From outward appearances, things may seem like Madalitso has no worries in the world. Like many young girls in Malawi, she loves to play netball and do the same things most girls her age like to do, but in reality, she has carried the burden of more worries, heartache, and fears than most people will ever have to carry.
Madalitso's father passed away when she was young, and she dropped out of school in Standard 6 to help care for her mother who was very ill at the time. Because someone had to be home at all times to care for their mother and provide for the family, she and her sister split time going to school. One would go to school one week, and the other would go to school the following week. Though Madalitso loved school, she eventually realized that she enjoyed farming as well. She then decided to sacrifice her own schooling so that her sister could receive her education and so she could take on the farming responsibilities.
Madalitso loved spending time with her mother and simply chatting with her during her time at home. Their conversations allowed them to forget their sufferings, at least temporarily, but sadly, this time wouldn't last long. As the night came, her mother's pain would seemingly return even stronger. Madalitso often prayed and wished that God would take her mother right away so she wouldn't suffer anymore. In 2014, after an 8-year battle with illness, her mother passed away.
Both during her mother's illness and even after her mother had passed, she and her siblings received no support from family. All they had was each other. They then decided that they would do everything in their power to stay together as a family. This required them to work even harder at things, especially farming, so they could continue to eat. Madalitso shared, "Sometimes I would lay in bed worrying about how my younger siblings and I would be able to eat. I felt a great responsibility as the oldest sibling. How would the younger ones be able to go to school with dirty clothes and an empty stomach?"
When she and her siblings were enrolled in the Passion program, they finally had hope that things would be okay. She began to find hope in the love and encouraging words brought by the Passion staff, but even still, she feared that she would not be able to do anything for herself because she had to drop out of school.
Today, Madalitso has completed the necessary training for tailoring and was gifted a treadle sewing machine. Now she is able to earn an income tailoring clothes. She is so proud of what she learned! In addition to this, she and her siblings were built a new home through the generosity of a Passion donor.
When we asked how we could be praying for her, she said, "Be praying for a bright future for my family. I want people around us to come to know God because they see what He's done in our lives and how He's provided for us and given us hope."
“Be praying for a bright future for my family. I want people around us to come to know God because they see what He's done in our lives and how He's provided for us and given us hope.”
Madalitso's story is not only a wonderful reminder that challenging circumstances can be overcome with godly encouragement, a timely opportunity, determination, and the power of grace, it also demonstrates how learning a vocational skill can make such an incredible difference for those who are not able to finish traditional schooling.
In 2021, our vision is to help many more young men and women like Madalitso learn a vocational trade by establishing a Vocation Training Center that offers five vocational skills: carpentry, masonry, welding, electrical, and tailoring training at our own center.
View our current campaign here: http://sponsorship.passioncenterforchildren.org/campaigns/vocational-tools-equipment
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