It's Relationships

Malawi – 2009

It’s Relationships: May 20, 2009 I joined eight other Presbyterians to visit and work with Barbara Nagy in Nhkoma, Malawi. This was my second trip to Nhkoma and was excited and pleased to meet friends I had been with and worked with in Nhkoma. Some I recognized and others recognized me, either way the relationships were strengthened. I was strengthened by the long distance relationship and common bond to help others.

Dr. Barbara Nagy is a PCUSA Missionary as a pediatrician at Nhkoma Hospital. She has been there for over five years. She has three beautiful daughters, Melia, Anna and Happiness. Barbara is the main reason for this visit. It is to be with her and her family and help out in a small way to make her ministry successful.

Our team of Presbyterians has been visiting Barbara for five years. The visit was coordinated by Grace Boyer with Western NC Presbytery. Grace was also one of the team members. She provided spiritual depth and leadership to the group. Other members of the group were Tom Kilgore, Teresa Locke, Tommy Burleson, Alice Salthouse, Hong Byun, Hisup Byun and Jonathan Axtell. Tom, Teresa, Tommy and I had been before and were able to assist and share with Alice, Hong, Hisup and Jonathan our experiences and experiences in Nkhoma.

We worked on various task at the Hospital, Barbara’s home and at a village clinic. The work was meaningful but the thing that struck me was that it is not the work but the relationships. To illustrate, we were painting beds one day. I was over painting away, seeing how fast I could paint. On another bed was Kuchpala and Greento. Kuchpala is the hospital maintenance man. Greento is the hospital painter. They were painting but they were talking and visiting the whole time. Then two other men came over and sat next to the bed and joined the conversation. They did not even help paint. I finished painting my before they were even half way done, then I started another. The day of painting continued this way for the day. It hit me at the end of the day, I missed a great opportunity. I missed strengthening my relationship with these men and sharing Christ love with each other that day. It is the relationships and not the task or the things of life. Thankfully, I was able to go to a village clinic with Kuchpala and Greento in the back of a pick up truck and paint a house for the clinic medical director. I was able to share time with them, share a meal, share family stories, and share the love of Christ with each other and with those around us. I thank God for this experience and enlightenment.

Hong and Hisup are from Texas and originally from Korea. They were a joy to be with. They brought song sheets and great voices. We sang most every night after our devotions. They share a special singing of “In The Garden” at the dedication gifts that were brought to the new school. They had such love in their voices as the children played in the background and all were happy to share with others. Hong and Hisup were troopers in leading the climb up Mt. Nhkoma. One of the more special times was learning of the struggle Hong had as a child in Korea after the Korean War with his mother. He saw the children and mothers around the Hospital Guest House where he and others were painting. He remembered sleeping on the ground and little to eat, just like those around him now at the Guest House.

Jonathan also helped with the Guest House, where he met Grace. Grace was one of the guest. She and four or five others would share the one 10’ x 10’ room with out any furniture. Their belongings were simple and few. Each guest is there to care for a person in the hospital. They need to provide food, medicine and needs for the patients. This was Jonathan’s first visit and was eager to learn and absorb. He was our group photographer and helped compile our 4000+ pictures. I enjoyed his excitement and continued connection with this family back home. He was so excited about collecting coins for his children and having clothes made for them.

This was Jonathan’s first visit. It was also Alice’s first visit. Alice had a special mission for this trip. A week before we were to go she was asked to go to Kalamazoo Michigan and learn how to install, run and operate new lab equipment for analyzing blood. Barbara said this lab analysis will save many a lives due to unknown causes of illnesses. Alice was apprehensive and excited about setting up the new equipment. She quickly got the equipment set up and running and working with Femka and Edmond. Femka and Edmond would operate the equipment after we left. They both came to our home and sang and prayed with us. Christ hand working through these works of setting up lab equipment. Alice had also adventure of trading and buying a drum and other items. She and Teresa traded on the street of Lilongwe for a drum the scene was crazy and as the continued to negotiate more vendors surrounded them. Finally Teresa set a deal and the drums were bought. Later Alice negotiated her shoes, bag and other items for vendor wares. Life in the Malawian shopping experience.

Teresa has been to Malawi several years and loved during her exercises with Alice in the morning and I think evening also. Teresa has a special gift for the children and had brought beautiful pictures of children to be hung in the children’s ward. Barbara wanted to give examples of children who are alive and well, so many of the children die from malaria, HIV and poor health. Teresa and Tom were our group leaders.

