My name is Emily Banda and I am 23 years old. I am the last born in a family of two girls. I was born in Nkhatabay in my Dad’s home village. My parents separated when I was three weeks old and we moved to my Mum’s home village in Machinga, where I grew up. When I was one year old my Dad passed, but I had never met him. Then when I was six years old my Mum passed. After that I continued staying with my Grandma, but I fell sick and the doctors couldn’t find what was wrong with me. For three months I stayed at home and my family did not think I would survive. By God’s grace I got better.

When I was seven my other Mum (Aunt) came to pick me up so I could live with her in Mangochi, but we were transferred to Lilongwe because of work. When I was in standard seven the Dad I was staying with became sick and had a stroke. This made life hard for everyone in our family. But after a year he recovered, until I was in standard seven when he had another stroke. This was a hard time for me because he was the one paying my school fees and I was not yet finished. But one night I had a dream that I would finish school, even though I didn’t know where the school fees would come from. This dream came true, because through my Uncle, God provided school fees for me, until I finished college. 

In 2016 my Mum had an accident when she was coming from South Africa. My Mum was the head of the family at that time because of my Dad’s poor health. It was very stressful for me as I took over the care of the people in our house. For weeks I cried and didn’t know what to do. After all these challenges I have faced with my family, I had many questions for God about why my life has been filled with so much hardship. But God has done an amazing work to bring calmness into my heart. When I feel there is no hope, God brings peace to me because; I know God has promised to never leave me, that He has a purpose for everything and that through faith in Him we can move mountains.

When I feel there is no hope, God brings peace to me because; I know God has promised to never leave me, that He has a purpose for everything and that through faith in Him we can move mountains. Share on X

God also gave me a dream that He would one day use me to serve young people. I thought I was doomed because I did not even know how to speak and I was still young. When I was in form 3 a group of students came to our school for ministry called the Navigators. I joined that ministry and until today I help mentor and counsel my fellow youth who are facing challenges. 

I have learned to trust and have faith in God no matter what my circumstance, because He is in control of my life .

Emily is an Intern at Flood where she serves on the Campus of the College of Health Sciences. Emily also serves with the Navigators and has a heart for young people facing similar challenges.