Marion Medical Mission Home December 3, 1996
Dear Friends in Christ:
"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness." Isaiah 35: 5-8.
We returned from our most recent mission trip to Malawi, Africa, on October 20, 1996 and are bursting with the joy and excitement at being so blessed. To paraphrase a great man: "We have been to the mountain top and we've seen the promised land." There in the midst of the chaos and the pain in a far off land, we experienced God's love and felt the joy of being a part of His glorious creation in a special way.
The day after traveling for some 34+ hours and lugging 49 footlockers full of medical supplies and equipment through airports and customs, we found ourselves walking down a dusty path because our way to the church had been blocked by a 1,000 singing dancing people carrying flowers and banners to welcome us to their church service on Sunday morning. There we were, a few short hours after arriving in Malawi, Africa, sitting under the trees in the bush worshiping with these wonderful people in this strange land. Two of our team members (the Dr. Rev. Edwin Evans, from the First Presbyterian Church of Centralia, IL, and Rev. Marlin Otte, from Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marion, IL) participated in the service. Together they baptized 153 people; so many they ran out of water - so many that people were kneeling in mud to be baptized.
The new Kamsolo Church was dedicated, built with help from their sister church First United Presbyterian of Centralia.
Embangweni Hospital is so vital to the 90,000 villagers that depend on Dr. Becky Loomis and her staff. Every day, thrilling stories of lives saved, mended and restored are told. The footlockers of medical supplies, medicines, books are all delivered and being used. It is amazing how rapidly the store room is depleted of antibiotics and pain medication. The joyous spirit and dedication of the workers lifts us daily from the realization of the tragic toll of AIDS occurring throughout Africa. Pray for an awakening, more specific educational opportunities and the church universal's impact on the prevention of this number one health problem. Faith is the prerequisite of healing. In Christian mission the evangelist and the medical professional belong together. Nowhere is this more evident than at Embangweni.
The shortage of trained nurses continues to be a problem throughout Malawi. Jody McGill, a nurse at the Embangweni Hospital, worked 7 days on 12 hour shifts before a break to fill the gap there. Marion Medical Mission donated $5,800 to the Nkhoma Hospital for nurses training. Nkhoma's reputable program of training 100 skilled nurses a year is in financial jeopardy and additional funds are needed.
Our celebrations were many and invigorating. The highlight was the dedication of the Embangweni School for Deaf Children on September 21, 1996. There were 6,000+ people and many dignitaries (The Minister of Education for Malawi, the Paramount Chief - Chief of the Chiefs, The Regional Governor, Synod moderator, and past moderators). All came to celebrate the opening of a school for deaf children that had been only a dream a little over two years ago. This school, funded by Marion Medical Mission, is only the third deaf school in all of Malawi and the only one in the entire Northern half of the Country. Now, in addition to the 4 dedicated and talented teachers, the school has a beautiful new dormitory, kitchen, school block, library, headmasters office, and 4 teacher homes.
Every school day starts with worship and every meeting starts and ends with prayer. Christ is the foundation of the Embangweni School for Deaf Children!
Chizimya Full Primary School started in 1992. It now has 11 teachers and over 500 students. As Mr. Jere, the headmaster, said in his letter on June 7, 1996 ..."last school year was a good one for Chizimya. Eight pupils were selected for secondary education. We were number one in the zone of over 40 schools. God be praised for this." Chizimya continues it's academic excellence and even though the results of this years exams are not in Mr. Jere believes twice as many will be eligible to go on to secondary school this year.
The parents have molded 150,000 bricks for three two-room buildings to accommodate an enrollment that has tripled in size and for a library and headmasters office. They have asked for our assistance and we have given it for one two-room school building, and the library and headmasters office. An additional two two-room school buildings are needed.
The primary schools testify to God's guiding hand, although overcrowded and in need of supplies, children come, searching, eager to learn, anticipating the opportunities education might provide - our cup overflows. How wonderful God is!
On the concrete top slab of every shallow well Marion Medical Mission installs is inscribed: "Ucindami Kwa Chiuta" in Chitumbuka and it's English translation: "Glory Be To God". Our goal again this year was to install 30 shallow wells in the month we would be in Embangweni.
Even though the old pick-up truck broke down three times, and there were many other problems, 56 shallow wells were installed and, like the year before, we had money left over - enough for 14 more wells. That's 70 wells for $16,100. These wells mean an additional 28,000 people now have clean, safe drinking water. Ucindami Kwa Chiuta!!!! Amen!!
Keep us in mind if you need a mission program. We have a story to tell. We have experienced the promised land. The mission team, Bob Holloway, Alene Holloway, Dr. Rev. Edwin Evans, Rev. Marlin Otte, Jocelyn Logan, Tom Logan -- are all anxious to share this mountain top experience with you.
Glory be to God,
Marion Medical Mission