This summer Marlene Chisholm spent three weeks at the Rafiki Village in Mzuzu, Malawi, Central Africa.  The goal of the Rafiki Foundation is to establish ten Villages in ten different African countries, each of which have hundreds of thousands of orphans.  The purpose of the villages is to turn helpless orphans into productive citizens, and perhaps future leaders in their countries.

Malawi is one of the least developed countries in the world, with a population of approximately 13.2 million, of which more than 950,000 are orphans, due to the AIDS epidemic.  The life expectancy in Malawi is under 40 years, and their annual per capita GNI equals $160.00 US dollars.  Less than half the children complete primary education and less than one third complete secondary education.

The Rafiki Village provides the children with three meals plus two snacks daily, a classic Christian education, good medical care, and sturdy homes with several bedrooms, bathroom, hot running water and electricity. The children learn about the love of God and His Word, the Bible. The children have clothes, including uniforms for school, books, toys, and a new family in a community of other children and adults that encourage righteous living according to the Bible. All these amenities are things the children would be without if it were not for Rafiki Village.

Marlene was one of seven short-term missionaries in Malawi during July who, along with six long-term missionaries and several nationals, worked mainly with orphans six years old and under in various activities during their winter break from school.  She also worked with the Head Mistress of the two Rafiki schools in conducting staff development workshops for teachers of the Pre Primary School.

This was a very rewarding experience for Marlene, as she found herself used by the Lord to impact lives for Him.