Every morning before starting their day and every Sunday before going to church, Lameck Simbeye, his wife and their seven children gather together in prayer. Their favorite Bible passage is Psalm 121, which reminds them that God is always with them and watches over them. This has become the foundation of their family life and the reason they now enjoy peace, unity and hope.
Lameck Simbeye and his wife, who live in Group Village Headman (GVH) Katumbi under Traditional Authority Kilupula in Karonga District, have been married since 2002. Although they worked hard to raise their seven children, with some now in secondary school, life was not always peaceful. The family often faced challenges because they tried to solve their problems on their own instead of seeking God’s guidance.
Their lives began to change after joining the SMART Couple lessons under the Gender and Child Protection Project implemented by Lusubilo Community Care with financial support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
Among all the lessons, the Foundation Lesson had the greatest impact on the family. It teaches that God should be the foundation of every home and that families who put God first are better able to face life’s challenges together.
“Psalm 121 reminds us that God is always with us,” says Mr. Simbeye. “Today, we pray together every day. When we have disagreements, we first ask God to guide us before making any decisions. We also go to church together as a family. This has brought peace into our home.”
Mrs. Simbeye says the lessons have strengthened their marriage and brought the family closer together. They now communicate better, support one another and face challenges as one family. Their children are also growing up in a home where prayer, love and respect are part of everyday life.
The changes in the family have also improved their livelihood. Through Lusubilo Community Care, the couple learned how to make Mbeya manure, which has helped them increase crop production. Today, they grow different types of crops and harvest enough food to feed their family throughout the year.
“In the past, we used to buy food because our harvest was not enough,” explains Mr. Simbeye. “Now we no longer buy food. We produce enough from our own fields because we are using the farming methods we learned through Lusubilo.”
Besides farming, the family also runs a small grocery business. The income from the business helps them pay school fees, buy household necessities and meet other family needs. Working together has enabled them to improve their home by installing a floor. They have also acquired valuable assets, including cattle, four ducks, eight chickens and eight pigeons, which have strengthened their family’s livelihood.
The Simbeye family believes these achievements are the result of the changes they made after attending the SMART Couple lessons.
Today, the Simbeye family is an inspiration to many families in their community. They encourage other couples to attend the SMART Couple lessons and put the teachings into practice.
