My friend and scribe, Katie, was due to arrive on Friday, but due to plane delays, didn't make it in until Saturday. Charles (one of the guards, ABC student and sometime translator at the clinics) had the day off and wanted to come with us. Turns out that a big entertainment for Malawians is going to the airport, sitting up top in the 'spectators' area and watching the planes come in. This was only the second time Charles had ever been to the airport. You can also order food and drink if you so desire. When we got there, the place was packed, people had the chairs up to the railing, watching, chatting, just having a good time. We got a place at the back and ordered lunch. We were there for almost 3 hours and only 3 planes came in - this is not a very busy airport! But when the first one started coming in, Charles was ready to go to the railing and watch. He told us later that was the most fun he thinks he 'has ever had'.
Katie did arrive safely, and not too exhausted. Sunday we went to Flood church where Sean preached another awesome sermon! Our plans for Sunday afternoon involved going to Msilitza village where COTN has a feeding and school program and where there are two teen orhpan houses (girls and boys). We stopped at the main COTN office and picked up Lidson to go with us. Everyone loves a chance to ride in a car and go somewhere! When we arrived, we found that there are currently 10 girls housed in the girls home (there are supposed to be 8..but I don't know how you turn away a desperate girl!!) but many of them are away most of the year at secondary school. This is school holiday, and several are gone back to the their home villages to stay with extended family. One of my favorites, Maureen, is a student at ABC and she is doing an 'internship' at the COTN orphan village of Chiwengo. That is Lidson's usual home, and also where we hope to do a clinic soon. We took the girls some gifts, including toothbrushes and toothpaste (thanks to the Eureka Dental Clinic and Drs Kemp in Weatherford, Texas!!). We also took in some bras, Bibles, books (always a big hit to have different books to read) and a jigsaw puzzle. We started showing them how to do the puzzle - one of the girls remembered from our last visit, but to some of the others it was a new deal. We went outside to take photos, and found that Lidson and one of the male interns (at the boy's home) stayed inside to work on the puzzle. I guess next time, I will be bringing more jigsaw puzzles! Our plan was to go to the boys' home, also, but they were gone attending a funeral. Maybe later in Katie's trip.
A word about COTN - Children of the Nations - this is a relatively small Christian organization that provides orphans with homes or (if they are living with relatives) a feeding program and school. They try to get three sponsors per child, allowing them to provide for a secondary education (high school - which costs in this country) and, if the student qualifies, with education past high school. Maureen (as mentioned above) is attending African Bible College, which is prohibitively expensive for most orphans. I have sponsored Lidson since 2000, when he was 5 years old. If any of you feel led to sponsor a child, there are many wonderful organizations out there, and COTN is one of those. Your small monthly contribution really DOES make an incredible difference.
Pictures: Katie with the girls and Ester (the 'Auntie' of the home), Charles at the airport, Auntie Ester and me, and then Lidson (back turned to us) and intern in the living room of the home, working on the jigsaw puzzle (the 'couch' to Lidson's right is actually a bed where one of the 'extra' girls sleeps.)
Enjoy! Pray that we have a safe, blessed time while Katie is here, in the Warm Heart of Africa.
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