The team woke up around 8am this morning to prepare for visits to various ZOE sites in Madisi. The ZOE project is a 3 year program for orphans and at-risk children as well as their siblings. This program is unique because it not only provides the housing and basic needs for these children, it fosters various skills and trades for the heads of the households so that when they leave ZOE they will be self-sufficient and able to support their families.

Mercy, the Malawi coordinator for ZOE, and several social workers for the project started our tour at the village for third years to see their group project. They had grown and harvested corn and were now shelling and bagging it for sale. We sat down and helped them for a little bit and discovered that Harriet has second calling as a corn sheller! Next we visited kids that were working on cars and learning how to be mechanics. We also went to the local market to meet second years who have started their own businesses. This included a hair dresser, gas and electric welders, plastic and clothes retailers and a barber.

Some of the third year members of the ZOE program showing us the corn they were preparing to sell.

Some of the third year members of the ZOE program showing us the corn they were preparing to sell.

ZOE kids shelling corn.

ZOE kids shelling corn.

Eric with some of the young men working on a car to develop their skills as future mechanics.

A ZOE teen showing us his electrical welding business.

A ZOE teen showing us his electrical welding business.

A ZOE member with the clothing he is selling at the Madisi marketplace.

A ZOE member with the clothing he is selling at the Madisi marketplace.

A ZOE teen in front of his business selling water basins, kitchen supplies, and clothing material.

A ZOE teen in front of his business selling water basins, kitchen supplies, and clothing material.

A ZOE member in his barber shop. He also makes money by providing a place for community members to charge their electronics.

A ZOE member in his barber shop. He also makes money by providing a place for community members to charge their electronics.

One of the ZOE children who learned how to make clothes and run his own tailoring business.

One of the ZOE children who learned how to make clothes and run his own tailoring business.

At the second year village we met a women who started a tea & scones shop and a young man who made furniture. We also got to see how they make bricks to build houses and ovens. They explained to us that they are in the process of building a few nicer houses each with 2 rooms and a bathroom. Each of the groups of children get together and vote on the most vulnerable member of their team to own the home. The young man who owned the home we saw was 15 yrs old and had to take care of his grandfather and siblings. Before we left this site, the kids decided to show us what they had learned from the last mission group they met – the chicken dance! So naturally, we could not be outdone and taught them the hokie pokie, which they practiced in Chichewa after we taught it to them in English.

One of the homes built by ZOE kids for one of their fellow  members. The young man who owns the house is pictured next to his Grandfather, who he is responsible for.

One of the homes built by ZOE kids for one of their fellow members. The young man who owns the house is pictured next to his Grandfather, who he is responsible for.

Being able to see the young men and women that are a part of the ZOE project was such a treat. All of the people we talked to expressed how grateful they were to the program. They told us that they were now able to support themselves and their siblings (some had up to 8 other children to take care of) and how they could even afford to send them to school. They were excited about the skills they had learned and knew how valuable knowing a trade is for their livelihood. We told each of them how proud we were of their accomplishments and that we would continue to pray for them. It was so heart-warming to hear their stories and see how successful ZOE has been since it began three years ago. The program in Madisi is currently helping over 2,000 children who would have not been able to care for their families otherwise. We know that with Mercy’s guidance, ZOE will continue to flourish in Malawi. Visit this page for more information on ZOE and ways you can be involved in supporting the program!

After we returned from our ZOE visits, we saw more patients in the community around the parsonage. In 3 hours we saw 42 patients and filled 67 prescriptions. We got an update from the Doctor about Lucita, the girl who we sent to the hospital yesterday, and she it is confirmed that she has a very critical case of malaria. We suspect that she might have additional problems but without the proper medical equipment, it is difficult to know for sure. We will continue to pray for her and check up on her.

Tomorrow we start our 3 days of clinic outside of the Kawelawela village and we expect to see 100-200 people. We will be partnering with some local clinicians who will be able to guide us through caring for so many people in such a short time. We pray for the patience and courage to venture into an unfamiliar setting so that we can have an impact on the health of the communities we will be serving.

Love and Blessings,

Team Malawi