Dear Friends of Kindle Orphan Outreach:
It's a rainy day in "Kindle-land"! Being in the midst of the rainy season, this is as it should be, and is a blessing to the crops. Most people in this area are expecting a good harvest next month. You may have heard the old song: " Back of the clouds the sun is always shining!" And we can also say: "In the midst of the clouds and rain, Kindle is always shining!"
TIWALE! (Let's Shine!)
That is pronounced tee-wah-leh!, and it is the name of the vocational training program for girls and women that we briefly introduced to you in the last letter. It has been running for nearly 2 months now, and rain or shine, four days a week this little group meets in a small room at Kindle site or sits outside in the shade busily doing their work. I would like to introduce you to a few of the participants.
The young girl in the green dress is Stella. She is 16 years old and has been part of the Kindle family from the beginning. Her mother died several years ago, leaving Stella and 2 younger siblings. Their father remarried and now lives with his new family, not caring for these three children who live with their grandmother. Stella left school in Standard 3 so that she could do some odd jobs to earn money for survival. Learning to do tailoring, and other handcrafts will allow her to develop a small business with which to support herself, her siblings and her grandmother.
Standing beside her is Victoria, who, along with several brothers and sisters, is an orphan supported by Kindle from the early days. After finishing Primary School she was able to attend 2 years of Secondary School through our sponsorship programme, but since then she has just been in the village with little hope for the future. Now 21 years old, she is in the Tiwale! Program and she has had a real change of heart, with a bright smile to share.
Patricia, the lady at the front sewing machine, has 4 children that she is caring for alone. She has a husband, but he is bound by drunkenness and does not contribute to caring for the children at all. She has taught herself to do some hand sewing with which she earns a tiny bit to feed her children. As part of Tiwale! She will be able to do so much more for her family, and with her gracious spirit she makes a great contribution to the group.
Selina (seated at the sewing machine), is the widow of a man who was a great help to Kindle in the early days. He was a leader in the community, and paved the way for Kindle to be involved in the first stages of the Community Development work. He died of cancer a few years ago, and Kindle really missed his wise counsel. Now his wife, who has been able to continue to support their 5 children through farming, is part of Tiwale! As the oldest lady in the group, she looks forward to using what she is learning to develop a small business.
Finally, I would like to introduce you to Mrs. Fainess Mkwapatira, (standing) who is a trained seamstress and home-craft worker. She has been hired by Kindle to teach the ladies many things during this year, including tailoring, embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and cooking. There will also be some classes on running an income-generating business. Fainess is also a trained Bible Teacher, and she is including Bible lessons in the curriculum, encouraging each of the eight participants in their daily lives and circumstances. What a blessing she is!
I hope you have enjoyed meeting these 4 ladies, and will remember to pray for them and the rest of the group throughout this year. They will finish their course in November, and the plan is that each of the 8 participants will take home a sewing machine and some supplies to get started in their business.
2010 has got off to a good start in Kindle. Each department is SHINING in its own way!
- The Katawa Clinic is building a shelter where monitoring and inoculations for children under 5 can be done on a daily basis. We know this will improve the general health of the children in our community.
- The Mtseche Irrigation project is nearing completion, with only the plastering left to do on the reservoir. The solar pump and panels will be installed before the end of the month, and piping put out into the fields. Irrigation is not needed this week - lots of rain water around! - but with this project in place the people will be ready for the coming dry season!
- As I write, the 9 volunteers in the Family Life Ministries and Youth Groups are having a three day training workshop with Pastor Mbereko and Petro, the staff of the Spiritual/Social Department.
- Besides the Tiwale! Program, the Education Department has started the new school year with over 40 young men and women being sponsored in Secondary School. Most of those who wrote final exams at the end of last year did quite well.
The Management Team - the leaders in Kindle Orphan Outreach - continue to meet each week to encourage and bless one another with their wisdom, humor, discussion and prayers. Blessing for one brings blessing to all - as you can see in this photo on the day that a new motor bike was delivered for Pastor Mbereko to use in his ministry.
Left to right, rejoicing together are: Hestern Mbena, Patience Mkandawire, James Kabuli, Pastor Mbereko, and Cecil Mskambodzya.
As the light of Kindle shines out in this community, we encourage each of you to SHINE where you are! Please will you also help to keep Kindle glowing through your prayers, financial gifts, encouragement, and sharing us with your friends! If we can help to answer questions, please do write and ask. We also suggest that you visit our website for details of the programmes mentioned.
Until next time.... TIWALE! LET'S SHINE!
On behalf of all of Kindle,
Marilyn Barr
(Acting Director)
Please Note: Gifts for Kindle Orphan Outreach may continue to be sent to the following addresses, or there is now provision for On-Line donation on the website:
- Australia: Make checks payable to Kindle Orphan Outreach, and send them to Andrew Barr: 953 River Drive, Keith Hall, NSW 2478 For contacting Andrew if you have questions or would like him to speak at your group, use email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- USA: There are 2 channels you can use: With clear notation that your gift is for Kindle Orphan
Outreach, make checks payable to:
Water of Life Community Church, 7625 East Ave., Fontana, CA 92336
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
OR: Extreme Response Intl, P.O. Box 345, Snellville, GA 30078
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Canada: Extreme Response Canada, P.O. Box 1013, Simcoe, ON N3Y 533
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) - UK: Cheque payable to Starfish Malawi, designated to Kindle. Send to Terry Pickford, 12 Haffenden Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6QE (Request Gift Aid to Starfish)
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) - Malawi: P.O. Box 311, Salima, Malawi
Or direct deposit into Stanbic Bank, Salima Acct, #014/00/04860600
(email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Attn: James Kabuli)
For all of these, it is helpful to us if you drop us a note at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that we know to expect your gift, and respond to it. Thank you!
