Two metro couples feed hundreds in Africa

Two Oklahoma couples thought they were on a once-in-a-lifetime African mission trip, but that changed when they saw the desperate need for food.

Thursday, July 24th 2008, 5:30 pm

By: News 9


By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

Two Oklahoma couples thought they were on a once-in-a-lifetime African mission trip, but that changed when they saw the desperate need for food.

Malawi, in the south eastern part of Africa, is located on the inland side of Mozambique. The World Health Organization named it one of the poorest countries in the world.

The children often times don't have food to eat or a place to sleep, but the sounds of their joy for life drown the problems out.

"When you go over there and you spend any time at all with the kids, you fall in love with them," Harvey Thrailkill said. "They just get wrapped around your finger, you can't help it."

That's what happened to the Dunkins and Thraikills when they visited Malawi and met the children. There was one girl, Chicondi, who made an impression on Waynetta Thrailkill. The two made a connection without even speaking the same language, but there were no plans to return to Malawi for the Oklahoma couple after their trip.

"I got word a couple of years later that she was in danger of being send of and being used," Thrailkill said. "We decided at that point we had to do something."

The couples set up feeding centers in different regions of Malawi, and they're returned to the country time after time.

"We haven't solved Malawi's problems, but we have made a difference at least right now through the grace of God, to feed at least 600 kids," Donnie Dunkin.

Six hundred children, every single day are no longer hungry. After they're fed, they learn about Jesus.

"One child's life is so wonderful. You don't know that you might have had salvation for a country," Debhora Dunkin said.

The families have set up three feeding centers around the country under their foundation, the Great Commission Missions. If you like to know more about the organization, click here.

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