Bags of Hope

Bags of Hope By Terry Eissfelt

Terry Eissfelt (Port McNeill, BC) recently returned from Malawi, where she helped ACOP Missionaries Wes & Lorrie Jonat distribute hundreds of “Bags of Hope” to needy children. This is Terry's report of her experiences in Malawi:

How Do You Spell Hope?

How do you spell Hope? How do you define it? Even people in the 'rich west’ can struggle to find hope, so where do people in one of the poorest nations in the world turn?

Children at The Falls in Lilongwe

This is what ACOP Missionaries Wes and Lorrie Jonat do in Malawi. This is what the ministry called Bags of Hope accomplishes. This is what you partner in with every Bag of Hope you sponsor.

The Vision is Still Growing

During the ACOP National Conference of 2005 in Kelowna, Rev. Elsie Welch shared an inspiring and challenging message at the AWM luncheon. She asked, "What are you passionate about? What are your dreams?" As we sat contemplating the answers and justifying in our minds why we could not possibly be used to fulfill those dreams, she dared us to "Go in there!"

For Lorrie Jonat, the poor children in Zambia and Malawi filled her mind. God began to stir a vision and a plan of how to reach one child at a time. That vision is Bags of Hope. From when the first bag filled with hope (an exercise book, pencil, toy, and a piece of candy) was handed out, until today, seven thousand bags later, the vision has grown and has been caught by individuals and churches.

Some have donated money towards Bags of Hope—ACOP Missions Project #623. Some have actually gathered supplies, taken them to Malawi and helped distribute them. Others have lovingly sewed bags. Every effort, every offering, every contribution, no matter how large or small, has made a difference.

The vision is still growing. Doors of ministry are opening, not just in the 200+ ACOP Malawian churches, but also in different churches, in schools and with government officials and programs.

The Falls in Lilongwe

Lorrie Jonat with the Bags of Hope assembly line

Lorrie teaches once a week at a government-funded project she calls The Falls in Lilongwe. During our trip in August, we had the privilege of joining her. Though started as a safe house for abused women and children, it soon adapted to a growing problem in Lilongwe: children living on the street.

How Does a Child End Up Living on the Street?

How does a child as young as 2 years old end up living on the street? Sometimes it's because they've run out of caregivers. They have either all died or cannot take in any more children. Such was the case of a brother and sister I met at The Falls. First the dad died of AIDS, then the mom. They went to stay with grandparents but the grandparents abandoned them on the street.

When I first saw them, they were clean, dressed, looked like the other children – except for the eyes. There was no hope, only confusion. After a story, a craft, a game and then receiving their very own Bag of Hope, seeing the smallest hint of a smile invade their faces made the $2.50 cost of that bag seem absolutely priceless!

Meeting the Needs of Families

While Bags of Hope are making a difference one child at a time, Ron and Bev Harris from Duncan came up with a different kind of plan to bless entire families. They traveled with Pastor Dan Adams to Malawi in June. While there, they purchased two sewing machines for a local tailor named Charles. Charles is a Christian man. This small gift of micro financing is greatly affecting the kingdom of God. Charles has a steady income and he can look after his family. He buys fabric which, in turn, supports other businesses and families. Lorrie hires him to make Bags of Hope when she can. He is working to pay off the loan so graciously given to him in Jesus name. God is praised in a unique song every time the treadle is rhythmically pumped up and down, creating neat even stitches on every Bag of Hope.

The Surface Has Barely Been Scratched

Bags of Hope have been distributed in villages and churches all across Malawi—from the mountains in the North to the sugar cane fields in the south and all along the shores of beautiful Lake Malawi. And yet, the surface has barely been scratched.

Seven thousand bags distributed is a goodly number until you remember that there are over one million orphans in the country. One half of the approximately thirteen million people living in Malawi are under the age of fifteen; in the villages you see the numerous children running unsupervised that should be in school. Statistics predict that half of all nurses and teachers in Malawi will die of HIV/AIDS by the year 2010. These are sobering facts.

Catching the Vision

How can Bags of Hope make a long lasting difference in the face of such Goliath-like problems? By getting into the schools. Lorrie has an open door into schools but needs a minimum of one thousand Bags of Hope for each one. She has a vision to expand the contents in the bags to suit the needs of the children in the schools. This requires a greater commitment from the Western world. This requires the vision to be caught—not of the problems but of creative solutions such as Bags of Hope.

Learning to Spell HOPE

I believe that if we learned to spell 'hope' this way:

HOPE—Having Our Perspective Eternalized. We would 'give constant encouragement, lift spirits and charge them with fresh hope' as the Apostle Paul did, as the Jonats are doing. Then we would truly see the Heartbreak Valleys turning into Acres of Hope.

How can you help?

It costs roughly $2.50 to provide a needy child in Malawi with their own Bag of Hope. This is a great project for Sunday School classes and children's clubs to get involved in! Visit the Jonat's missionary page on the ACOP website www.acop.ca for more information.

This article, ©Terry Eissefelt, appeared in the December 2008 issue of Fellowship Focus, a newsletter produced by ACOP. Reprinted with permission.

More About Bags of Hope

Photo of two children with their hands in a Bag of Hope!

Bags of Hope is a small way that we can bring a smile to the face of a child. Every face lights up when they reach into their Bag of Hope and pull out some school supplies and a piece of bubble gum or a new hat.

With each Bag we are giving out more that candy or toys—we are giving out the love and prayers of all who have joined together across the world to bring hope to a child.

Photo of a young child holding his Bag of Hope

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

People from Canada and America have grasped the vision, sending balloons and stickers through the mail or better yet, coming and being a part of this project—right here in Malawi.

 

Photo of Lorrie in the centre of a group of children holding their Bags of Hope!

These Bags were made by people in Canada and America. The children will use them as school bags. Often the parents will be seen using the children's Bags to carry their things as well.

Photo of a group of children holding up their Bags of Hope!

What are Bags of Hope?

Each Bag contains a school book, pencil, balloon, toy, gospel track and some candy. Some are hand sewn by donors in Canada or the USA, some are plastic bags we purchase here.

Our Vision

Our vision is to employ local tailors to make the Bags as a way of sustaining families by creating employment. Each one is packed with love and given out in schools villages and churches across Malawi.

A Bag of Hope costs about $2.50. Why don't you get involved today?

Return to top

www.jonats4africa.org/bagsofhope.html
Updated: September 12, 2008

Skip Navigation

Photo of smiling African child holding a bear overlaid with text stating 'Over 7,000 Bags of Hope given out this year!'

Another RHC Web Creation ©