Mission Moments: Malawi

CHRISTmas gift brings joy to hungry widows

By Gary Fallesen, founding president, Climbing For Christ

Widows clapping and singing songs of praise to God for the gift of food this CHRISTmas. (Photos by Damson Samson)

My pastor and friend, Larry Stojkovic, was preaching about CHRISTmas. He wondered what someone from the majority world would say if we brought them to our culture at the CHRISTmastime of year. He suggested that they might ask: “How did you get from Luke 2 to this?!”

Good question.

I have grown weary of the whole “reason-for-the-season” campaign. If you don’t know that CHRISTmas is about Jesus, you must not know Jesus’s last name is CHRIST. But then, every day is CHRISTmas for those of us in Climbing For Christ. Our ministry and lives are centered on Jesus and glorifying God.

We know how the majority world celebrates CHRISTmas because we are blessed to be part of their celebration. Many of those who sponsor orphans in Malawi and Nepal through our Project 1:27 send an extra donation so we can help the children have a birthday party for Jesus in those two countries. We also aid Save Pakistan on its CHRISTmas mission to brighten the day of children enslaved in brick factories in that Muslim nation.

About the same time I was listening to Pastor Larry’s message, I was receiving a report from our Malawi-based missionary, Damson Samson. He entitled his report: “CHRISTmas gift brings joy to our widows.”

Bags of maize ready to be distributed.

On Dec. 17, Damson distributed food (maize) purchased with special donations from Climbing For Christ members to more than 400 widows in 14 villages in southern Malawi.

“They were singing songs of praise and thanking heaven for such a gift given in this season,” Damson said. He told me about one widow, named Makita, who rejoiced at the opportunity to eat two meals a day for the next week. A truly happy CHRISTmas!

Widows receive a CHRISTmas surprise from Climbing For Christ, above. Children collect every last piece of maize that falls on the ground, showing the value of every kernel.

“Before the distribution we shared with them food for their spirit,” Damson said. “This was the story (in John 4) about the Samaritan woman, who came to draw water and met Jesus. The message was ‘Jesus is the living water.’ Whatever a man gives, it does not sustain. But when it is from above it gives joy.”

He told the hundreds who were fed that this gift of maize was provided by God. “We don’t see a man doing it by himself,” Damson explained. “We really highlighted that everyone should put their trust in the Lord, who provides. He blessed fish and bread and thousands were fed and ate until there were 12 baskets left (see John 6). When heaven provides, no matter how small, it gives you a reason to smile.”

The Word

“This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11 (CEV)