WAE OUT "Spirit", 07-07

Spirit is defined as; an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical organisms, a supernatural being or essence, an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible, or a malevolent being that enters and possesses a human being. Over the past year I have gotten some clarity on the spiritual and physical aspects of my life and the lives around me. I have enjoyed know the spirit of other is with me through prayer and thoughts. I have enjoyed engaging with others physical lives as we can share an infinite spiritual relationship.

Spirit has been heavy on my mind for the past month. The Holy Spirit as it worked with me and the people around me. The spirit of my Father as he passed away on the 4th of July. My spirit as I listen and adjust to God's will around me.

I have increased my study of the bible and opened myself to the interventions of the Holy Spirit. Now, that can get a little scary or more dependence on God and less on my own initiatives. It comes truly in forms of income or changes in income and how I should go forward. God as a provider has taken new meanings for me and I have grown in my faith.

My father (Hudson Peavy Meacham, Jr.) became sick during my third week in Mexico. It was not serious at that time, so I came home and was able to be with him. He got sick in the hospital and went quickly. God was with him and I know he is with God now. How do I know, it is only through my beliefs in the Holy Spirit and promises of God through Christ. Hudson's spirit is with me today and will always be with me. I laugh at him looking at me and some of the things I do or don't do. It is a blessing to have spirits in our lives. Maybe this is an expansion for me in angels. Huddy is my angel.

I started 2007 with my track and know what God had in plan for me. I was going to be a missionary. I scheduled trips and made plans. But all along I stayed open to hear and respond to God's call (or pull) for me. I am sad my Dad passed away, but I am clear on where God is at work for me, today. It is caring for my mother. Being a friend and caregiver for her. She has given her life to me and my two brothers and our families. I am blessed that God has given me this opportunity to serve in this way. I feel the spirit of God in me as I care for her and I continue to open myself to respond to God's work around me.

My love and affection to all and blessings of the Holly Spirit, spirit of those you love and know and the spirit of your heart and soul as you go to tomorrow with God in hand.

Peace and Love,

David

Chiapas Chapps

I returned from Chiapas, Mexico on July 1. We are working with Pablo & Jan Feliciano (fellow Presbyterian missionaries in Ocosingo) and their family on new church development and construction of a medical clinic.

I was fortunate to be with John, Ginny, Holly and Maggie Mills for three week in Ocosingo, Chapas. One week was helping inventory medical supplies and aid staff in recovering from the previous weeks in local villages with the medical clinic which treated over 8000 patients. Week two was on renovating bathroom showes and installing hot water. The last week was working construction on the clinic.

Each week had it's share of physical labor and usually concrete in a bucket came up. I found my nitch on the shoveling of concrete into the buckets. Each week also had lots of new relationships. I would like to share some of these with you.

Julian Sanchez Garcia, he is the caretaker at the Alpha Omega Bible School, which is the place I stayed, also the office and home of the Mills and temporary home and office for Jan and Pablo. It is a happening place, including the 20 tons or more of Tzeltal Bibles. Julian is also a paramedic. He worked on the medical clinics, studied the English dicitionary for medicines and treatments. His wife and two children (Marlene and David) were with him part of the time. They have six children and live in a village several hours away. Marlene was a teacher to many due to her energy and desire to learn English, like her Dad.

If you wanted anything at the Bible School Julian was the one to find or make it. He and Sandiago (Pablo's brother) made a pair of cruches for Harless after he spraned his leg. Julian showed the love of Chirst to all in his humble way of helping and providing for others. Peace be with you Julian.

Week two, Lora Nelson, joined the team from Michigain. She is full of joy and adventure for Christ. She and I shared our experiences in Africa and how the Lord has called us to serve others, which means reaching out to others in different cultures. Reaching out means language, beliefs, values, cultures and daily life practices. Sometimes it is the simiple thing of gratitude of a meal when you visit a village church. They serve a Coke or Pepsi up front and then a meal, usually of soup and chicken. Lora and I were able to share our drinks and enjoy the new learned hospitality of Tzeltal culture.

