People Wait for a Wheelchair

Have you ever had to tell a handicapped person you cannot help him get around? I have.

Have you ever had to watch as a person who cannot walk drags himself away from your door after you have told him there is no help available? Wilson has.

Have you ever seen the hopelessness on a person’s face as they turn away after learning that you, their last hope for mobility, have no resources available for them? George is.

Wheelchairs last October

Yes, I have, Wilson has, and George, Wilson and I are at this very moment unable to fill the requests coming in for wheelchairs. It comes because of the downturn in the market, the recession, the lack of funds, the conservation of resources.

Why do the poor suffer first and the longest? Why do I have a car, and they don’t even have a pair of crutches, or a wheelchair, or a helping hand?

Warehouse today

Wilson’s hands say it all. Last October there were a large number of wheelchairs in the warehouse. Today there are none. The manufacturer has them available. Free Wheelchair Mission is ready to send them to the African coast. We just need the funds to get them on up to Malawi and distributed. $5,000.00 will do the trick. That is all we need, and 550 more people will be able to get around.

Classes on the Floor

Central Region, Malawi ... The buildings are among the best we have seen in most rural areas of the country. But when it comes to resources for the classes and children there is almost nothing. The students actually sit on the concrete floor the entire day, the library has only about 2 dozen books, and few students have even a single pencil and paper on which to make notes.

Students sit on the floor at school

In spite of this lack of supplies the students are eager to learn, and they excitedly put forth an unimaginable effort. They see education as the only way they will be able to advance out of the poverty of village life.

The Life of a Little Girl Near Thondwe

Wilson Tembo has sent us a great story about Doricca Somanje, a little girl from the Nyanja tribe. We have posted his story on the Malawi – Travel site. Also, if you missed the story about the overnight at the Cool Runnings resort on Lake Malawi, it is right below the story Wilson sent in.

You can read both stories at: http://malawi-travel.blogspot.com/

Some Days It Doesn't Pay

When you live in Africa there are days you may not want to get out of bed. This appeared to be true when we came across this hippo standing on the shore line of the Shire River all alone. From the looks of the 'battle scars' that covered his body it appeared he was not have a very good day. Our guide indicated this ol guy had gotten into a pretty big battle with another hippo. The other hippo won the battle and this guy was banned from the pod. He had spent several days up on the bank all alone nursing his wounds.