Ladysbell Ayala directed a Vacation Bible School program with the help of local leaders in the school cafeteria at Matandani Mission.
Nancy Pleasants takes a blood pressure reading while helping with health screenings at the clinic in Matandani.
by Ladysbell Ayala
“Mulungu Wathu Wodawibsa.” These are the African Chichewa language words for Our Amazing God, the Vacation Bible School (VBS) theme for Florida Conference’s mission trip to Matandani Mission in Malawi, Africa, this past August.
The fact of having 18 villages nearby and the possibility of a big VBS turnout of children worried me since I was the only person scheduled to work with the program. Our prayers were many, and our faith strong. I prepared for an attendance of 300 children.
After a change of plans occurred, I was given two additional helpers from our group at the last minute. This was a blessing as the help I was promised from locals did not materialize during the preparation day. Opening night, the Lord provided, and we completed our program for 90 children — almost twice the number of children attending the local church. The children were a joy to watch, singing their harmonious, rhythmic, and happy African songs. We were impressed, as it seems children there are born singing in harmony.
Meetings were scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. The sun would set at 6:00 p.m., and the children, many of them six or seven years old, had to walk home carrying their siblings strapped to their backs. Every night, these children faced rough, mountainous roads and distances of up to eight miles. Yet, they were so eager to come, they would start arriving shortly after noon and wait several hours without complaint.
The second night, 180 children came, and we were excited to treat them with trinkets after a blessed night of learning and playing. The third night, with 220 children, things were getting difficult to manage, but it was a delight to see them enjoying the new outside games for the first time in their lives.
The fourth night, 340 children came, but the Lord kept on sending us young men to help including some of the mission school teachers. Our last night, we had nearly 385 children. Too many activities were planned for that last night, causing us to run overtime. Along with several adults, we ended up walking home with a huge group of children through the first three miles.
A flatbed truck took another group to a far-away area, and the missionary’s Trooper truck took 25 kids to their homes eight miles away. Never having ridden in a truck, the children were singing at the top of their lungs all along the way. Hearing the singing, parents were waiting for the children by the road. The experience that all these children had by coming to the Matandani Mission School VBS will long be remembered.
In addition to the VBS program, the ten-member mission group team, led by José LeGrand, helped with a medical clinic, evangelism in the evenings, and construction of a classroom for young children in a nearby village. Matandani Mission is in need of help to accommodate and serve so many children who are prospective students. May God’s Spirit continue working on all of our hearts.
“Mulungu Wathu Wodawibsa.” These are the African Chichewa language words for Our Amazing God, the Vacation Bible School (VBS) theme for Florida Conference’s mission trip to Matandani Mission in Malawi, Africa, this past August.
The fact of having 18 villages nearby and the possibility of a big VBS turnout of children worried me since I was the only person scheduled to work with the program. Our prayers were many, and our faith strong. I prepared for an attendance of 300 children.
After a change of plans occurred, I was given two additional helpers from our group at the last minute. This was a blessing as the help I was promised from locals did not materialize during the preparation day. Opening night, the Lord provided, and we completed our program for 90 children — almost twice the number of children attending the local church. The children were a joy to watch, singing their harmonious, rhythmic, and happy African songs. We were impressed, as it seems children there are born singing in harmony.
Meetings were scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. The sun would set at 6:00 p.m., and the children, many of them six or seven years old, had to walk home carrying their siblings strapped to their backs. Every night, these children faced rough, mountainous roads and distances of up to eight miles. Yet, they were so eager to come, they would start arriving shortly after noon and wait several hours without complaint.
The second night, 180 children came, and we were excited to treat them with trinkets after a blessed night of learning and playing. The third night, with 220 children, things were getting difficult to manage, but it was a delight to see them enjoying the new outside games for the first time in their lives.
The fourth night, 340 children came, but the Lord kept on sending us young men to help including some of the mission school teachers. Our last night, we had nearly 385 children. Too many activities were planned for that last night, causing us to run overtime. Along with several adults, we ended up walking home with a huge group of children through the first three miles.
A flatbed truck took another group to a far-away area, and the missionary’s Trooper truck took 25 kids to their homes eight miles away. Never having ridden in a truck, the children were singing at the top of their lungs all along the way. Hearing the singing, parents were waiting for the children by the road. The experience that all these children had by coming to the Matandani Mission School VBS will long be remembered.
In addition to the VBS program, the ten-member mission group team, led by José LeGrand, helped with a medical clinic, evangelism in the evenings, and construction of a classroom for young children in a nearby village. Matandani Mission is in need of help to accommodate and serve so many children who are prospective students. May God’s Spirit continue working on all of our hearts.