Tom, like Teresa has been there several years. Tom’s gift is painting and has painted murals and the hospital mission statement in many places. This year he helped paint the guest house with the same love and detail he had done the other painting. Tom appeared to be especially excited about the school and supplies we brought. The teachers and students were so excited about the supplies: books, puzzles, pads, learning tools and dress up clothes. Suffer the little children unto me.

The children in Ministry of Hope are all HIV orphans. We stopped and visited and held the babies. I got to spend some time with Chisomo. He is a baby boy about a year old. His birthday is 5/27/08. We told no stories or shared family history. We just shared time together holding and being in the sun. Thank God for the simple pleasures of life. I was also able to visit with Edina Nlahoma and Felesta Harry who are responsible for patient intake. Last visit in 2007, I worked with them doing intake, which I do here in the Free Clinic. This year I brought them a blood pressure cuff and taught them how to use it and set a limit for very sick patients. Later on in my visit Mrs. Harry was working in the laundry and I visited and laughed with her.

Everyone knows Tommy. Tommy is very tall in height and very deep in spirit. He shares his story through life in the NC Mountains, basketball and a life committed to Christ. Tommy has a gift of electrical repair and did a number of repair items in the hospital. Tommy is always the one who the vendors see and he easily shares with them. When we were at the wood vendors, we were set to go and one vendor was pushing an item for he to buy. Eventually, Tommy said yes to the item. It was a word caring of Noah’s ark with all the animals two by two. Then Tommy gets in the van and we pull away. The says, “I really wanted the Nativity scene.” We all laugh and make the new parts for the animals to make the Nativity scene come alive for him.

We had a wonderful trip and experienced the love of Christ through many like: Matrin the cook and housekeeper, Beria, Matrin’s sister and Barbara’s cook, Benson our driver, Rehiner the medical director, the school teachers, the doctor and nurse who came and taught us songs and played the drums, worship in Nkhoma Presbyterian Church, hospital Chaplin and his wife, Philip and his son Happy who made the drums and shields I bought, and Mr. Mkukumira the Mvera clinic medical director.

The most significant relationship was with Barbara and her family. She is in the middle of caring for a community with little supplies and means to care for them. She is adopting Happiness and having to deal with the arduous process of village culture and adoption bureaucracy. I was able to stay with Barbara, Anna and Happy for several days. It was pure joy to see a loving family, time of prayer and devotion and caring for one another. What a blessing to be invited into someone’s home. I will treasure my times there and being a part of this family. I makes me reflect on my own family and the need to be with each one of them. God gave us family as our core support group. God bless our father and have me be the best father possible to my children.

It is the relationships. It is not the doing or the things we have it is the time and love we share with each other. I am grateful for the support and prayers for this trip and appreciate the growth in focus on God’s love verses our material worldly items. God be the Glory, Amen.

Malawi Mission Trip 2009 - Team Report

I once heard a tale of a person who was struggling with faith issues and the amount of suffering there is in the world. In prayer this person asked God, “Why don’t you do something about all the pain and misery in this world, God?” God answered, “I did. I sent you.”

On May 21, a team of 9 Presbyterians boarded a small jet in Charlotte, to begin the 10,000 mile journey to Malawi. We were a diverse group of men and women, each bringing a variety of life experiences to the adventure that lay ahead. This was the fifth such journey for the Presbytery of Western NC but it was my first.

We were headed to a land where life is vastly different from what we are familiar. Malawi is called the “Warm Heart of Africa”. People there are pleasant and friendly even though their struggles are intense. They are kind to strangers and often give beyond their means.

As each of us signed up for the trip, we were unsure what tasks we would undertake. I was told that the purpose of this mission is more about being together and building friendships than it is about what we will do. I knew that we would be serving the needs of the Nkhoma Hospital where our missionary, Dr. Barbara Nagy is stationed and I knew we would be delivering supplies to the new school where Barbara’s daughter, Happy, attends. What I didn’t know was that I would get to participate in an amazing miracle that will save the lives of many Malawians.

Nkhoma Hospital has a catchment area of about 250,000 people. Malawians often travel great distances on foot to seek medical care there and many times people are brought to the hospital by members of their family. Malaria is a devastating disease and joins forces with AIDS to leave the countries life expectancy at 35 years of age. Parasites and infectious diseases that are virtually nonexistent in the U.S. are common place there. Children and adults suffer the effects of malnutrition and starvation. It is difficult for me to comprehend the pervasive nature of the sickness in this land.

