A Day in Malawi: Feeding Hope, Planting Love

Some mornings stretch your faith and your endurance at the same time — and somehow, leave you more filled than when you started. Our day in Malawi with Giving Basics was exactly that.

The alarm rang at 4 AM. In the pitch-black morning, we loaded up the trucks, ready for the long, bumpy drive deep into the countryside. The roads were rough — poor Summer even got sick along the way — but the anticipation of visiting the schools and seeing the feeding program in action kept our spirits high.

When we arrived, the scene that unfolded was straight from a dream: children running toward us, arms wide open, smiles bursting with pure joy. No language barrier could hold back that kind of welcome.

 After our formal introductions, we gathered the kids together for a game of Simon Says — and let me tell you, they were amazing!

This day was especially meaningful because we got to see firsthand the fruit of the feeding program — a ministry that fights child hunger, one bowl of porridge at a time. Giving Basics didn't just stop at delivering meals; they empowered the community through God's provision. They provided fertilizer and seeds so the villages could grow their own corn. 

After harvesting, the corn is sent to the Giving Basics mill, which grinds it and returns it as porridge for the schools. It's a beautiful, sustainable cycle — restoring dignity and ownership to these incredible communities.

We visited the cooking area next. There’s no kitchen, just a massive pot set over hot wood. The women stir for hours — four, if the weather cooperates — to prepare enough porridge to feed hundreds of little ones. Both schools shared a dream with us: to have a real kitchen. A safe, sheltered space to cook.

A kitchen costs about $4,000 — if God lays it on your heart, you can visit givingbasics.org to help make that dream a reality.

After touring the kitchen area, the children treated us to traditional dances. We respectfully watched the first dance, although we were told we would not want to participate as it was a dance to their ancestors.  

But when the music shifted to songs of praise to God, the joy in the air was palpable. Philip, our amazing translator and preacher, gently spoke to the children about the One True God, the only answer. 

Then Nick gathered them close and read the story of David and Goliath — their eyes wide with wonder at the colorful pages. 

Thank you to everyone who donated those beautiful Bibles. You truly made the Word come alive for these kids.

Brody and Zane presented gifts to the village afterward, and the kids’ faces lit up when they saw the soccer ball! It’s incredible how such a simple gift can bring so much happiness.

We toured the crops next, and even though it’s been an unusually dry year, the fields were green with hope. God's hand was evident everywhere we turned.

Then came one of the most moving parts of the day: porridge distribution. Over 300 children lined up, bringing whatever they could find to serve as a bowl — a broken lid, a piece of bark, a plastic container worn thin. They had been given cups and spoons at the start of the year, but many had worn out or been taken.

We watched with full hearts as they scooped the precious porridge, often using sticks as spoons. One little girl spilled her whole bowl. Instantly, her friends gathered around her, sharing from their own small portions without hesitation.

That moment — that spirit of love and generosity — will stay with me forever.

To our astonishment, the village women prepared a feast for us: chicken, rice, and nsima (a thick cornmeal dish). They laid it out in one of the classrooms. Knowing the sacrifice behind that meal — knowing many of those children would only eat that small bowl of porridge all day — left us humbled and heartbroken. 

Their generosity mirrored the widow’s offering Jesus spoke about: giving not out of abundance, but out of deep, sacrificial love.

The second school we visited had a similar spirit. We were blessed to watch a lively game of netball — the kids were amazing athletes! At one point, a little girl fell, and Phillip, Mama Jen, and I found ourselves playing doctor. Bandaids, once they appeared, drew a crowd of little ones eager for a piece of care.

We ended our adventure at a beautiful nature spot, where the kids sprinted up a mountain with endless energy. We closed the evening with a warm meal at Mamas, a perfect ending to a day where God’s fingerprints were visible in every smile, every bowl of porridge, every dance, every hug.

As I reflect on that day, I’m reminded of this promise:

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 4:19

If you'd like to be part of what God is doing in Malawi — by helping fund a kitchen or supporting the Resource Center still in progress — please visit givingbasics.org. There is still so much good work to do, and we would love for you to be part of it.

Let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father,

 

Thank You for the precious children of Malawi. Thank You for the way You provide — not just food for their bodies but hope for their hearts. Bless the hands that farm the fields, cook the porridge, teach the children, and serve so selflessly. Stir our hearts to be generous, to be prayerful, and to never forget that every small act of love echoes in eternity. We lift up the needs of these schools — for kitchens, for resources, for ongoing support — and we trust that You, the God who sees every sparrow, will meet every need. Let us be Your hands and feet, Lord.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below.  

Enjoyed this post? Subscribe now for more insightful content.