March in Full Swing!

On the Ground in Malawi

We arrived in Malawi during the first week of March and immediately got to work! Our journey began in Lilongwe, where we were joined by Derco and Walter from Holland. Derco is responsible for establishing the farm's maintenance schedule and supervising our building projects. The following morning, we met with Danforth Solar to initiate discussions and plans for the new solar installations scheduled for April 2025.

After numerous emails, discussions, and phone calls, we’ve identified the necessary system and are in the process of finalizing the agreement. The pad for the dehumidifier included in the deal has already been prepared. The cement will be poured and will need to cure for 30 days before installation can commence.

Our Team

Week 1 kicked off with a Monday morning meeting with our team of 11 supervisors. They were eager to share their achievements from the past few months, and we outlined our plans for our time here. We are genuinely impressed and thrilled with how well they have managed their departments and the dedication they demonstrated during our absence.

Health and Wellness Centre

The Health and Wellness Center is advancing remarkably. We are truly impressed by the progress made, with shelves under construction and outdoor seating being crafted from cement and bricks. Medicinal gardens have been established, and plants are flourishing around the building for educational purposes. Dan has dedicated the past few days to interviewing candidates for the various roles essential for the center's operation. We are especially grateful to the Coram Deo Foundation for providing us with a grant to support the center's setup during its inaugural year.

Thankful Seniors

After four months of distributing maize to the elderly every two weeks to support them during the challenging pre-harvest period, we held our final distribution. It was a beautiful morning filled with praise and gratitude to God, as well as heartfelt thanks to all the generous donors from Stand as One, who made this initiative possible. We emphasized that their contributions came from across the ocean. To our surprise, five elderly individuals stepped forward to present gifts; each village offered a chicken, which is a significant gift from those with so little! A week later, three more ladies visited to share their gift of a chicken as well. They conveyed to us that without assistance from Stand as One, many of them would not have survived the year.

Enthusiastic Preschoolers

The preschoolers enjoy their morning sessions focused on learning numbers, colors, Bible stories and songs. I thoroughly enjoy visiting the center to hear their enthusiastic singing, and they always greet me with bright smiles and waves. Another highlight of their day is the big bowl of porridge they share each morning.

Community Assistance

At Mitongwe, we continually welcome interesting individuals, including a young man who traveled from the village, navigating remarkable challenges to have his wheelchair repaired. We take great joy in offering help where it is most needed. Tom, our skilled mechanic, successfully repaired the wheelchair, and the young man left feeling much happier.