Malawi and Haiti: The Necessity of Mary’s Meals

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Medjugorje is an emotional place in itself. Many pilgrims come with specific intentions they faithfully devote their time to. When Mary’s Meals is in town it becomes even more so. At the English Mass everyday at 10am, before the Italians bustle loudly in for theirs at 11, Fr Kevin the English MC directs the congregation to the Family Gathering. At first he seemed to be doing it out of a sense of duty; since his first announcement however he has renewed his calls on the Medjugorje faithful to attend what he called today

‘The tremendous workshops of Mary’s Meals; I urge you all to attend the gathering of the charity which began here in Medjugorje and has since spread throughout the world.’

Mary's Meals Family outside the Yellow Hall, Medjugorje, Bosnia

Fr Josun has been asked instead to say English Mass tomorrow morning and he has been asked specifically by Fr Kevin to preach on the wonders of Mary’s Meals. After that, Fr Josun will talk to the conference, filled with those of all faiths and none about his work for Mary’s Meals in India. The power of Mary’s Meals is in its simplicity. This chimes so well with the simple message of Peace originating from this little town. Emotions are running high in the conference as speakers from across the globe outline how Mary’s Meals has touched their live and how they have managed to achieve the fantastic growth and success of their charity across 15 different countries. Many of these speakers have never been to Medjugorje and have never met the Dalmally staff they coordinate with daily to continue their great work of Mary’s Meals.

First up today was Andrea, our new project leader in Malawi who coordinates the education and feeding of the majority of the 364 000 children that Mary’s Meals feeds. She holds up a photo of a beautiful girl with a bright blue school dress sent through the backpacks, holding a Mary’s Meals bowl with a solemn, hopeful look on her face. Her voice cracks slightly as she says

‘I want every child in Malawi to look like this. To have clean clothes, food and education – that they’re skin might glow with that resonance, that their eyes may have this hope.’

Mary's Meals Malawi

Mary’s Meals is achieving this in Malawi. In a country with a population similar to Scotland, Mary’s Meals feeds and educates over 300 000 of the children every day. Mary’s Meals is transforming the country. A whole generation of children who received an education and avoided the diseases and malnutrition associated with children who are forced to search for food, will drastically reshape the political and socio-economic landscape of the country. Mary’s Meals children will have a massive part to play in bringing their country out of poverty: these are children are the new police, the new lawyers, the new government of Malawi.

Next, in the unhappy pre-lunch slot, Ruth MacFarlane-Barrow focused all our attention on one of Mary’s Meals most daring project, Citie Soleil, Haiti – the town not even the UN, in its globetrotting majesty, can get into. While they shell the notorious drug haven, Mary’s Meals has slipped in by the back door – Mary’s Meals workers are among the handful of white people allowed to walk in the city’s streets with the permission of the brutal local gang lords who have a deep respect for the charity. Ruth first spoke about Haiti itself.

‘Myself and the few other Mary’s Meals workers who have visited our project in Haiti know that this is not a place you easily forget. I read a brief account of the place before my initial visit which described Haiti’s history as ‘an agony. I know that all slave colonies must have been diabolical, but few were ever like Haiti.’

Citie Soleil, Haiti

Initially a drop off point used by French slave traders, in the mid 19^th Century, Haiti’s massive slave population seized their chance to overthrow their few white guards and took over the country, forming the first black Republic in a brutal uprising. However, though they had overcome physical slavery when Britain, America and France recognised their independence, they were immediately crippled by the Western powers’ insistence that they pay back the price of each slave they freed. This bill re-enslaved the population, destroyed the majority of Haiti’s natural resources and knee-capped the country’s future. Martial law reigns in what is a living memorial to the absolute barbarity of those countries which deem themselves most civilised.

Fr Tom Hagan, Mary's Meals partner in Haiti, with children

Ruth then played a video compiled by Fr Tom, Mary’s Meals incredible project leader in this most desolate of regions, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. His message to us and to all Mary’s Meals supporters is simple:

‘Thank you Mary’s Meals. You have saved thousands of lives. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.’

 You can watch the whole of his message

Joe.

 

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Tags: Craig Lodge, Haiti, Malawi, Mary's Meals, Medjugorje, Scottish International Relief