Malungeni Reunion

We arrived midafternoon on Tuesday in Malungeni. We were welcomed by the community and religious leaders. We received a warm embrace through singing, dancing and prayer. It felt very good to come home to this rural community, a village that we have known for twenty-three years.

We were up early on Ash Wednesday to meet with a group of seniors to discuss their hopes for the future, as well as the many challenges that we all hope to turn into opportunities for creating good. We opened our very popular Spa Day experience to the community. The delegation provided foot washing and massage. Shoulder massage is also welcomed and appreciated. Our very talented delegates also provided a finishing touch by polishing fingers and toe nails in a stunning array of colors. This tactile experience creates a common language that needs no interpretation. Our morning concluded with one of three food distributions that will bring various areas, or zones of the community together throughout this week. AIAIA food parcels are similar to our US experience of food shelves. We currently provide 240 parcels quarterly. AIAIA would also like to thank those individuals and businesses that provide clothing and other supplies to this often forgotten part of the world.The somewhat stunned and surprised look of wonderment on the child’s face expresses the joy of the entire community.

The delegation will be making home visits this afternoon and will end our afternoon with a Lenten prayer and an opportunity to “debrief” this shared journey.

I honor the beginning of Lent with the words of Carter Hayward…

“Love does not just happen. Love is a choice. Love is a conversion to humanity, a willingness to participate with others in the healing of a broken world and broken lives. Love is the choice to experience life as a member of the human family, a partner in the dance of life, rather than as an alien in the world or as a deity above the world, aloof and apart from human flesh.”

Thank you friends and donors for your continued thoughts and prayers. Let us live into the heart of the world. Let our hearts soften and break and expand. Let us be a part of the one, universal heart centered in God’s infinite love and mercy.
Honored to share this journey with all those near and far away.

James Cassidy, President AIAIA