Veres Family in Malawi: Wrapping up Literacy Class

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the last literacy class of the year. My colleague who taught the class was finishing up so I wanted to have a chance to go and say goodbye to the ladies out in the village that I had the privilege of getting to know.

This was the second time I had been back to class since having Grayson. This time since he was now 2 months old, I offered to the ladies to hold him. Oh what a sweet sight! He was passed all around the ladies in the class and the children from the village that normally hang around the class were thoroughly enjoying checking him out. It was so sweet to be able to share him with the ladies and to see their love and joy for him. I only was slightly concerned at one point when he started rooting at one of the women and she made eye contact with me...and it was as if she was asking me with her eyes if she wanted me to have her nurse him. I can't be 100% sure that was her intention since she didn't verbally communicate that, but I did immediately get up from my chair and take him back to nurse him myself!

It was so wonderful to see all the women and one gentleman who had been so faithful to come to class. My colleague had worked out a deal with the class that if they could learn 4 different passage of scripture and recite them from memory that they would receive a Bible at the conclusion of the class. And you want to know what....all of the women did it! They all received a Bible, Amen! It was so great to hear them all in unison reciting the verses aloud.

It was wonderful to see all of them receive their certificate of completion as well as Bibles. All of those women took a lot of time and effort to come to class every Monday and Wednesday. What a privilege to see all their hard work rewarded.

It was also so great to see their generosity towards my colleague. A couple of the women stood up and thanked her for doing the class. And then all of the women started coming forward and giving Mary their gifts of thanks. It was so humbling to watch them give her what they could as a thank you, especially knowing how little they have.

I will miss the time spent and shared with these wonderful women. I am so glad to see and hear them hiding the Word in their hearts. Pray with me that those who still are not attending church will start attending the Baptist church in the village. And finally rejoice with me for the women who are now faithfully coming to church and those who have started attending the Baptist church.