Education Matters
Meet Nicole
In 2011, I went on holiday to Malawi to visit my sister who was doing an internship in a rural hospital. I had an amazing time and travelled to many beautiful places. Back home, I couldn’t forget about this special country and precious people. After much prayer, I decided to leave my job to go to Africa to serve for 3 months. I volunteered in the same hospital where my sister did her internship. I assisted the clerks in the pediatric ward and helped feed the orphan babies in the maternity ward. On November 3rd, 2012 a little baby arrived in the hospital who needed a bit more help. She had been found in the bush and was critically ill. I got involved and assisted the grandmother with everything that was needed to help this little girl. I thought the grandmother how to care for Maria, however, she became ill every time she returned to the village. After 6 months, the grandmother told me she had a vision from God and asked me to adopt Maria. I refused, however God had a different plan for my life. Here I am today; adopted 2 girls, fostering 18 children and feeding 100 orphans and vulnerable children in the villages around Nkhoma.
The number of children in my house and number of children in the program have been growing slowly from the beginning. Every few months a child was added to my extended family which gave all of us time to get used to the new situations. Taking care for 20
children is a tremendous job and I would have never been able to do this without the unconditional love and support from God. I feel very strong that this is what He has planned for me and He makes everything possible. That does not mean things are easy, or that we always have enough financial support. But knowing that He is always there for me and provides my needs is a huge relief. My faith grew enormously over the last few years and I have experienced that where God guides, He provides (Isaiah 58:11).
I’m incredibly grateful that God choose me to serve for Him. I feel honored and privileged to work for and alongside Him. I’m forever thankful for my two beautiful daughters. They truly are two amazing girls, seeing them grow, develop and heal from their traumatic birth and first year of life is the most precious gift God has given me. For me to be able to continue this work support is needed. If you want to be part of this amazing work, there are many ways to get involved. Prayers, mission trips or donations
are just a few examples. For more info contact info@ReachingtheHungry.org.
Meet Her Children
KATIE
Katie was born on February 28th, 2004. Her father died before she was born and her mother died when she was 3 years old. She stayed with her grandmother until the age of 5. An aunt of her father took her and promised the grandmother to care for her and to send her to school. The following years, Katie hardly went to school; her aunt abused her mentally and physically. When I found Katie, her aunt had left her. She was sleeping on the street and had nothing. She was begging for food to survive. I decided to take her into my house and to send her to school. She started homeschooling to learn English. After 6 months of homeschooling, she went to a local private primary school and had the highest grades in the class. Because she was working so hard and doing incredibly well, I decided to send her to a high quality Christian secondary school. She is currently in the second year and thriving. She started in the lowest level class and is now in the second highest class. All of her teachers tell me she is a very intelligent and hardworking student. During sports day last year she became the "best athlete of the school". She is a strong believer. She loves Saturday night worship services at her school. Her school reports are very promising.
Unfortunately, the school fees are $3,500 dollars per year.
To help Katie build a better future for herself, I would like to ask for help with school fees.
Every term, I struggle to pay the requested amount. Katie is a precious girl who had a very
traumatizing childhood. The only way to change her life is to provide her with a quality
education.
DIANA
Diana was born on May 31st, 2012. Diana’s mother was suffering from
TB and HIV. She delivered Diana pre-term at home. A year later, Diana's mother died. At the
age of 1, Diana was admitted to the hospital with TB. She recovered and was
discharged to finish the treatment at home. She started living with her aunt, however, the aunt was also suffering from TB and HIV. The aunt died when
Diana was 1 and a half. Diana was then given to her grandmother. The
grandmother had many orphans to take care for and was unable to properly care for Diana.
In March of 2014, she brought Diana, who was in very severe
condition, to the hospital. Diana was almost 2 years old but only 66 cm long and 6 kg. She
was admitted with TB relapse, severe malaria, severe anemia, severe pneumonia
and severe malnutrition. Because there were orphans waiting at home, Diana's grandmother could not stay at the hospital. She decided to take Diana
home to let her die in the village. I talked with the grandmother and she
agreed to leave Diana in my care.
In June of 2016, I was officially blessed with
another daughter.
Diana is very energetic and curious. She loves dancing, playing
with her friends and going to Church. She is doing very well in school! She is currently attending a local, lower level school. Our goal is for her to be able to attend ABC Christian academy in Lilongwe; they offer quality, international,
Christian education and will help provide Diana with the skills she needs for a better future.
MARIA
Maria was born November 3rd, 2012. I have been taking care of Maria since she was found a few days after birth. Maria is the fourth born to a mother who is mentally unsound. Her two brothers and sister all died soon after birth. All children were born out of rape.
Maria was found 2 days after birth in the bush were her mother delivered her. She was sent to Nkhoma hospital as she was a premature baby (30 weeks) with very low birth weight (1 kg). Upon arriving to the hospital, she had sunburns all over her body and she was put immediately on neonatal sepsis protocol. With the help of her grandmother, I began to care for Maria. I taught the grandmother how to bottle feed her and the importance of hygiene. After two months in the hospital, Maria left to the village. However, she came back very often because of severe diarrhea, malaria, sepsis, etc. After 6 months, the grandmother asked me to adopt Maria. After lots of prayers, Maria officially became my daughter February of 2015.
Maria is a very confident and caring girl. She loves to go to school, to sing and to read her Bible. She is doing very well in school, however, she is currently attending a local lower level school. I would love her to go to ABC Christian Academy in Lilongwe. They offer international Christian education.
How To Get Involved
If you would like to sponsor their education, please select one of the following options:
Venmo- #RtHDonations with the descriptions "Education Matters"
PayPal- HERE
One time donations and regular support are both welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for investing in the future of these hardworking and deserving students.
"In everything I did I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words that Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'"
ACTS 20:35
