These are some of the articles from the Summer 2003 Marion Medical Mission printed newsletter.
by Rev. Suzanne Vargo (Associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Decatur, Illinois)
| This coming September I will be going to Malawi for the third time. It seems that those who go are drawn back again and again. I'm going back not so much because my work there is important, though it is, or because I need to bring their story back home, though I do. I'm going because of how much I need the Malawian people. |
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Those of us in the United States need the people of Malawi. We live in a society that tells us we can get meaning in life from buying more and more stuff, or from watching out for number one, or from spending countless hours in front of the TV. We complain about what we don't have, and take for granted what we do have. But when we learn about the people of Malawi, it changes us. Receiving the picture of my first well gave me more joy than all my material possessions. When I showed a picture of a Malawian teacher cooking at her wood stove to a group of parents at an elementary school, the principal said, "We focus so much on not having enough supplies to teach, and yet that teacher, with so much less than we have, looks so happy." We need what the Malawian people can give us -a chance to make a life and death difference in people's lives, and the reminder to be grateful for the many blessings we have. |
| And the Malawians need us. They need clean drinking water, they need
well-equipped hospitals, they need schools and libraries. They need hope. Most
of all they need to know that people in the United States care enough about them to send
them money and supplies, to pray for them, and to come all the way from America to bless
their wells, to worship in their churches, to dance at their celebrations, and to eat in
their homes. The volunteers from the United States are a visible sign of the
presence of God. God knows we need each other. And God knows that when we share with one another, our lives are truly blessed. |
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by Jim McGill, PCUSA missionary working at project manager for the CCAP, Synod of Livingstonia, Malawi, Africa
| Marion Medical Mission's partner in Malawi, the Synod of Livingstonia of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) was chosen to participate in a nation-wide survey of all improved water points. The Synod of Livingstonia was chosen to survey all of Mzimba District, one of five districts in the North and Malawi's largest district, covering roughly one-third of the Northern Region of the country. The Mzimba survey has just been completed, and results from South Mzimba District include: |  |
| South Mzimba has the best coverage of clean water of all districts surveyed. |
| Almost all areas have more than one water point per 250 people, which is the national minimum requirements for water coverage. |
| More water points have been installed in South Mzimba since 1998 than in any other district. |
| Shallow wells are making a tremendous impact on the clean water needs of the population. |
This survey is being examined by all stakeholders of the Water Sector for Malawi, including the Malawi Government, all N0n-Governmental Organizations working supporting water and sanitation, as well as all development organizations under the European, US and Japanese governments. Two very significant points are made clear by the South Mzimba data:
| Shallow wells has a significant role to play in the provision of clean water |
| The CCAP is a significant player in the Water Sector of Malawi |
There is no question that Marion Medical Mission's tremendous input to assist Malawian communities through the CCAP to obtain clean water has allowed the CCAP to become a leader in water and sanitation in the Northern Region of Malawi. Because of its activity in the Water Sector, and because of its large membership, the CCAP is now in position to be a very strong advocate for development with the under-served population.
With the information collected during the survey, and with its recognition of being a major player in the water sector, the CCAP is in position to champion those who do not have access to clean water, those who have no power to speak out for their needs.
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We wish each of you could receive personally the lovely thank you letters we get from our brothers and sisters in Africa. Please take time to read their notes of appreciation.
How happy I was to receive your e-mail of 12th and indeed to hear about your coming once again this year. I, on behalf of the Synod, would like to say that we are all eagerly waiting for your two teams.
Indeed last year was a spectacular year for MMM. It was unbelievable to hear that you had constructed 497 shallow wells within a very short period of time. God was indeed behind your program and praise is to Him. I am always amazed by the dedication and humbleness of each member of your team. You are always a blessing to us and you will always be.
This year I can see will yet be another wonderful year with a variety of program, with Chizimya being top on the agenda. During the event we will witness the coming together of MMM, SYNOD, and GOVERNMENT to celebrate the official opening of the School. Who can believe that we have a school of that nature in the very remote area like Chizimya ...
"Sorry that we keep on coming to you for help because to us you have been a reliable partner in development. WITHOUT YOU what could we have done here at the Mission. If we talk of development here we are talking of MMM be it at Primary School, Deaf School, the Hospital and whatever is taking place in our Presbytery, and more importantly, the Clean Water program which has now covered the whole Synod and beyond. Indeed Ucindami Kwa Chiuta."
Rev. J.P.V. Mwale, Head of Station
Loudon Mission Station
Embangweni
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The excerpt from the following letter is from Mziza, where work on the girl's dormitory at the secondary school is near completion.
"We write to express our sincere thanks to you for the last part of material delivery which arrived at the end of June.
As we write, work is in progress and we feel and hope that by the end of this month it will be over ...
We wish you well as you prepare for Malawi and Mziza, in particular."
Rev. S.S. Sande, Board Chairman
R. Chisemphere, Bursar
D.N.C. Kalitsiro, Headmaster
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The excerpt from the following letter is from field officer, Henry Soko
"We had a shallow wells Synod meeting for all zones in the whole Synod. It was a nice meeting. We had a very big demand of shallow wells again this season ... The meeting was nice and everyone was fighting to have more wells in his area zone. Am looking forward to meeting you and working with you October and November 2003."
Yours in water works shallow wells,
Henry Soko
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On behalf of Embangweni Mission Hospital and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to thank you and MMM for the wonderful gifts given to the hospital. the work of MMM is greatly honored and held in high esteem. Safe and readily available water is a major strategy to improving the health status of people. Our prayers are always with you as you continue rendering this service.
Your timely gifts of medical equipment, drugs, office equipment and others are greatly appreciated. They will go a long way to providing quality health services to the poor in our community who seek treatment at our hospital.
Once again, thank you very much and may God bless you and Marion Medical Mission.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. M. Ngwira
Medical Officer-in-charge
Embangweni Hospital
Malawi, Central Africa
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It is with overflowing joy that I write to acknowledge receipt of the above sum of money ($2000) which you recently donated to this school through Mr. Jimmy McGill for completing the computer room project.
On behalf of the entire student body and staff here at Robert Laws Secondary School, I wish to convey to you our heartfelt thanks for this generous donation you have made to our desperate appeal for financial support. I am pleased to report that our building contractors have resumed work on the project. The mood in the school has suddenly changed from one of despondency to that of joy as we all see the project back on track.
May the good Lord bless you and the many projects you undertake, always crowning your efforts with success. We have reserved for you a resounding thank you when you next visit us.
Sincerely,
Titus E. Kacheche
Headmaster
Robert Laws Secondary School
Embangweni, Malawi
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Firstly, I have to acknowledge that we received the donation of 3 teacher's houses worth $8,000 each. As of now the houses are under construction. Hopefully by September the houses would be finished. Thanks very much for the timely help in time of need. As the school is growing each and every year, more teacher's houses are needed.
Secondly, I have to extend my gratitude for the 50 hearing aids given to our deaf children, which makes our deaf able to speech read and hence makes learning and communication easy for them. If it could be possible some more hearing aids are needed for the other children. With the hearing aids, some children are improved in their speech reading and speech production.
M.M. Hara
Deputy Headmaster
Embangweni School for the Hard of Hearing
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