Malawi News 3-2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Members of the 2007 Malawi Mission Team,

1. First, be praying for Barbara Nagy and her family. Early this Monday morning (April 2), Barbara will be meeting with Mr. Phiri of the Department of Gender and Social Welfare concerning the adoption of Happy. The rules are that she's supposed to be "fostered" for 18 months before adoption can take place. If the guidelines are enforced it will delay their return to the States considerably. So we're praying for compassion and understanding on the part of Mr. Phiri. If they get past that hurdle, then we need to pray for efficiency at the next stage with the US government. All the while, pray for hopefulness and joy in the Nagy family.

2. Barbara has said that the main project that you all will be working on will be repairing and improving the walk ways around the hospital. Hallelujah! It took me the best part of a week to figure out how to get from one place to the other; apparently this is an on-going problem as people who come end up wandering in and out of parts of the hospital that should be not wandered about, looking for the place they need to be. Tom, she has a special task for you, lettering the mission of the hospital on a wall somewhere. And, Tommy, there are definitely some electrical repairs to be done, one, I think, on the outlet of the x-ray box. (She said that hospital stafft sing the praises of those who built the x-ray boxes every day!)

3. I am attaching a draft of the meds and supplies list that she said they could use. I've faxed it her and e-mailed it to Edward Plyer to look over before I send it out far and wide. It's pretty close to accurate. (I have a letter ready for doctors to go with the list; I can e-mail it to you so you can personalize it and give it to doctors in your area.)

A very nice project for knitters are the newborn caps. Barbara says a study has shown that infections are reduced when caps are used. They are tiny, fit in all sorts or places in bags and she said they could use 200-300 every couple of weeks so there's probably no limit on how many of those you can carry.

One thing I'm checking with her is whether she wants us to purchase some of the meds on her list if we can get them at cost. She'd told me earlier not to purchase any meds, only to send money to Malawi because they've been able to purchase drugs at a much reduced price from Europe. (That's been one good thing about our financial donations; it's enabled the hospital to order in bulk ahead of time rather than buy at prime price only when the money is available.) However, a whole ship of medicines coming from Europe SANK! Insurance will pay for the loss, but the fact is, now they have to purchase as the money comes in at prime price until they can get another shipment. Barbara was bemoaning the fact that it's hard to make a reasonable budget; sinking ships can sink a budget in a heartbeat. Anyway, I thought later that I need to ask whether she'd rather have some reduced cost meds purchased here than high priced ones purchased there. For now, just seek donations. If you know about how to get some at reduced prices, send me what meds and their costs. I can send the list of what we can get to Barbara if she says to proceed; she can prioritize the meds and we'll purchase according to her list for as long as whatever money we have lasts.

4. Now, as to your schedule. It's getting closer to reality. I'm going to attach what I know thus far.

5. If you or your church are looking for a cool Mother's Day gift, think about mosquito nets! The Networkers Program of the PCUSA has lovely Mother's Day cards notifying Mom's that a donation has been made to the program so children can be protected from mosquitos. Go to http://www.pcusa.org/health/international/networkers-mothers-day.htm.

Yours in Christ's peace, Ginnie