Jul 22

Shipley Continues Service To Africa

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

    Many people seek ways to assist the people of Malawi. This interest often lasts for a short period of time then they move on to the next point of interest. It is unusual in any international aidDaniel receives congratulations from Richard Stephens, Director of the Malawi Project. setting to find those who get involved for the long term and remain committed to one place year in and year out. One of those who has committed themselves to the nation of Malawi for the long term is Daniel Shipley of Knoxville, Tennessee. Daniel and his parents, Dean and Jamie, have been involved in Malawi for years. Read the beginning of the story of Daniel raising support for the shipment of raisins to the children of Malawi in the story of  "The Heart of a Daniel."

    Today Daniel Shipley continues faithfully to raise support and supplies as he makes presentations on behalf of the children of Malawi. He encourages those with whom he is in contact to give a dollar, or things that are badly needed in the fourth poorest nation in the world. He then purchases the goods, packages them for the shipment and sends them on the way to Indianapolis for inclusion on the next shipment. His business cards that he hands to all who will take them, and the poster board presentations that he presents to all who will listen call for such things as toothbrushes, toothpaste, vitamins, disposable rubber gloves, cough drops, soap, and shampoo. For the school needs of the children who hold a special interest with Daniel he calls for the contribution of folders, rulers, pencils, pens, paper, paper clips, color pencils, and markers.

    Daniel and his parents recently made a trip from Knoxville to Indianapolis to deliver a load of supplies to go on the next trailer destined for Malawi. The following Sunday morning Daniel was awarded an African carving and hand painted picture of Africa during a ceremony at the Green Valley Church of Christ in appreciation for his dedicated service to Africa.

Loading Medical Supplies   Loading Medical Supplies...more   More loading....   Daniel receives reward for service to the people of Malawi.

 

Poster raising funds for medical supplies for Malawi.            

Jul 01

Priority Mail From The Girl Scouts

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

Girl Scouts Collect For Malawi

The mailman backs his truck up to the door at the headquarters for the Malawi Project in Indianapolis, Indiana and starts gathering box after box after box of priority mail from Girl Scout Troup # 1611 of Folsom, California. The boxes are making a short stop in Indiana before being loaded onto a forty-foot trailer heading for Malawi.

The items contain things that are second nature to any mother or child in America. They sit ready in nearly every medicine cabinet in the nation.

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Jun 29

Raggedy Andy Travels to Malawi

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

             A recent email from schoolteacher Val Jensen in Pleasant Grove, Utah is reflective of the kind of sacrifice and commitment people are making to assist the people of Malawi. Val teaches at the Pleasant Grove School teaching.

        This past year Val and the children of the Pleasant Grove gathered large amounts of supplies for the children of Malawi. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, notebook paper, pencils and pens filled a number of boxes of supplies headed for Malawi.

            One item in particular holds a very special place in Val’s heart. An email ahead of the arrival of some of the boxes reported, “There is a Raggedy Andy doll included that has special significance to me. A dear friend hand stitched it for her aging mother who was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. When her mother passed away a short time later, this friend gave me the doll for my firstborn child. My daughter is now 26 years old, but Raggedy Ann still looks new. Somehow it just seemed right that a special child in Malawi would benefit from an object that was created in and surrounded by so much love through so many years. I know it will find the perfect new home and bring joy to a child again.

Jun 25

Malawi Scene Recreated in the Doll House

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

Girls that Created Molly Scene The Auburn Church of Christ in Auburn, Alabama has been increasing their involvement in Malawi during the past two years and the children in the congregation are not to be outdone by the adults. Terri Monks and her husband Dale have three daughters, Maggie (14), Molly (7), and Lilly (2). Maggie and Molly are participating in a pen pal project with some of the children at Mtendere Village in Lumbadzi, and recently attended a cookout at the church building that focused on a presentation of videos and stories about Malawi with a special emphasis on the children of Mtendere.

 

A few days later Terri reports that Molly came into the den at their home to retrieve a small dollhouse. “She said they were playing Malawi,” Terri advises. “I went to her room a short time later to see what she meant. On the floor in front of me was the dollhouse with pallets on the floor. Molly explained this was done for the missionaries to sleep on the floor. They had their small dolls (Polly Pockets) lined up to represent the members of the Auburn Team that were going to Malawi. One dark-skinned doll represented the Malawian. They were playing out their version of the mission team going to Malawi to help the people there.”

 

Terri concludes from her observation of the girls, “Never underestimate the impact of what little ears hear and little hearts feel”

Jun 23

Three Dollars

Kids Helping Kids, Be The Change

As architect Smith Howell made preparations for his trip to Malawi his great-grandson Barrett Norris could not go with him. Instead the eight year-old gave his 87 year-old great-grandfather $3.00 and asked him to give it to someone in Malawi. Arriving in Malawi Howell started looking for just the right person for the gift.

Howell soon found just the right person. It was Thomas, an employee in the nearby timber business who had been walking along the main highway and was struck by a giant truck.

While in the hospital recovering from the accident Thomas was befriended by a number of people. One that stood out however was Smith Howell and the $3.00 gift from the boy in America. While in America the $3.00 could only buy a Burger King Value Meal, in Malawi the same $3.00 could supply a grateful recipient a vastly larger value. Since the average person in Malawi earns less than $200 a year, Barrett‘s gift had grown as it made its way around the world. Now it gave the needed funds for Thomas’ family to buy food for him while he was in the hospital.

Seldom can one measure the value of even the smallest gift.

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