DAVID ADAMS speaks with Annie Chikhwaza, founder of Kondanani, about her extraordinary life – the subject of a new book, Mother of Malawi…
“He’s not different in anybody’s life – it’s just what you allow Him to be.”
Annie Chikhwaza, whose life story is, by any standard, an amazing example of what it means to follow Jesus, knows this better than most.
Recounted in the recently released biography, Mother of Malawi, her story has led her from a post-war childhood in the Netherlands through an abusive marriage in South Africa to Malawi where she founded Kondanani, an organisation dedicated to helping that nation’s orphans.
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AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE: Annie Chikhwaza’s life if recounted in the new book, Mother of Malawi “I admire Annie’s fearlessness to step out and do bold exploits for God, and her commitment to care for widows and orphans as we are instructed to do in James 1:27. She has changed the destiny of many children’s lives and she challenges us to make a difference where we live. We are all orphans without God and Annie gives us a profound illustration of who we can be as Sons of God.”– Al Gibson, author of Mother of Malawi |
Ms Chikhwaza, who arrived in Australia last week – the first time she has visited, is in the country for a month-long tour to promote the new book and “impact people’s lives” with her story.
Written by UK-based journalist Al Gibson, the book recounts that, even as a child in The Netherlands, Ms Chikhwaza had a heart for the marginalised. It tells of how, after a turbulent childhood in which she was abused and rejected, she gave her life to the Lord at the age of 19 before heading to the UK where she meet her first husband David and finally settling and raising a family in South Africa.
The book goes on to recount how, following the break-up of her marriage, Ms Chikhwaza was led to Malawi where she married a local pastor Lewis Chikhwaza and, after overcoming many obstacles – including a violent attack which put her in hospital – she eventually founded Kondanani.
Located in the country’s south near the city of Blantyre, Kondanani – which has a staff of seven missionaries and employs more than 130 locals – today cares for 178 children, from infants up to the age of 16, in various “villages” and homes. Many were abandoned as babies with their parents having died from AIDS or their mother in childbirth. The organisation also runs schools, a rehabilitation clinic for handicapped children from surrounding communities, and a farm to help generate income.
The book’s author, Mr Gibson, says he decided to write Ms Chikhwaza’s story after seeing her interviewed in 2005 and then encountering her in a “divine appointment” on the Zimbabwean-South African border a couple of years later.
“I write about people who have overcome huge obstacles by faith to encourage believers to go further in God,” says the writer, who works as communications officer for GOD TV – a long-time supporter of Kondanani, thanks to the friendship between its founders Rory and Wendy Alec and Ms Chihkwaza.
“My first book, Life On The Line, is about New Zealand evangelist, Des Sinclair who was imprisoned, tortured and left for dead while preaching in Africa. Annie has a similar testimony of putting one’s life on the line for Christ and I knew readers would be amazed by all the things she went through and came out on top by God’s grace. “
Mr Gibson says he also wanted to share her story so people could see God’s heart for the marginalised and to help them better understand His faithfulness “to all who suffer”.
“I admire Annie’s fearlessness to step out and do bold exploits for God, and her commitment to care for widows and orphans as we are instructed to do in James 1:27. She has changed the destiny of many children’s lives and she challenges us to make a difference where we live. We are all orphans without God and Annie gives us a profound illustration of who we can be as Sons of God.”
Speaking to Sight last week, Ms Chikhwaza says she believes her early life had helped prepare her for the obstacles she would encounter in establishing Kondanani, in particular the time in 1996 when she was attacked after members of her husband Lewis’ family feared she would prevent them receiving what they perceived as their inheritance.
“I was so cocooned in the love of God when they attacked me – that was a most amazing time in my life,” recalls the 70-year-old. “Now it sounds crazy…but I was so abandoned to the love of God when they were stoning me, kicking me, hacking me – whatever they were doing. (I was) in and out of consciousness, but at that time I was so aware I could abandon myself to the love of God, that it was the most amazing experience…Even when I was in the hospital and I looked like a right royal mess, all I could do was tell people how amazing God had been.”
Having returned to South Africa after the attack, it was 18 months before Ms Chikhwaza went back to Malawi but as she did, she believes God gave her a sign that the troubles she’d had with the family were over when, passing through Zimbabwe, she drove over a huge python on the road.
“I drove over that python and it smashed against both sides of the car and the Lord said to me ‘Don’t look back – the back of the snake has been broken’. And I knew that was for Malawi…And, you know what, I have never ever had any trouble either from the villagers or from (Lewis’) children again.”
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Annie Chikhwaza |
While that attack made newspaper headlines locally, Ms Chikhwaza found herself in the world’s gaze when, in the late Noughties, singer Madonna adopted a child, Mercy, from Kondanani following a protracted court battle, having earlier adopted a boy, David, from another orphanage.
“Not knowing Madonna, you’ve got this picture of her…and then, of course, you meet and you spend time with her and you find her a very different woman and you find very, very disciplined children…and a very caring kind of personality,” she says.
Ms Chikhwaza describes Mercy as “our little Moses”, in reference to the Biblical character who was sent down the Nile in a basket only to be rescued and raised by an Egyptian princess.
“I had a letter from her last week,” she says. “And, you know, she’s a happy girl – she speaks French and Italian and English…”
She is a firm supporter of children being able to be adopted overseas – Kondanani has adopted out some 40 children but, following government moves to stop the practice, are now no longer doing so. “I would have done more if they didn’t make it so difficult.”
Despite all the ordeals Ms Chikhwaza has been through in her life, she says that since accepting Jesus into her life at the age of 19, she’s never blamed God for anything and has never lost her courage.
She says that while there was a time after she was attacked, she had to consciously decide not to be afraid when she saw a group of people, she knew He was always with her.
“It’s simply one’s mindset – set on the God who’s bigger than the fear,” she says. “That is what changes things.”
To buy this book, follow this link Mother of Malawi.
