Welcome to "Through a Glass Darkly" - my blog about my service trip to Malawi, Africa.

I left Canada on December 30th for Blantyre, Malawi, AFRICA. I worked with Friends of Malawi Fellowship (FOMF), the organization headed by my aunt Phyllis Labrentz. I taught English language and literature, helping secondary high school students learn to read and write English well enough to pass the government exams.
During that time I was also kept busy teaching guitar, singing, and assisting my aunt.
I left Malawi on July 19th and returned to Canada on July 20th.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

STARFISH IN MALAWI?

To illustrate the income inequality between rich and poor countries, consider these facts: 


  • about 1.75 billion people live in multi-dimensional poverty, meaning extreme deprivation in education, health, and standard of living
  • 1.44 billion people out of the developing world's 6.9 billion people live on $1.25 per  day

  • 2.6 billion people are estimated to be living on less than $2 a day.  

  • Multidimensional poverty varies by region from three percent in Europe and Central Asia to 65% in Sub-Saharan Africa.

    In the 2010 U.N. report,  Malawi is listed as the 17th poorest country in the world.
    (Read more: World's Poorest Countries — Infoplease.com
    http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908763.html#ixzz1lQ8sAX2S)

    In the 2010 International Monetary Fund 
    Malawi's ranking is 11th out of 182
    GDP (PPP) per capita per year = $925  Current international dollars


    Canada's ranking: 171st out of 182 (12th richest)GDP (PPP) per capita per year = $39,037 Current international dollars
    Read more: http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/economic-data/10502-the-poorest-countries-in-the-world.html#ixzz1lQBeg0oz


    It can be overwhelming. How can I hope to make any difference at all? The need is HUGE.


    And then I remembered the story of the starfish.



    A man was walking along a beach littered with starfish that had been stranded at the high tide mark during the previous night's storm. Then he noticed an old man, stooping to pick up a starfish and throw it back into the surf.

    "Why are you bothering to throw that starfish back into the water? There are so many! You can't possibly save them all."


    The old man straightened up, stretched, and looked down at the starfish, then out at the sea. Finally he turned to the first man and replied,

    "You are right. I cannot save them all---but I can save this one."


    Dear God,
    Please help me save one more starfish--one more precious child of Yours in Malawi.

    8 comments:

    1. di.spencer8 February 2012 at 01:36

      Praying for you and your Mission, Inez :)

      ReplyDelete
    2. Timothy Casper Ntilo8 February 2012 at 04:22

      WoW!! Welcome to Malawi. Wish you were in Lilongwe, i really have passion to learn how to play guitar.

      ReplyDelete
    3. Inez8 February 2012 at 08:42

      Thanks, Diane. And hello to you, Timothy.

      ReplyDelete
    4. Anonymous8 February 2012 at 12:38

      That was a very interesting story and its good that you can relate to it in what you are doing there. I really look forward to reading your blogs they are very inspiring.

      ReplyDelete
    5. Anonymous8 February 2012 at 12:39

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      ReplyDelete
    6. Anonymous8 February 2012 at 12:44

      That was a touching story and it was good that you can relate to it, to what you are doing there.

      ReplyDelete

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