She shared so much maturity and desire to grow. I have been back to her blog site and still enjoy seeing and reading about her growth. God is alive in her and I am honored to have meet her in my journey.

Bryan Plemmons was a young man in the third week that did construction on the clinic. Bryan was experiencing a number of new experiences. I enjoyed seeing him grow and when he took the shovel to shovel concrete he had made a turn in his outlook at the weeks work to me. I had the pleasure of watching Bryan inteact with the other young adults in the group and see him experience new things, not necessaryly on the job site, being a young person with other youth.

What a joy to be ourself and to learn new things. God works through us all and we all are starting at different points in our life. God helped me see the growth in a young man and to better understand my own growth.

I thank God for my time in Ocosingo and the many people I meet and experienced God. It is great to be amoung Christians and see how we all can grow and learn form the life experiences around us. I am grateful for being with Julian, Lora, Bryan and all the others for this time.

Special thanks goes to Ginny, John, Holly and Maggie for allowing me to join in thier family and life experiences. God be with them each day and God's blessing on their daily lives.

Paz en Cristo,

David

PS: Pictures

WAE OUT Newsletter: June 2007

Moni onse, (Hello all in Chichewa)

Out of Africa, I can hardly believe I have been in Africa. It was a joy to be with the Malawians, Hospital staff in Nkhoma, Malawi and fellow travelers from Western North Carolina. We were in Nkhoma for 6 days and were able to be with Dr. Barbara Nagy (Missionary doctor at the hospital) and her three beautiful girls. The main project was the renovation of two rooms, one was converted into a children’s examination room.

More details about my experience and journey are on my blog, Malawi: Heart of Africa. The attached picture is my dance partner. At one of the orphanages, she called me out to dance and we did.

I am back safely and still waking up at 3 AM, but overjoyed with the callings from God in Malawi. It is a place I want to return. I ask for your prayers for me as I listen for God’s calling and pulling and not my own desires.

Saturday, I leave for Chiapas, Mexico to be with John & Ginny Mills and others serving the Tzeltal community through the medical clinic in Ocosingo.

Your prayers for the following would be appreciated:
Malawian orphans may they be safe and receive the love of God each day.
Dr. Barbara Nagy and staff working and caring for others in Nkhoma Hospital.
Charles and Joseph nursing students at Nkhoma Hospital
Vincent Kuthinoi, nursing assistant in Nkhoma Hospital in providing infant care in the children’s ward.
My faith in seeing and hearing God’s work around me and my adjustments to join his path.

Zikomo,

David Meacham, Missionary
WAE Mission Services
16033 Cramur Dr.
Huntersville, NC 28078
DHMeacham@Earthlink.net
704.402.6782
http://servingwithchrist-david.blogspot.com/

PS: More pictures.
More stories.

Malawi: Heart of Africa, June 2007

Malawi: Heart of Africa
June 2007

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2: 19 (Thank you James for guidance to read Ephesians’ five times.)

My heart was broken in Malawi. My heart was warmed and opened in Malawi. My heart was touched in Malawi.

Our team from Western North Carolina Presbytery visited Dr. Barbara Nagy in Nkhoma, Malawi for 6 days. Here is a brief look at my time in Malawi, as I was supported by Bethel Presbyterian Church.

Love and support for Barbara, Melia, Anna, and Happy was the main purpose of the visit. It was a joy to be with them each day. We laughed a lot and sang “Are you Happy and you know it” many times. I was fortunate to spend time with Barbara in the hospital. She is so kind and caring to the patients and is a wise and compassionate teacher to the staff and students. The hospital environment is close to an emergency room. Patients come into the hospital with a high risk of having tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV, therefore high mortality rate. Barbara works a lot with the children and is working to reduce the infancy death rate.

Death in Malawi is high. The average life expectance is 37. I was honored to speak with a man who was 71 years old. The people of Malawi focus on relationships and less on possessions. If a Malawian has some thing they feel obligated to share with others. To have a lot means to give a lot. You should pay for something based on how much you have and you the buyer are responsible for having the correct amount to buy something, “no change”.

