Newsletter - Summer 2008

These are some of the articles from the Summer 2008 Marion Medical Mission printed newsletter.

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Can You Feel the Fire?

by Tom Logan

Exodus 3:2 & 5 1/2. “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.” And God said, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth . . . I’ve prayed that prayer for over 55 years—thy will be done on earth!

Our goal this year: 1,500 wells in 1,500 remote African villages before the rains come in November. In    Tanzania: 300 wells—the most ever. In Zambia: 300 wells—the most ever. In Central Malawi: 300 wells—the most ever. In Northern Malawi: 600 wells—the most ever. If we meet this goal, 300,000 people, 180,000 of whom are children, will have safe drinking water. And construction on the first well won’t start until mid-September. We are overwhelmed. We are in over our heads. It’s too much. It’s beyond what we can do.

Good people have donated the funds to build 1,200 plus wells and donations continue to come in. Our donors entrusted us with this money, given to God so His people will have safe drinking water. 1,500 African villages are counting on us. They’ve been told they will have a well this year if they do their part— and they will. African Field Officers are working tirelessly—as are the villagers. What if we let them down? The responsibility is too great to carry.

This year’s goals represent a number of bold moves even by MMM standards.          Everything is administered, purchased, and manufactured in Africa by Africans. And together we are doing more than ever before.

The Shallow Well Program started in 1990 in Northern Malawi in partnership with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Synod of Livingstonia. The program has grown to the point where it now has 4 distinct and separate partnership Shallow Well Programs: CCAP Synod of Nkhoma in Central Malawi, CCAP Synod of Zambia in Zambia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) Konde Diocese in Tanzania, and our continuing long term partnership in Northern Malawi with the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia. Each program has its own bank account, accounting system, payroll, Field Officers, Installation Supervisors, builders, motorcycles, vehicles, and so forth.

            Legendary PCUSA missionary, Jim McGill, administrator and director of MMM's programs in Africa since1990, left Africa in June. Mr. Vyalema Khosa, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, now has those responsibilities. Mr. Khosa is one of the first Field Officers hired 8 years ago. He is a dedicated visionary who will provide the leadership the program needs. Mr. Khosa is also the lead coordinator for the Shallow Well Program assisting in the distribution and purchase of the cement (12,000 bags), the pipe and fittings for the manufacture of the pumps, the downhole parts and so on.

1,500 wells at $350 each is $525,000.00. And it will not cover all the expenses by 10% or more unless Mr. Khosa and the coordinators in Zambia, Tanzania and Central Malawi are able to negotiate with the suppliers, while prices for fuel, supplies, tools, etc. have all increased. In addition, all must be done before the rains come in November! Mr. Soko says, “This is not a game. Lives are at stake.” And the enormity of this task hits home.

We will be fielding our biggest US volunteer teams ever. Many people say: “What will you do without Jim McGill? How can the program survive without him? What will happen to the volunteers when they can’t call Jim?” But we have Field Officers!! We have Shallow Well Coordinators, they can do it!!! They are the best!! They love their jobs and the work they do. They are the ones that make this program run. Together with your gifts and their leadership we are providing the rural poor with a sustainable source of safe drinking water. Understand the genius and importance of Jim McGill is the training and skills he provides to all those he works with.

We ask you to pray hard and to pray often for this mission because this is more than we can do. Yet, we know God can do it for we are on holy ground; the fire that burns but does not consume—can you feel it?

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MMM Mission Trip 2008

by Tom Logan

It is almost that time again and our volunteers are preparing for another Mission Trip to Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. This year, our teams are larger than ever, with 19 on the first team and 17 on the second. Everyone will be needed to take on the impossible task of installing 1,500 shallow wells, and we hope that we are ready. We ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we embark on our journey. Remember that you are all needed in this mission and we thank you for your continued support. Maybe you are considering joining us next year? If you do, you will not be disappointed. As five-time MMM Volunteer Carol Nussbaumer writes, it is an experience that will truly change you forever:

“Whether this is one’s first trip to Malawi or the twentieth, the place will take hold and leave a mark on the heart. We warn first-time volunteers that they will never be the same after a trip with MMM. As I have so often in the past ten years, I heard the magic phrase from first year volunteers at the final dinner: “Next time I come…” Was I surprised? Not at all. The shallow wells program has a way of doing that to people. It is not simply a mission trip to “do something for” the Malawians but also is a trip that “does something to” those who go. Something deep inside changes when one not only sees but really experiences the poverty and joy of Malawi and comes to understand that the three words on each shallow well top slab are to be taken very seriously: Uchindami kwa Chiuta  Glory be to God.”

