27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
“17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
1 John 3:17
Being an orphan or widow anywhere in the world has intense difficulties and struggles. Biblical writers James and John were not alone in their call for disciples to help widows and orphans. The scriptures indicate God has special concern for their well-being and expects His followers to reflect that concern in positive action on their behalf.
Machinga, Malawi … Everything looked normal on the faces of the group of orphans gathered at the FAYODE Youth Development Office in Machinga, Malawi. On the inside however, many were struggling with feelings of hopelessness. They had little in the way of possessions, little opportunity to go to school, and little opportunity to grow up and get a job to insure their future. These feelings of hopelessness were about to change with the introduction of many little black bags filled with clothing. Thanks to contributors in northern Indiana the day would offer some measure of hope and comfort to the 80 orphans who were about to be assisted.
This event was unusual because it reflected the cooperation of several groups in both America, and Malawi. Mobility Ministries in Demotte, Indiana and the Malawi Project in Lebanon, Indiana joined with Action for Progress and FAYODE in Malawi to help the children. This fact was not missed when the Group Village Headman stood up to speak, “I am very delighted to be here today to witness this function. This is really showing development and unity among us. It is very rare to see organizations doing charitable work together for the benefit of needy children.” At the end of his speech GVH Nampeya came back around to the unity observation. He concluded, “This is very rare in this area and it has given hope to children who did not have the opportunity to find good clothes to wear.”
On that day 80 children went home knowing someone, somewhere, cared about them and their plight, and those in America whose faces these children will never see, cared enough to send nice things to Malawi for them.