IT’S REAL

This past fall Lori Donaldson a member of Twin Falls Reformed Church came to Malawi with a group of people to help with vacation bible school. Her parents had been avid supporters of the children’s village vision, both now deceased Lori felt lead to come and see what her parents were so passionate about. Having seen pictures and video, yet not fully understanding what she was going to experience, these were her first words as she wrote back home in an email after arriving.

“IT’S REAL” we’ve seen pictures, we’ve seen video, we’ve heard all about it, but “IT’S REAL”.

Her response was profound and one of great joy for the children of Malawi. My thoughts are what if those of us who were Christians, followers of Jesus wrote back home , sent an email, a text message, had a conversation with the rest of our world “ IT’S REAL” the resurrection of Jesus “IT’S REAL” You’ve heard about it, you’ve read about it, but “IT’S REAL”. He rose from the grave and we serve a living GOD! I know I could not work in Malawi if I did not believe this to be true. The difficulties, the sorrows, the shear tragedy of it all at times could be too much to bear but through Him and only Him McKallie’s Home, “IS REAL”.

How do I describe the tragedy of less than 15 hours after our dear teacher Patrick had been working with Pastor Brian Vriesman, interpreting discipleship training to village pastors, having had a great time, only later to receive a call that Patrick’s wife had died suddenly in the early morning hours, unable to get her to a hospital in time (due in part because simple transportation issues are a disaster) to receive care, “IT’S REAL”. Or how do I explain sitting in a grave yard in between graves in the dirt at his wife’s funeral being surrounded by 15 to 20 new pediatric and infant grave sites, “IT’S REAL”.

What about the young girls I see along the road side after dark prostituting out of nothing more than sheer desperation to feed their children who have no hope. Even in the midst of an urban AIDS rate of 35%, “IT’S REAL”.

A grandmother who cares for her orphaned granddaughter who has AIDS and has to decide between having a job to buy food or stay home to care for the child because there are no other choices. Or yet still one in five children die before the age of 5 years old due to preventable diseases, “IT’S REAL”.

A father who’s child will die of malnutrition because he does not have enough food to feed his family. Malawi being the second highest country in sub-Saharan Africa for stunted growth of children due to malnutrition, “IT’S REAL”.

In the midst of these real life experiences I carry on because hope remains! The tomb is empty the Lord is risen and Gods love for his people remains ever present. The calling He has bestowed upon us at McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope “IS REAL”!

Although at McKallie’s Home we cannot meet everyone’s needs or solve all of the problems we come across we can serve those that come directly into our path. For the father who can’t feed his son and is terribly malnourished, we implemented a special feeding program just for Phillip who attends our school and are doing our best to monitor him. For the grandmother who needs help caring for Ester who has AIDS, Ester attends our school where she thrives, receives nutritious meals to aide in her health and a caring staff of people who do their best to assist in looking out for her.

For Patrick, his family and his village our quiet presence in helping him manage the details of death and burial for his wife in a village where they told us “they had never had white people among them to share in such grief”. “What makes these people different that they would care enough to be among us”? For those of us who were there we would have done none other. The answer is simple there is nothing greater we can do than to serve God by serving others.

If you ask the people of M’Dala village, where McKallie’s Home of Future and Hope is, if the presence of God is real I know they would tell you “IT’S REAL”. Struggles exist throughout our world but the tomb is empty, He is there for all who simply ask. There is great hope; I tell you “IT’S REAL”.

I have seen it written, “When it becomes personal it becomes real”.

Honored to serve in Malawi,
Tracy Hills

For More information vist: www.McKalliesHome.org