People from all walks of life came to the village of Matapila on November 17, 2007 to witness the official opening of the Matapila Orphan Care Center.
Matapila was the first community-based feeding center opened by Ministry of Hope in 1999, yet no facilities for the center have ever been built. Meals were cooked in a small, brick building that was also used to store grain. Children ate their meals and attended Bible studies out in the open with only a thatched-roof lean-to for protection from the elements.
The new center, pictured at right, is a brick structure with cooking kitchen and an eating area, and it marks the fifth such building to be opened after centers in the villages of Selengo, Khwamba, Katondo, and Mponela.
According to MoH director Charles Gwengwe the timing of the Matapila center opening provided an important object lesson for Ministry of Hope. “As the mother center, it demonstrated the spirit of love for others and putting the interest of others first,” he said. “They followed the teaching of Philippians 2:4, by letting other centers come to shape before itself.”
The opening ceremony was attended by a member of Parliament for the area, the Honorable Makala Ngozo, who cut the ribbon to open the new building as well as by MoH staff and members of the community, including orphans and caregivers.
The center has also brought clean water to vulnerable children through a bore hole well, spiritual transformation through Vacation Bible Schools, Pastors’ seminars, and home visits, scholarships for many orphans to attend high school and college, as well as HIV/AIDS awareness programs to the community
Joseph Malumbira, a 27-year-old who graduated from Grace School of Theology in September, 2007 is the new center supervisor. Joseph was recently married and has worked on as a volunteer with World Vision Malawi in community and child care programs.
“I know the community has very high expectations from me as their servant leader, and with the grace of God, I will do my best, to bring transformation in the area,” he said.