Smiles and warm greetings were felt every day from those in and around the Nkhoma Hospital. We had a small make shift Sunday School lesson using Ephesians the Sunday we arrived. Church was amazing, word of God, prayer and singing galore. It was packed, maybe 1000 in attendance. I was struck by the number of small children attending alone or bringing smaller children with them. The number of young boys, including teenagers attending by themselves, some thing is going on here we need to have in America. Malawi has more Presbyterian’s than United States, population about 10 million with 10% orphans.

We visited several orphanages. One outside of Johannesburg, South Africa was a joy to visit. We sang and danced with them. “Thumbs up, elbows out, legs apart, bums out, tongues out”, now sign the song. You have got to see the video, big Tom can dance. We visited two other orphanages in Malawi and were greeted and welcomed warmly.

We had a great group of individuals on our team. Big Tom Burleson is a gentle giant. He was in constant prayer, especially when the car broke down. Steve and Jane Hansel explored many educational opportunities and opened doors to know and assist in Nkhoma schools. The recess the Hansel set up for the students and the big guy was a big hit for all. Teresa Locke did a little of very thing, including counting the 1300 infant caps and pulling together the inventory of medicines and supplies brought by the team. We did get pictures of Teresa, as she was the team photographer always taking pictures of others. Tom Kilgore had the steady hand and the will to stand for hour as he made the renovated room by the team come alive as the new Children’s Examining Room with balls, bottle push cart, and an elephant. He was able to also hear the song and prayers every morning in the hospital lobby area by staff, patients and their families. Grace Boyer was with the team coming and going. She was a grace and comfort to us, especially during celebration of communion (Matrin’s home made bread and coke) through the language of the holy spirit on the day we left Malawi. Kyle Nelson brought youthful joy and energy. He did not think he snored until the men got a chance to be together in one big room at the Guest House of Nkhoma CCAP (Church of Central Africa Presbyterian) Synod. He shared his faith journey, as well as opened and encouraged each one of us in our faith journey. Billy Wilson, our team leader was a blessing and flexible leader. He used his gift as a commissioned lay pastor to lead our evening devotions as well as the men’s sleeping quarter’s nightly discussions under protection of mosquito nets. The ants got through to his bed. God worked through us all in many different ways and I am blessed to have been with such wonderful Christians.

We were also fortunate to be with “The Three Nurses”; Annjo, Wilma, and Geanne in the Nkhoma Presbytery Guest house. They are nursing students from Holland. I was fortunate to work with them in the hospital and see the love and care they gave to the patients as well as learned how to carry children on their backs with a chitjenjie (cloth made into back pack). Annjo and Geanne joined us to climb Nkhoma Mountain and shared on their blog web site, “The view is overwhelming and we realize again how small we actually are.” Dat voelt heerlijk! (That feels delightful!).

Working as a nurse in the hospital was incredible. I observed surgery (skin graft, intestine repair, fallopian tubes tied, TB on a liver and removal of a uterus) and participated in critical infant care (twin just about died), out patient examinations, removal of a stuck catheter tube, and patient intake with Mrs. Harry. Mrs. Harry was my home base, I could always go their and join her and Edina to welcome patients and take their initial vital signs. I also got to meet Mrs. Harry’s daughter and grandson, Wisdom. What a joy to meet Wisdom.

On the children’s ward I was struck by a young child, maybe 8 or 9 on the floor crying scream and swing at her mother. I sat on a bench near her and sang gently. She came and cuddled next to me, we sat for a while. Later in the day I heard the screaming again. She was in getting her bandage changes from the burn on her right arm. She had fallen in a fire during an epileptic fit. I joined Mr. Vincent Kuthinoi, a nursing assistant to change the girl’s dressings. Every day he leads the morning prayers and singing in the children’s ward for all the patients and family members. I assisted him in changing bed sheets that morning. Vincent was so gentle in cleaning and caring for the girl’s burn as I held her head and arm from jerking away. The blood poured out in the tub as the old bandage was removed and he cleaned and cared for the damaged arm. It was a tough and emotional time, I saw the hand of God in Vincent as he cared for this young girl and as he comforted me as I cried after. God provides comfort in and through us all.