Two weeks before we were scheduled to leave, I received a phone call from the Presbytery office. I was asked if I could install some laboratory equipment in the Nkhoma hospital. I had worked in laboratory medicine for twenty years but I have been away from the lab for the past eight years. While I was concerned about my ability to do this, I was excited about the prospect of it all.

Over the next few days, it was determined that I should travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan for training on the instrument to be installed in the Nkhoma hospital laboratory. All the years working in the lab were still there and I actually remembered what was needed to get the job done.

To make a long story short, suffice it to say that there was a sequence of events that took place in Malawi, the US, Holland, and Korea that enabled the much needed laboratory equipment to be delivered and installed. This long story involved:
· finding the most appropriate instrumentation for this 3rd world setting
· getting the money to purchase the equipment,
· having a person available who possessed the education and ability to install the equipment who just happened to be coming with a mission team
· getting funding to send that person to Kalamazoo to train on installing the equipment
· bringing a medical technologist to the Nkhoma hospital laboratory from Holland to work in the lab for a year to develop a fully trained staff for the long term,
· having that person present to be trained by the one installing the instrumentation
· bringing a Malawian from a neighboring village who has a lab background to prepare for working in that lab long term

This sequence of events took place in less than 3 weeks. It would have been difficult for anyone to put all these things together over six months or a year. For God, the pieces of this puzzle came together quickly and were neatly fitted together showing a beautiful picture.

During our time in Malawi, this was not the only project executed by the team and it definitely was not the only time that the miraculous power of God was acutely evident.
We delivered school supplies to the Ebenezer School mentioned earlier.
We visited and delivered supplies to the Ministry of Hope Crisis Nursery. This is a place where abandoned babies (birth to 2 years old) are taken and feed and nurtured until they are adopted or reach 2 years of age at which time they are sent to an orphanage.
Two new oxygen concentrators were delivered to the hospital.
We cleaned and painted the Guardian Houses at the hospital. This is an area on the hospital campus where families of patients sleep and prepare meals while a loved one is cared for in the hospital. It is also the place where women who have high risk pregnancies stay so that they will be near the hospital when they go into labor.
We repaired many things in the hospital that were broken.
We painted hospital beds.
We delivered money that would help build new classrooms to the Ebenezer School.
We did all these things and much more. But, as I said earlier the things that we did were not the best part of the mission. The best part came when we stood in church and sang hymns and prayed with the Malawians with one voice. The deep joy came when:
· We had Malawian friends over to eat dinner with us,
· When they showed us how to wrap our heads with scarves the way they do
· We had devotions and sang song together after dinner
· We went with Barbara and Happy on a hike to the top of Nhkoma Mountain
· We acted like children and got the giggles after lights out in our cots at night
· We played the drums with the nurses and teachers after a meal together
· We listened to the deep rich voices of people walking on the road singing praises
· We realized that in the midst of suffering and hopeless situations, Jesus shows up and gives hope and life just like he did when he called Lazarus out of his tomb

It truly is more about the being than about the doing. We left that place knowing that the lives of the people there would be improved because we came. We left knowing that our lives would be improved because we went. God is good – All the time.

Malawi 2009 Summary

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NY Anna 2009

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Opportunity - Volunteer

What a great opportunity has been afforded me.

I am able to care for my mother, most of the time is just being a friend. We live together and are good buddies.

During the week I am able to volunteer at serveral places and to study. I volunteer at:

• Habitat for Humanity doing construction of new homes for others. Working with the Habitat staff and volunteers is also a blessing.
• HealthReach Free Clinic as a nurse assistant. Here I am able to serve the hurts and pains of life of others with the love and support of Jesus Christ. I do basic nursing task, but more important listen, laugh and pray with those needing medical assistance.
• Raptor Center as a maintenance handyman. I work mostly alone which is different for me. It is nice to care for the birds, they are so powerful and graceful. Page 4 of the volunteer newsletter is a highlight of some of my work.

I thank God for this opportunity and contiune to look for guidance on how I can better serve as a beliver in Jesus Christ.

BREATH

BREATH

Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America - (If you remember, she's the wife of Todd Beamer who said "Let's Roll!" and helped take down the plane that was heading for Washington, D.C.)
She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. She's now the Mom of a beautiful little girl, Mary.

Lisa recalled this story:

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there.
With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Class is over. I would like to share with all of you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important.

"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise, From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground.

"Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the 'stuff' of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at anytime it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.

Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot, or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Our tomorrows can always be better, by learning from our today’s. Have a nice day!

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.