Pray for our 2008 Mission Team Members

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School News

By Jocelyn Logan

The Karonga School for Deaf Children
            Twenty-four excited pre-schoolers and headmaster, Mr. C.K. Mondwe, greeted us at Karonga School for Deaf Children in April. I was amazed how much these children have learned in 18 months. They said our names, wrote galimoto (car) on the blackboard. Some signed the     alphabet in less than 15 seconds. We had fun blowing up balloons, a new experience for the children. The new school serves children from far northern Malawi. The first building is a four room hostel dormitory. Now they’re ready to begin their first school block.

The Embangweni School for the Hard of Hearing
          Their sister school is the Embangweni School for the Hard of Hearing, a Synod of Livingstonia school MMM began building in 1994 with self-help from the parents and students. Today, the Primary school campus is complete with 4 pre-school and 8 (1 thru 8 standard) classrooms, 11 teacher houses, and has 164 pupils.

            In 2004, we began building a vocational training center (VTC) to enable graduating students to learn a trade and have life skills. Buildings for carpentry, textile, tin-smithing, 2 teacher houses, an instructor house, and guardian shelter are complete. The first class will graduate from the VTC next year. The carpentry work is impressive. Students build tables, chairs, benches, and beds under the supervision of Mr. Lonkwe, a devoted and skilled teacher, also hearing impaired. The dresses sewn by students are sold to help with the schools financial support.

          Seven confident young adults, paid me a surprise visit at the Embangweni guest house last fall. They were the first to graduate from the Deaf School last year and all (8 of 8!) were accepted to Robert Laws Secondary School, after passing a rigorous examination. They return to the deaf school for further life skills training and language skills training in the afternoon. As I embraced Brandini, Levie, Frank, Fannie, and the others—all charter pupils at the deaf school— I remembered how frightened they were at age 5 living away from home for the first time.

            I cherish our long relationship. I’ve followed their development each year since 1994. I treasure the memory, of teaching them to use a crayon and hold a pencil. I can still see their expression when Mr. Chirambo taught them to   make their first letter ‘t” sound with a tissue in front of their mouths. I remember their joy in expressing themselves through music with the choir bells I brought. A loving staff nurtured and taught them over the years. Today, these eight face the challenges ahead with knowledge, skills, and an understanding of God’s love and grace.

            Brandini writes, “If there was no deaf school, I could have been a laughing stock, a beggar or something. But school has changed me. I am working hard to pass and get a course in computers in the future.”

            Levie writes, “I am in Form II at Robert Laws, and will be writing government exams in September. I am working hard to pass because I have big plans for the future. I want to be a church minister (Reverend). God is with us always. If I will fail exams, I want to repeat until I achieve my goal.”

            Fannie writes, “I want to be an accountant so that I can help all my relatives and my sisters.”

            Mr. M.M. Hara, Headmaster writes: “I thank Marion Medical Mission on behalf of school staff, parents and pupils for the tremendous assistance done to the Embangweni School for the Deaf in preparation for their positive future. GOD BLESS.”

Academic Performances and Scholarships: The Loudon Full Primary School
            In 1997, only 2 students were accepted into secondary schools from Loudon Full Primary School, an acceptance rate of 1%. The national average of acceptance is 8 %. MMM began a rehabilitation and building program in 1997. Annual teacher workshops of the basic 4 and health began in 2001. Today, the school ranks number one in the Northern Region of 276 schools.

Scholarships
            This year, 2008, from your donations, MMM funded 78 secondary school scholarships and 50 Transportation scholarships for the Embangweni School for the Hard of Hearing. Secondary school scholarship determinations are made based on need by the school scholarship committee. Each scholarship recipient commits to community service, exemplary conduct, and maintaining average grades.

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