WIDOWS AND CHILDREN FIRST

A group of north country residents isn't letting an 8,000-mile distance keep them from helping those in need in Malawi.

Watertown resident Kathryn A. Kolton and her 9-year-old daughter, Caitlin J. Archibald, traveled to Malawi earlier this month with Nancy J. Kall, also of Watertown, and Janice S. Witter, Sandy Creek, to work with crisis nurseries run by Ministry of Hope, a Malawian organization that gives orphaned children faith, food, education and love.

Separately, Watertown couple Jonathan L. and Heather F. White have made mission trips there in conjunction with the Women of Grace Widows Fund.

Trips from Watertown to Malawi involve a 16-hour flight to Lilongwe followed by several hours of driving to various villages in the African country.

'I HELP THEM UP'

Mrs. White, a kindergarten teacher at Sherman Elementary School, said she and her husband, who owns White's Lumber & Building Supply with his family, followed up on initiatives funded by money from the widows fund. The fund is run by a group of women from Watertown and Canton that helps widows of Malawi.

The fund started after Grace Chiumia told north country residents who went to Malawi on mission trips that once a husband dies in Malawi, his family often comes into the home the husband and wife shared and takes what it can. That is what happened to Ms. Chiumia, who has overcome her struggles and is now a member of Parliament.

Each month, the group here wires $1,050 to a bank in Malawi, and Samuel Chirwa, who runs that country's side of the organization, decides with the group of Malawian widows which one will benefit next.

During their trip earlier this month, Mrs. White said, they knew they would have the August payment to spend, but that was coupled with an extra $1,000 the Whites raised on their own.

This time, they were able to give a trunk full of supplies, a metal sheet roof to a home, money to build a community center, food — including salt, sugar, beans and fish — soap, and toothbrushes and toothpaste to 30 widows in the program.

"They said they usually get that once a year at Christmastime when Sam and Grace will buy it," Mrs. White said.

Widows will receive either a grant or a microloan, depending on their need and financial situation. Homes, projects and businesses flourish from either funding method. While grants vary in size, loans are typically $72 — 10,000 kwacha, the Malawian currency.

"One of the widows makes these gorgeous greeting cards," Mrs. White said. "We granted the family a microloan, and they pick up paper scraps, repulverize the paper, press it, and lay it in the sun to dry. One son cuts the envelopes and paper, and makes gorgeous note cards."

The most recent trek to Malawi was worth it, Mrs. White said, because the people there are so thankful for everything given to them.

"They cry, and literally fall to their knees," she said. "I help them up, and raise their arms, and just hug them."

GIFT OF AFFECTION

Because of the gift-giving, Ms. Kolton said, members of the group are often treated as celebrities in Malawi. During this trip, the women gave away baby clothes, pencils, pens, reusable shopping bags and basic food supplies.

There were 21 orphans in the Lilongwe nursery, and 13 in the Mzuzu nursery. Because Mzuzu is nearly five hours north of Lilongwe, Ms. Kolton said, the babies — from 1 week to 2 years old — weren't used to visitors. She said the biggest gift that she, her daughter, Ms. Kall, and Mrs. Witter could give to orphans during this most recent trip was affection.

"We just went and helped with playing with the babies, and holding the babies, because nannies there are more tied up with feeding, changing and making food so they didn't have time to play and rock with them," Ms. Kolton said.

Although playing with and rocking children may not seem like an important mission trip, Ms. Kall said, they need stimulation, because if they don't develop properly, other families may not take them in.

Throughout the two-week trip in Malawi, Ms. Kall said, she realized just how differently each task for children is completed there. Accompanying infants to a clinic for immunizations, she said babies were laid in the bed of a truck, while others rested on laps.

Ms. Kall said she would like to visit Malawi again, but only to visit crisis nurseries next time. Much of the visit there was spent traveling to programs and projects — such as ones of the widows fund.

WANT TO HELP?

To make a donation to the Women of Grace Widows Fund, checks should be made payable to Canton First Presbyterian Church, with "Women of Grace Widows Fund" written in the memo line. Checks should be mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St., Canton, N.Y. 13617.