Around the world, millions of children face a daily struggle most of us can barely imagine—simply getting enough to eat. In Honduras, three-year-old Deysi often…
On the outskirts of Lilongwe City, Malawi, lies a densely populated township called Chinsapo. This is where Rhoda takes on whatever small jobs she can find to earn a modest wage. With no formal education, it is difficult to find well-paying work.
At their age, Rhoda and her husband should only worry about taking care of themselves. Instead, they are responsible for feeding not only their adult children but also their grandchildren. Rhoda’s daughters do not work, and four of her grandchildren live with her as well.
The grandchildren who don’t live with Rhoda live alone in a rented home nearby without any adult supervision. The eldest child looks after the younger ones. Their mother lives in a different district and pays the rental bills remotely. When they need to eat, they come to Rhoda.
When Pastor Denis Banda of Narrow Way Bible Church learned about Rhoda and her family, he reached out to them with Food Paks provided by donations from Children’s Hunger Fund. He was initially met with resistance because of their Muslim background, but over time, Rhoda’s heart softened toward him and the message he shared.
Despite her Muslim background, Rhoda identifies as a Christian and believes that Jesus is the only way. She does not let her worries diminish the joy Jesus brings to her heart and longs to experience more of God in every part of her life. She regularly attends church with two of her grandchildren.
“I love being a part of this church,” Rhoda shared. “This is my church, and that is where I belong.”
Part of helping Rhoda feel like she belongs is ensuring she understands what is being preached. Although Rhoda understands English, it isn’t her first language. She speaks Chichewa, which is the most widely spoken language in Malawi.
The Food Pak ministry has brought several families, including Rhoda’s, to Narrow Way Bible Church, but they all shared the same concern. The language barrier made it hard for them to understand the message, since services were all done in English.
To address this issue, church members have volunteered to translate services from English into Chichewa so that Rhoda and others like her can better understand what is being taught.
Recently, Pastor Dennis gave Rhoda a Bible translated into Chichewa, thanks to resources provided by the Children’s Hunger Fund online catalog.
The recipients’ names have been changed to protect their privacy.
