School Construction Begins in Deya, Malawi

There is great excitement and hope flowing in the village of Deya outside of Lilongwe, Malawi these days. Through the generous donation of a Heart for Africa volunteer the first block of a school is under construction and will welcome 120 children in 1st and 2nd grade! The next two blocks will be built once an additional $44,000 is raised. There is now hope for the future of this village where up until last year had no source of clean drinking water until a team from the Heart for Africa raised funds to install the first and only bore hole (well) in the area. This well now provides clean drinking water for the entire village.

On December 2, 2006 I was privileged to be part of a Heart for Africa team that visited Deya to be part of a prayer service to begin this school. We were led to the site of the school by a group of men beating drums made of goat skins with women dancing and singing as we walked. Arriving at the site we gathered around the area where the footings for the foundation had been dug to begin the ceremony to lay the first foundation blocks. As the village chief spoke (through an interpreter) you could sense his gratitude for what God was doing in his village and the burden he carries for his people.

The ceremony consisted of four separate groups each taking part in this foundation laying experience, each bringing an important piece to the future of this area. The four groups included the Chief who represented the community, Theresa Malila representing Somebody Cares Ministry (provides ongoing care for Deya and 14 other villages), several pastors from local churches, and Janine Maxwell representing Heart for Africa. In turn each of these people placed four foundation bricks, laying them so each brick was supported by another, symbolizing the joining of these four groups in ongoing work in Deya.

There is much more for Heart for Africa to do in Africa and you can be a part of a story like the one in Deya if you choose. I believe God is calling many of you to become involved in His work in Africa, some may feel led to go and serve, others may be called to give and not go and some may resist what God is asking of you. The needs are great and God is asking you to be a part of what is happening. How are you to be a part of His work?

We have so much in North America; it seems that it requires so much to meet our needs. And yet in places like Deya, they do not require nearly as much. Receiving even the smallest of blessings can result in filling them with great hope for their days ahead in Africa. Be a part of what is happening! Your life will be changed and so will theirs.

By Rob Shoemaker