Mission Moments: Malawi

Homes, sweet homes

Story by Gary Fallesen, founding president Climbing For Christ
Photos by Damson Samson, C4C’s missionary to East Africa

The expressions on their faces and the language of their bodies have changed dramatically in the months since our Mission: Malawi team first met the many widows Damson Samson adopted. Our missionary to East Africa continues to serve these once-broken, despairing people – so far providing 10 of them with proper housing as an extension of our Project 1:27 call to “to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27).

Take Langton Kapito for example.

“When I am visiting, he always smiles and I find him working around the home,” Damson said Monday.

Langton, above, helping to build his new house, for which he rejoices, below.

“This house started from the ground to the top as we had no chance to renovate the old house, which was completely destroyed,” Damson reported. “Really C4C has shown a good example of Christ Jesus’ love to people.”

Lonely Mugwa will attest to that. Her name was appropriate to her condition.

“She has really appreciated the support,” Damson said, “as nobody was there to care in such a way as C4C has done. She has extended her thanks to C4C for showing Christ’s love to others.”

Lonely Mugwa.

“May the Lord continue supporting the great work Climbing For Christ is doing throughout the globe,” Damson said.

Amen to that!

Climbing For Christ continues to be blessed to be a blessing to many in the remote reaches of the world. C4C has served in Malawi since late 2009 when Pastor Duncan Nyozani, a member of this ministry, asked for help with his orphanage. This started a relationship that has produced (among other things) the birth of Project 1:27 in Duncan’s orphanage, church and clinic builds, and now a housing project initiated by Damson.

Fages Mandota was another widow blessed by this divinely inspired work.

“She is over the moon always,” Damson said. “She appreciates the support and said now she is worry-free for she can see parents and relatives who can take care of her – and that’s C4C!

“She expressed herself that the tent (in which she was living) was very cold, but the house is warming her and her life has dramatically changed. These are all miracles.”

Fages stands with Damson in front of her new house built near the tent she was living in. The tent, below, had no security. She propped up the door to keep out animals and intruders.

Elinala Damson.

Elinala Damson was left “voice-less” by the gift of a house. “She just said, ‘It’s only God who can pay back these who have taken a step to care for me. Nobody was there for me, but only C4C has done it and this is not easy.”

Damson said this widow is living with HIV. She felt alone and unloved.

“Life for her has just changed completely,” Damson said. “She expressed her appreciation for what Climbing For Christ has done for her.”

We give thanks to God for sending us to southern Malawi and providing for the needs of His people. Of course, there are many more in need in what is one of the world’s poorest countries.

But Damson already is at work on the next houses that will be built. He has overseen the molding of 10,000 bricks. “If we could have $4,000 we could (pay for an additional) six houses,” he said. “There is a great need for more to be renovated. I hope God will provide to cover our dear parents.”

This is our prayer.

Damson, right, harvests a field of bricks.

Can you help?

Please contribute to the care of the least of these by sending a donation to Climbing For Christ c/o Widows Project 1:27 at P.O. Box 16290, Rochester, NY 14616-0290 USA. Or CLICK HERE to give via PayPal and email info@ClimbingForChrist.org to alert us to your donation.

In Canada, make checks payable to The Great Commission Foundation, and on the memo line add Climbing For Christ CANADA c/o Widows Project 1:27. Mail your support to: The Great Commission Foundation, #3 – 1335 Trans Canada Way SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1J1. Or give online at http://tgcfcanada.org/donate. Mark your contribution: “Climbing For Christ CANADA c/o Widows Project 1:27.”