Malawi Day #3

Today (Monday) was a long-anticipated day – we visited the Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Malawi. Upon arrival, we joined the staff for their Monday morning prayer chapel. We noted the selflessness of their requests and their gratitude to God for the gift of life and for daily provision, knowing He goes before them. Next, the senior leadership team shared about the history, ongoing work and growth opportunities, as they daily live out their mission “to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

After touring the bustling facility, we split into groups and either visited with children and their caregivers in the outpatient clinic (a walk-in clinic for prospective patients) or the ward (a large, open 50-bed pre- or post-op room for scheduled patients). We heard about caregivers’ concerns for their children, their current living situations, their journey to the hospital (which is often a large obstacle) and their hopeful outcome while at the hospital (usually far from home and family). The staff seeks to understand their current reality, gently inquires about their belief in God and shares the good news of Jesus and the hope and healing He offers. They wholeheartedly address both the physical and the spiritual needs and opportunities available to them during their time at CURE.

After lunch, our team gathered with the children in the playroom (giving caregivers a much-needed short break) for a puppet show of Daniel and the Lion’s Den, followed by a lion’s-mane paper-plate craft, coloring pages, and Play-Doh. We spent our final hour outside with the children, playing soccer, swinging, blowing bubbles, sliding down accessible slides and speaking the shared language of smiles and laughter. We drove home (on the opposite side of the road from the US) through packed streets (and I mean packed) of people everywhere – on foot, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, street markets and vendors, men, women and children. My prevailing takeaway: the chasm between our lived experiences is deep and so very wide (it’s almost unfathomable).

My heart is broken, my throat is tight and my eyes are full of tears as I replay today’s events – YET our God is the same (yesterday, today and tomorrow) and His healing, His heart and His Gospel connects us together in the most cherished of ways. We are glad to be able to return tomorrow - these beautiful people are doing very, very good, authentic work and it’s a gift to be invited into their lives and the lives of these precious children and their caregivers. Malawi truly is the warm heart of Africa.

- Jennifer