Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Meet Esther Mwale - Caregiver of Isaiah's Umuzi Wothando




Esther Mwale, aged 27, is the second born child in a family of 4. Her father tragically passed away in 1995 leaving behind her mother and 3 siblings. Her eldest sister later passed away in 2007 leaving behind 2 young children in the care of her mother. Two years after her sister had passed away her youngest niece also died. Her mother, aged 60, continues to seek employment however she has been unable to find work which will adequately support the needs of daily life. Esther’s brother, aged 25, is currently unemployed and her youngest sister will be completing her A. Levels at the end of this year. Thus Esther is the only working member of her family.

Esther began working at Isaiah’s Homes of Love when the vision to establish a halfway home for abandoned and orphaned babies began in 2004. Esther was an active member of the Bulawayo Baptist Church, working with the poorest of the poor in her community. It was her love and passion for these babies and the vulnerable children of Bulawayo that she became involved with the project visiting the babies who were at this time being housed at the local Hospital. Esther became one of our first care-givers at the home in Suburbs which now cares for these abandoned babies, orphans and vulnerable children.

Esther has been a precious care-mother to many children from newborn babies to toddlers. She has many treasured memories of the children who have come through Isaiah’s and some of these she still has regular contact with. Her memories are filled with both happy and sad moments, the happiest being the day Nomalanga walked and the saddest being the day Nomalanga’s twin sister died in her arms at the hospital. Nomalanga was a very small and vulnerable baby girl who lost both her mother and her twin sister within a month of each other. Many people doubted whether Nomalanga would survive, and one person even commented that she looked as though she had some physical disability. Esther recalls “that comment struck deeply into my heart so there was much excitement for me the day Nomalanga took her first steps.”

Esther believes that every child deserves to be loved so that they can develop to their full God-given potential. “Where there is love there is always a way and so I do what I do because I am able to love these children by the love and grace God has given me. I have seen children come to Isaiah’s with a look of emptiness and despair, as they settle in our Home of Love they grow to know God’s love and that here they are loved by the caring people around them. I would like to extend my appreciation to Grace Church for the support they have given to Isaiah’s Homes of Love, and in turn, their support for me. Your love, prayers and support help us to do what we are called to do for the Glory of God.”

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