Thanks be to God for this time in Malawi. My heart was broken. My heart has grown. I look forward to being closer to God… so close to hear his heart beat as I call out, screaming and crying.

“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame, you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11 (Bedankt)

Zikomo,

David

PS: More pictures. More stories.

Team E-mails from Malawi

Malawi – E-mails (From: Kyle Nelson, team author and To: Ginnie Steves, Western NC Presbytery contact)

5/25/2007
Hey Ginnie, It's the team. We just sat down to eat at the Korean Gardens (FYI: hotel where they are staying first and last nights in Malawi), and a young preacher we met earlier has a laptop, so we asked if we could borrow it to talk to the loved ones back home. South Africa was amazing. We didn't get to do the basketball clinic due to a flat tire, but we had an excellent visit with the after school care. The kids were awesome; they were a double treat with song and dance. We are real excited to go with Barbara to Nkhoma. We went by the market today and got all of our food for the week. I guess we'll talk to you the next time we get hold of a computer. Keep us in your prayers. We love you, Kyle Tell my dad to call Rose Brooks and tell her we made it through customs.

5/29/2007
hey Ginnie,
It’s Kyle; we're here in Nkhoma at the hospital. Things are going well. We are almost finished with the remodeling of the examination room. David is having a good experience with doing some nursing here, and Jane and Steve today are going out to one of the schools. Yesterday Tommy tried to go in to town but the car broke down on the way, but he got everything he needed by the end of the day. We finally got all of the luggage yesterday so everything is here. The hospital is doing a lot better and it seems all the nurses are really excited that were here. Dr. Linden even gave us his approval of our job in the examination room. Well I better get back to work I'm sure Tommy could use a hand. talk to you later and keep us in your prayers
love,
the team

6/02/2007
Hey Ginnie, It’s Kyle. we just got back from the lake and now are getting settled into Lilongwe, the lake was good, food was slow, water was warm, we had a great time with the women’s guild, we got a lot of things at the wood market, but everyone was grumpy on the way back with wood piled everywhere, we're about to eat again. We’ll talk to you later in the morning before departure, pray for safe travel. lovethe team

6/03/2007
Hey Ginnie, it’s a very brisk morning in Lilongwe, Malawi as we finish our breakfast and then head to our service were having together with the team and the Nagys. Were gonna have communion so barbs really excited about that. We all dread having to leave but we are also happy to come back to see all of our loved ones and to share our experiences. Malawi has really opened all of our eyes and we are ready to share the warm heart of Africa (Malawi) and there abundant love. Keep us in you prayers as we travel for the next 30 hours we love everyone and miss them. see you in Douglas at 10:30 am American time and 4:30Pm Malawian time, the team

Additional Photos: View photos

Nkhoma Hospital - Needs Update

Malawi Trip Update on Donations and Needs: (from Ginnie Stevens, WNC Presbytery)

First, let me report that $1,176 specifically designated for the children's examination room! The doctors at Grace Hospital have come up with a considerable amount of rocephin and other high-end drugs for children. The e-ray apron that Barbara requested has been donated. We've got lots of infant caps, various items on Barbara's wish list and several thousand dollars that will be sent to the hospital, some for specific items (like oxygen splitters and oxygenator repairs, to help with staff housing etc.) and more that is for general use (perhaps to pay off the pension debt. (See below.) So once again, folks have reached out in incredible ways.
Here is a report from a member of a mission team from the Southwest (OK, I believe), who was at Nkhoma Hospital a couple weeks ago.

"We have just returned from visiting the Nkhoma Hospital. We had brought 3, 50 lb boxes of medical supplies and a check for $ 4,500.00. But much more is needed. Michael told us that they have a bank loan of $ 100,000.00 to keep operations going. We need to make this hospital a matter of prayer, it is doing good things for a lot of people, with nothing to work with--all medical staff are working long hours with little in the way of medical supplies and medications....it is no wonder they are stretched to the limit...."

