Gogo Grandmother “Joseph Project” Update

By Kerry Weisser | August 3, 2016

I have had the privilege of being on the Board of the Gogo Grandmothers/SAFE ministry in Malawi, Africa for the past year. It has been one of the most rewarding organizations I have been involved in my whole life because it allows me to serve the poor and needy, work with fabulous people in ministry and be a prayer warrior for people from the “warm heart of Africa”. I wrote a comprehensive post months ago with beautiful pictures that show the faces of our Gogos. Click here to read that article. You can follow what we are doing on our Facebook page.

The gogos (grandparents) in Malawi that Gogo Grandmothers in America sponsor are subsistence farmers — they must grow what they eat for the entire year in one growing season. Their main crop and food each day is maize (corn) that is dried, mixed with water and made into a bland patty called “nsima” (meaning the thing that fills the stomach).

A cyclone in January 2016 washed away some of their garden plots while others were ruined by the drought that followed. The harvests in some areas were 75% less than normal. Hunger tapped at their doors in the following months until their next harvest which was in May 2016. Orphans and children in the Gogos’ care and whole village communities were severely impacted by this lack of maize.

We initiated a campaign we called “The Joseph Project”! It is a Biblical reference to the time when God used Joseph in Egypt to store grain for the famine that was coming. Our staff worked with village leaders to assess those most in need in our sponsored communities. We bought bags of maize in Malawi to store, so that when the hunger became the most severe, we would have enough for the gogos and children.

Here is an update with photos to show the blessings we have been able to bestow on the Gogo’s and their orphans. Leslie, our Gogo coordinator sent this message today.

“Ben sent these pictures today of the 1,400 bags of maize being delivered by several lorries.  Later this week the next 1,600 bag will be here. 600 bags were already stored away from 2 ADMARK purchases. These are provisions the Lord has made early in the game to bridge the need until International help arrives. 
Now we need to replenish our funds to buy fertilizer and seed this Fall for the “Joseph Project”. But we needed to move quickly on buying the maize before the price went through the ceiling!… and God provided.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
I love Ben’s captions that he sent with the pictures like, “What a relief!” “Here comes the truck!” “Another truck pulling in!” “Off-loading the truck carrying 480 bags of maize!” ”Busy men stacking bags of maize!”  
Charlotte now calls Ben — “Our Joseph”
Thank you for your prayers and assistance to help make this provision for the gogos and children possible! 
Step by step with you….” Leslie
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With your contributions we will continue to assist the most needy of our 2,600 gogos in the months ahead. Go to www.gogograndmothers.com to contribute.

Thank you for your consideration to help us by letting your heart “Go-go” and contribute to the “Joseph Project”!

What projects are you involved in that you are passionate about? Do you have a desire to help the poor and needy?

Kerry Signature48

Posted in Family, Spiritual