Girls Dream Too You Know

     After having witnessed something so incredibly beautiful early this morning, (our groundskeeper Harry's daughters, Rose and Margaret standing at our kitchen door with their new uniforms we had tailored for them, and their brand new back packs filled with school supplies, heading off to school after a short holiday with lovely beaming smiles on both their faces), we went back inside, and after a little pause, just to soak it all in and to wipe away a tear or two, I asked Phyllis what she thought was the difference between hope in the US, and hope here in Malawi. Her one word answer took me by surprise, but I knew she hit the nail on the head.

     "Opportunity!" Of course that was it. American kids, and adults for that matter have opportunity cross their paths multiple times a day, and don't even recognize it when it comes their way. All my life I was handed one opportunity after another, and couldn't even begin to tell you how many of those I squandered along the way. Unparalleled freedom; farmlands that feed the world, first class education in every nook and cranny throughout the country; a highway system, freight rail, and other infrastructure second to none; peaceful succession of power at federal, state, and local levels of government for over 220 years; freedom of religion, speech, press; and so much more.

     Let me tell you a little bit about these beautiful young ladies. Rose is sixteen years old, and in 6th grade, while Margaret is fourteen, and in 5th. That's not a typo; that's reality, and all too common throughout Malawi, for young girls simply yearning to succeed. Tragically, many girls are already forced into marriage and childbearing by their age as a result of deep poverty, and a male dominant culture. Their father Harry works long hours here, and has for the past nineteen years, and also raises a meager amount of crops to help feed his large family. He has no pension plan, and there is no room for any luxuries, let alone necessities. When we asked the girls last week while we had them out shopping what they wanted to become in life, neither hesitated and both said they wanted to become nurses. A nursing career is such a lofty dream for girls in their situation, as such opportunity will rarely, if ever, come their way.

     We would not be foolish enough to think we can chase their dreams for them; that surely will be something they will need to determine how hard they will be willing to work toward their goals. We, however, can encourage them as we figure how best to help in little ways. I truly believe something grand was ignited in their spirits last week, unlike many, or perhaps most American kids who would fail to see the opportunity. Dream on girls! Malawi needs good nurses. We’ll encourage and support that dream any way we can, and we’re grateful to God that he used us to jump start something wonderful buried inside both of your hearts.