Happy Mother’s Day! (meet the mothers of VOH Africa)

For this month’s Newsletter we decided to feature some of the wonderful house mothers of Villages of Hope! We decided to share the stories on our blog as well for those of you who haven’t yet signed up for our monthly newsletter, because we didn’t want you to miss out on these great stories!

Happy Mother’s Day!!

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Forward from Sergio Bersaglio:

When we think about what a mother is, we most often think of women who nurture and care for their biological children. However, there are many women who have a mother to child bond with those who are not their biological children. I think of the relationship between Naomi and Ruth in the Old Testament.

Naomi was a woman who had experienced great hardship and loss in her life. Drought hit the land and she was forced to leave her home to go live in a foreign land. There her two sons married women who were Moabites. Then Naomi’s husband died and in time so did her two sons. Naomi was now left alone or so she thought.

The time came when she was ready to return to her home land, she told her two daughters-in-law that they were free to return to their people as she was leaving Moab. There was great sadness among the three women; obviously there was something about Naomi which caused the two women to see her as more than a mother-in-law. Eventually one left but Ruth remained with her. The bond between the two was so strong that Ruth was willing to leave her country, culture and religion to be with Naomi. Ruth said to Naomi, “For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Naomi must have been a special woman for Ruth to be willing to do this.

At Village of Hope we employ many women like Naomi, women who have experienced hardship and loss in their lives but are willing to leave their homes to come and care for vulnerable children, children who are not their biological children. The work they do is not easy as all of the children they care for are vulnerable and have suffered loss of their own. Some children will appreciate the work of the house mother but not have the same bond as a mother and biological child would. Some will leave as Orpah did in the story of Naomi. But there will be children who will have a strong bond like Ruth did. These will be the treasures for the house mothers. I pray that all the children will bond with their house mothers as Ruth bonded with her mother-in-law.
We want to share some stories with you of our house mothers.

These are the Naomi’s of Village of Hope…

Mother Charity Mbangweta (VOH-Mongu)

How long have you been at Village of Hope?

I have been with VOH since Sept 2009. I started in Septembers as the HEPS cook at the school! Then, in Sept 2010, I became the first housemother at VOH-Mongu.

What is your testimony both before and after arriving at Village of Hope?

In 2001 after becoming pregnant with my last born, Isaac, his father said he didn’t want the child. He even said I should take the medicine to abort the pregnancy. But I refused and so he left me to care for Isaac alone. I did not know how I would manage to give my son the proper upbringing or be able to financially provide for my family.

I was selling chitenge fabrics in town in 2003, when my daughter gave birth to her son, Mutende. Only one month after giving birth, my daughter passed away, leaving Mutende orphaned and so I took him into my home to raise him.

I began doing odd jobs in 2007 to help support myself and my family and in 2009 I began work as the HEPS cook at the Village of Hope school feeding program and when the first children’s home opened I became the housemother.

Over the past 10 years, I have suffered a lot! I even felt like there was no hope for my future or for my family. God has been faithful to help me and bring my life forward. I felt like nothing good could come from my life. But He has changed that.

How has working at Village of Hope impacted you?

Village of Hope has completely changed my life and my children’s lives. The future for my children is now completely different. I am very appreciative of VOH for the opportunity to work and be able to care for my son and grandson in the house. They are 2 of the children in the home and it is very nice to be able to care for them and send them to a great school.

 

Mother Ruth Mulenga (VOH-Kitwe)

How long have you been at Village of Hope?

I have been at VOH-Kitwe for five years now.

What is your testimony both before and after arriving at Village of Hope?

I come from a family of five children. I grew up as a single orphan because my mother died when I was only six months old. It was not easy for me, because so many family members took me into their houses for certain periods of time, some were nice, others were harsh and cruel especially my step mother who made me do house work very early each morning before going to school – at that time I was in grade 3.

After my eldest brother found a job and got married, he took me into his home. I was able to go to school and attend church. I later got married but after a few years my husband died. Life became very hard for me.

And then in 2007, my life got better when I came to Village of Hope-Kitwe and became a house mother.

How has working at Village of Hope impacted you?

Since I came to work for Village of Hope life has changed for the better, because I really enjoy living with these children that God has allowed me to help, it is just so wonderful.  I am able to know what they are going through because I was also an orphan at a very young age.

Village of Hope has been a blessing not only to the VOH children, but also to my family because it has given me shelter and employment as a widow and it has also helped me spiritually.

I thank God for all who support Village of Hope!

 

Mother Agness Malama (VOH-Chongwe)

How long have you been at Village of Hope?

I have been at Village of Hope Chongwe for 8 Months now.

What is your testimony both before and after arriving at Village of Hope?

My husband passed away in 1991 leaving me to care for our seven children all alone. Very soon after my husband passed away, my husband’s brother and  then his wife also passed away. They had nine children that I became responsible for in addition to my seven biological children.

Life became a real struggle as over the next twenty years because I was responsible for all sixteen children.

But then things improved when eight months ago – with all of the children that I had raised now adults themselves – I became the senior house mother at Village of Hope Chongwe.

How has working at Village of Hope impacted you?

Although my life before arriving at the Village of Hope was very difficult, I find that I am now at peace; I love the children at VOH and I am happy!

Two weeks ago, one of my nephews that I raised passed away at the age of twenty-two. This was very difficult for me and yet although I was very sad at his passing, being at Village of Hope with the fellowship and support that is there, has helped me cope with his loss.

I am very thankful and happy to be a mother!

 

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Happy Mother’s Day!