Church buys motorbike for charity in Malawi
The congregation of a west Stirlingshire church have answered the prayers of a charity stalwart in Malawi by buying him a motorbike.
The community of Ibuluma in Northern Malawi has been the focus of the William Stewart Foundation for over three years.
The organisation was founded by Mr Stewart along with his Malawian friend Levison Mlambya, but has gone from strength to strength with the support of communities in the Balfron and Killearn areas, where his daughter Mary Young lives.
Based in Ibuluma, Chitipa, Northern Malawi, where Levison lives, the William Stewart Hope for the Hopeless Foundation helps Malawian orphans and the elderly.
Local fundraising coordinator for the Friends of the William Stewart Centre, Sarah Black, recently spoke about the work at Strathblane Parish Church.
Following this the church made a “generous donation” to the foundation, enabling them to buy a motorbike for Levison as well as provide for fuel and servicing and repairs.
Sarah said: “This gift has been an answer to Levison’s and our prayers. He can visit more people, quicker, further away, get to town quicker, not have to pay for and wait for public transport etc - and will change things in a way he could only dream about.
“To the elders at Strathblane Parish Church, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in us and recognising the work we are doing in order to support the poor people of Ibuluma in rural Northern Malawi.”
Mary Young also posted a message from her father for the church, which added: “When Mary told me of your generous donation which enabled Levison to buy a motorbike, I shed tears.”
He added: “Levison is delighted, of course.
“It will make it much easier for him to get around, particularly in his outreach work to those in areas where the terrain makes cycling difficult, and he has had to walk.”
Mr Stewart continued: “There is much I could say, and thank you seems inadequate.
“But from my heart I do.”