Malawi Trip 2006 - Pictures

Link to pictures from Western North Carolina's visit to Malawi in 2006.

Ocho Amigos - Nicaragua July 2007

Ocho Amigos

Serendipity has brought together 8 people of differing backgrounds with a common heart to serve God. Their direction is to go to the Northern region of Nicaragua and help a local Pastor repair his churches damaged by mudslides and tornadoes. Also, using the talents of the group a small medical clinic for the people of the community is also planned. This independent group needs you prayers and support for this week, July 22-29, 2007.


Pastor Josue Elias Raudez supervises a small church in Esteli, Nicaragua, Centro Misionario de Vida Nueva. He has also helped establish 4 more churches in the Northern region in the Departments of Esteli and Nuevo Segovia. Having no affiliation or financial support from churches in more developed nations, Pastor Josue manages to not only teach God’s word in his community but offer 2 shifts of lunch programs for school children in Barrio San Fransico, Esteli. In the past two years with the help of the men in the local communities, Pastor Josua has planted 4 additional churches in this region.



In the fall of 2005 this church was completed in Las Cruces. In the foreground are the hand made blocks used in construction.

Another church constructed in the community of Los Llanos was built in 2006 only to be destroyed by tornadoes this winter.

Please consider supporting this mission with your prayers and contributions.

David,

You are Right ON!

Relationships, Fellowship, that's what mission is about. sharing our joys, our grief, our downs, our ups, our food, our thoughts, our prayers, standing back and letting ours take the lemonlight.

At the beginning of a trip I try to write down my thoughts, my expectations, my dreams, not to see if any are achieved, but so when i write day by day in my journal what actually happens I am reminded God is in charge.

During our final group time together on the last night on a mission trip we all reflect on what did we gain. For many it is a revelation. how God has entered our lives and been with each one separately and together during our journey whether in Nicaragua or Mississippi. We all talk about how different cultures are transcended by Christ. How relationships are built, reinforced, challenged and interceded by God. We come lost thinking we are found and we leave found thinking we were lost.

Every trip I always feel like a thief in the night for I have gained more than i ever give. It's like the parable of the talents. On mission trips we are not afforded the option to bury our talent. Just getting on a plane or into a vehicle removes us from our creature comforts. We are God's risk takers, we lay it all out for him, we are vulnerable, but we go even kicking and screaming, questioning, crying and wondering "why me?" But my observation after nine years and close to 20 trips that the one who protest most is the one who falls first, hardest, longest and becomes our best witness.

Please keep in touch.

Peace, prayers and Love

Paul (Pablo) Jones
First Pres DeLand, Flordia

Malawi Team and Country Info

Malawi Mission Team
May 23 - June 4, 2007

Prayer Concerns:
* Christ will be the center of both new and renewed relationships;
* We will have open eyes, ears and hearts for the new things God has for us;
* We will provide support and encouragement for Barbara, Melia, Anna
& Happy Nagy;
* Our families and friends will be at peace about us while we are gone;
* We will have good health and safety.

Malawi Info:

Known as “the Warm Heart of Africa,” Malawi has a population of 10 million and is about the size of N.C. With a life expectancy of 35 years and a literacy rate of 40%, the daily lives of Malawians are incredibly challenging. Malaria kills more people than AIDS, mostly children. However, the number of orphans in Malawi is approaching 1 million.

More Presbyterians in Malawi than all of United States and growing. What a blessing to learn from them and share the good news with those in United States who are leaving the church.

CCAP, Church of Central Africa-Presbyterian, is our partner church. Currently, there are 6 PCUSA missionaries along with their children serving in Malawi: Drs. Barbara Nagy, Sue Makin, and Martha Sommers, Jim & Jody McGill, Frank and Nancy Dimmock and Debbie Chase.

Zikomo (please, thank you, greeting; just a good word to know in Chichewa, one of the languages of Malawi)