from Tom Logan
December 15, 1999
Dear friends in Christ:
It's difficult to adjust after returning from Malawi. For most of the year we prepare for the 6 weeks we'll be there, and while in Malawi it's an all-consuming battle that takes up every minute of every day - waking and sleeping. We drive ourselves to the point of exhaustion - willingly, you understand, thankful god has given us this opportunity to participate in the struggle. Water means life and the wells provide it. What a privilege, what a blessing! As a result our lives are renewed, filled with purpose and meaning.
Marion Medical Mission's 1999 goal was to install 300 shallow wells in 300 remote rural villages before the rains came in November, providing an estimated 100,000 people with safe drinking water. The mission has three 4-wheel drive vehicles -- not enough to get the job done. As in past years the goal was unrealistic.
Marion Medical Mission's 1999 team of 12 was in Malawi two to five weeks from October 3rd to November 7th. Bob Holloway and I went a week early to prepare for the team's arrival. On Friday, the day after getting to Embangweni, Mr. Zulanga and I headed for Euthini. We took the Toyota double cab purchased new in South Africa last year.
The roads are bad, dirt, sand, potholes - you name it. On a straight stretch of road I hit a patch of sand and went into a slide. The next thing I knew we were in the air, the truck rolled doing a complete 360, the roof of the cab crushed in on us. The truck stopped right-side-up in the ditch - the front windwhield gone and the front doors smashed open. No one was wearing seatbelts. Mr Zulanga had a cut over his ear but insisted he was ok (the cut took 5 stitches). I was fine except for sore ribs and a swelled hand.
Before Marion Medical Missions's team had even arrived we were down to two vehicles. We borrowed two old trucks, which suffered many breakdowns. Yet, the Malawian shallow well team, alnong with our mission team, went to work doing the best they could, where they were, with what they had. Five weeks later on November 7th, we counted the number of well pictures and came up with an amazing 298. At least 50 more have been installed since that date. How could this be? Again, despite our blunders, mistakes, and arrogance, God blessed our simple efforts. These 348 shallow wells bring the total wells built and installed by Marion Medical Mission to over 1,000 providing an estimated 350,000 people with safe drinking water!
The schools are simply great ... wonderful ... a joy to witness and see their progress. You won't recognize the Embangweni Louden Full Primary School. It looks like a new school with all the buildings completed. The headmaster said three times the number of pupils were accepted into secondary school this year, a direct result of their new school environment. Embangweni School for Deaf Children continues to amaze everyone who visits. The children not only read and write and speak, they weave baskets, sew, make tin pots, etc. The students at the Embangweni School for Deaf Children danced and sang "Jesus Loves Me" at the celebrations. Jocelyn brought color-coded choir bells, and before we left, five weeks later, the children were playing "Joy to the World" and "Holy, Holy, Holy" on their new choir bells. At Chizimya Full Primary School, where they once conducted classes under the trees, their school buildings are the envy of the region. In the library each donated book has a library card. The "extra curricular" carpentry classes for all three schools are making the benches for the classrooms. We hope to start other wood projects as well.
Every school celebrated with performances, speeches, native dances and a wonderful meal afterwards.
The Holloway's irrigation and solar cooking projects are making progress in many communities.
Rev. Jack Seibert dedicated the Mphongo Church building and we witnessed 150 baptisms by Rev. Sam Warner and Rev. Seibert.
Thank you for your gifts and for the hope you have brought to so many in a far away land.
We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and hope that all the seasons of your life be filled with the Peace and Love of Christ.
God Bless,
Tom Logan
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