If you saw Christina Kalembera inside of our Esther’s House gates you would notice her great smile right away, you would see her laughing with
her friends, you might even get the impression that she is a typical teenage
girl living in Malawi. What you probably wouldn’t be able to guess is the fact
that she is the head of her household…
that she is the one and only guardian and provider for three other children.
Christina has never met her father. He didn’t want a place
in her life and she only heard the news of his death through someone else’s
words. When she was six-years-old, just starting primary school, Christina’s
mother died from Malaria. At this point, she and her brother, Chiyembekezo, went
to live with her agogo (grandmother). A couple of years later she lost her
aunt and Christina’s family grew by two, Mefalo and Enetie, her younger cousins.
Again in 2007 Christina’s world turned upside down when her grandmother passed
away too.
Christina became the guardian of three small children at an
age too young; she was fourteen years old. When talking with Christina today,
she told me that she remembers this time and how difficult it was. She didn’t
think she would ever be able to finish school; she did not have the money for
school fees. She worried about what would come of her brother and cousins if
she wasn’t able to find work. However, a number of years ago, Christina
heard a message preached by a certain pastor who was leading a crusade in a
local church near her home. On this day, she gave her life to Christ. She was
twelve years old and had hope for the first time.
I asked her how she has kept going all of this time… what
motivated her to keep trying. Her response was sweet and powerful. “I know that I am doing
this in God’s sight. I know that He is in control, and He will watch over us.”
Do I have that kind of
trust?
Her house is small. It could be compared to the size of many
of our own closets, yet it is made of mud bricks and straw. Christina struggles
in school, because her time is divided between her studies and trying to
provide something for the children in her home to eat. But you wouldn’t be able
to see those things from simply looking at her face. She is grateful. She is two grades away from
finishing school, and this is possible because of someone in the U.S. who has
been gracious enough to sponsor her each month through our program… providing
her with school fees, nine meals throughout each week, clothing, and medical
expenses if needed.
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| The main room in Christina's house (1 of 2 rooms) |
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| The bedroom - where all three girls sleep. |
Christina entered the Esther’s House community program in
2008. She says that she didn’t begin growing spiritually until she began coming
to E.H., hearing the teaching of God’s Word on a regular basis. She urged me, today, to continue helping other children like her.
I don’t write this blog post to cause you guilt. I don’t write it to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling either - about how Esther’s House Ministries saved the day. I write this blog to tell you her very real story, about how God saved the day, and provides for His child. I write this post to beg you to understand that she isn’t the only one. We see these cases every week, even when we are not trying to see them. And you can help. Visit www.puremission.org/give/sponsor-a-child/ and click on a smiling face to sponsor a child like Christina. Their lives are more than difficult. If I could show each of you in person what these kids undertake each and every day, I would. It would break your heart just as it has broken mine! Pray for them like crazy. Yes, it takes a little bit of your money too, but these kids need our support through prayer and encouraging letters, convincing them that they are loved by you, and more importantly, by “Yesu Khristu”.
