How an African Housewife Inspired a Florida Woman to Do More
To hear the full story, listen to COTN's Beyond the Village podcast, How a Malawian Housewife and a Girl with Special Needs Inspired a Florida Family to Do More.
“Once my husband and I got married and he got his first real job, he wanted to buy a nice car; but then reality set in,” says Carolyn Berger, a COTN partner who lives in central Florida. “He did drive a beater,” she recalls, laughing. “The back light would hang out.”
Years later, Carolyn's husband, Adam, was days away from purchasing his dream car when his friend Peter pulled him aside during Sunday service at Celebration Church in central Florida. Peter explained that a nonprofit called Children of the Nations (COTN) desperately needed help purchasing a van in the Dominican Republic, to transport children to and from medical care. “When he was telling me this he was like melting in front of me,” says Carolyn. Adam donated the money he’d saved up for his new car.
Little did they know, this was just the beginning.
Months later, during Sunday service, Chris and Debbie Clark, the founders of COTN, introduced themselves to the Bergers. “For a split second the light bulb didn’t go on,” Carolyn says. “We were like, oh yeah, Children of the Nations, the van people.”
Over lunch, Chris explained COTN’s vision, and told them stories about children Malawi. “We were really moved by these stories,” says Carolyn. Several years later, the Bergers decided to join a Venture team and see Malawi for themselves.
Life-Changing Moments in Malawi
Fresh off the plane, their first stop is the village of Mstiliza. Before they even get out of the van, throngs of children surround them. Music fills the air as women move toward them, wrapped in African-style fabric, dancing and singing.
I remember thinking, when I go back the States I am never, ever, ever complaining about making dinner.”
The Berger family has continued to support COTN over the last eight years.
“To stick with COTN has not been a difficult decision. Once you understand the mission and the goal and once you go and you see it—which I think is important for anybody to go and visit—it puts things in perspective,” she says.
“I can help change other people’s hearts about Africa and I can help motivate other people to go and see for themselves and come back and then they can change some hearts,” Carolyn says. “And maybe that way they can help the children in Africa, to raise them up to change their own country. Because it’s going to be the children of Africa that’s going to help Africa.”
Get involved like Carolyn's family! Sponsor a child today, or sign up for a Venture trip.
