the last newsletter has just been sent out to everyone & here we are again busy preparing the next one. As many of you will know, it has been an INCREDIBLE month in Kande village, & that really is an understatement. For those of you that don’t know, Robyn telephoned us on the evening of Easter Sunday (it was about midday in Kande village), she was in tears & as she was talking to us, flash floods were washing through the village, knocking down houses & collecting people & debris along the way. She rang pleading that we contact as many people as possible, asking them to pray. There was nothing else they, or we, could do. Children & adults from Kande had been swept away by waters out into Lake Malawi. Our kids – the ones attending the day care – were missing. At the time, she said people were standing along the lakeshore & river mouth just waiting for bodies to be washed down. In a conversation with Robyn later that same night, Robyn said they could really feel our prayers. Miraculously, every person was found except for one. Some of them had managed to cling to trees or floating debris, others had their clothes caught on branches which prevented them from being swept away any further. Sadly, the wife of one of the garden managers was found drowned later that night. She had last been seen helping a young girl who had tried to climb into a chicken coop to get away from the rushing waters, only to find a snake in there hissing at her. With nowhere to go, the girl was trapped between the coop & the floods. In essence, this woman gave her life to save another. Robyn was able to help the family by paying for the coffin. We found out a few days later that another drowning had occurred, the 14 year old brother of one of Robyn’s helpers. He did not die in the floods, but as a result of them. Read the rest of this entry »