MALAWI LINK-UP

The wonders of mobile phone technology allowed the congregation at Kinross Parish Church to see photographs of their food aid to the village of Cape Maclear, Malawi being distributed only days before – and to receive messages of thanks from residents.

The church has a connection with Cape Maclear as it is the original home of Billy Samanyika, a member with his wife Sarah at Kinross for some years. They have now returned to Malawi, but visited Kinross last year, when they spoke about the failure of the harvest because of severe drought.

The church decided to help by sending £1,000 to be spent on buying food when this was required. By February food had run out for many, so Billy, Sarah and their children went to Cape Maclear to help the Village Organisation Committee distribute this food to those most in need.

Sending photographs of the day from the beautiful village, which lies on the shores of Lake Malawi, Sarah Samanyika said: “Heart-felt thanks for the generous donation. Over 200 families will now have food until they harvest their crops. Really, I cannot describe how moving this was. Aid being handed directly to those in need. Truly amazing.”