It’s a new year, 2026, and hope continues to rise here in our community. The rainy season has begun, and with it comes a deep sense of joy as families watch their fields spring back to life. Everything is green, lush, and vibrant… such a striking contrast to just a few months ago.

Pouring Out Love in the Rainy Season

The rains bring life to our fields, but every family here knows they also bring real challenges. Leaky roofs and fragile homes can become urgent needs overnight. For our elderly neighbours, even a small leak means sleepless nights, damaged belongings, and fear when the clouds gather. This month, our team stepped in to help. They began repairing roofs for some of the most vulnerable.

One gentleman had been living with a roof that let in every rain, and the relief on his face as the first new sheets went up said it all. From the work site, Isaiah shared: “The owner of the hut is extremely excited and grateful to see the roofing work underway. He has been filled with joy throughout the process and continually expresses gratitude to God for this opportunity.”

These are the moments that remind us why we do this work. And to everyone who supports Mitongwe — you are part of every repaired roof, every dry night, and every smile of relief

Back to School with Bright Smiles

When schools reopened in January, our preschoolers slipped back into their routines with ease. Still carrying a bit of holiday cheer, they **returned eager to learn**, play, and reconnect with friends.
**Teachers welcomed** **them** with fresh topics and playful activities, helping everyone settle smoothly into the new term.

Surrounding a Little One With Love

This month brought a difficult moment for our Health & Wellness team. **We welcomed a new little one** into the program: baby Conisha, just 7 months old, after the **tragic loss of her mother.** She passed away in January from a heart tumour, leaving this precious girl in the care of her aunt. When Conisha arrived, she had still been breastfeeding, and without her mother, **she was at immediate risk of malnutrition.** Our team stepped in right away, providing her with fortified porridge enriched with moringa to give her the vitamins and minerals her tiny body needs to stay strong.

Growing Strong Through Nutrition

Our Health and Wellness Department recently held a nutrition training session that began with weighing the babies to monitor their growth and ensure they are developing well. After the assessments, the mothers gathered for a hands‑on nutrition class focused on improving everyday cooking methods to better support both women and breastfeeding mothers. Desire led the session and emphasized the importance of including all six food groups in each meal. This simple but powerful approach helps mothers stay healthy and ensures their babies receive the nutrients they need to thrive.

Busy Days at the Dehydration Centre

The dehydration centre has been a hive of activity lately. The team has been slicing and drying mangoes, filling the air with that sweet harvest aroma, while batches of lemongrass move through the dryers for future teas and blends. Between cycles, they’ve been out in the gardens too, keeping everything thriving and ready for the next round of produce.

Supporting Our Elderly Community

We continue to bless our elderly neighbours by providing maize to more than 200 of them biweekly. Many have shared how deeply grateful they are, and for some, this support has truly been life‑saving. Our team has carefully identified the most vulnerable, those without family support and those whose age or health make it difficult to provide for themselves. It is a privilege to stand with them in this season, ensuring they have food and the reassurance that they are not forgotten. We thank God that we can help in this way, and we are grateful for everyone who makes this work possible.

Launching Our New Internship Program

We’re excited to share something new at Mitongwe. Thanks to the generous support of the LBS Foundation Grant from Switzerland, we have launched a one‑year internship for 10 local Malawians. The interns are diving into hands‑on agricultural training: planting, pruning, soil work, and all the practical skills that come with real farm experience. They also spend time in the classroom, building the knowledge that will strengthen their future work. And perhaps best of all, they are having fun together. The laughter, teamwork, and shared learning have created a vibrant energy on the farm that everyone can feel. We are thrilled to see their confidence grow, and we can’t wait to watch them carry their new skills back into the community, where they are deeply needed and will make a lasting impact.

You make it possible

As we step into a new year, our hearts are full of gratitude and expectation. We are excited to continue the work God has entrusted to us here at Mitongwe, and we pray for His leading and direction in every decision, every program, and every life we touch. Each season brings its own challenges and joys, yet we move forward with confidence knowing we are not walking alone.

Your support, both prayerfully and financially, strengthens us more than you know. Because of you, children are nourished, families are supported, the elderly are cared for, and hope continues to grow in this community we love. We are humbled by your partnership and encouraged by your faithfulness.

From our hearts to yours, thank you for standing with us as we begin 2026 with renewed purpose and trust in God’s provision.

With deep gratitude,
Dan and Irene

A New Year of Impact