I find that things have been so busy, I am not posting regular updates.  Once again, here is the End of the Month Letter for the Central Africa Medical Mission- Malawi:                                                                                                         

March 2013

Wauka Yesu! Waukadi!

Easter Greetings from the Lutheran Mobile Clinic,

     Easter in the States is a time when the weather is warming, and people look forward to the new growing season.  Here, at this time, the rains are coming to an end.  The maize is nearly ready to be harvested, and the cold season is approaching.  It is, however, refreshing to know that around the world, we all celebrate the same glorious news that Christ is risen! 

     We were able to celebrate Easter with our brothers and sisters in a joint service at one of the other congregations in Lilongwe.  There were over 600 people in attendance.  Some of them having arrived on Good Friday and staying the weekend.  We were told that there were also members from our clinic sites at Thunga, Suzi, and Msambo that had made the 40 kilometer trek to Lilongwe.  Ten choirs sang about 30 songs, and the service lasted three and one half hours.  In the late afternoon, all the mission families met at the Martins’ house for a huge Easter potluck and fellowship.  What a wonderful day it was!

     This month, we have been thankful that the roads to clinic have been dry when we were traveling on them.  There have been very large numbers of patients at clinic this entire month because it is the rainy season and many people suffer from malaria, common cold, and pneumonia.   Some are even traveling from Lilongwe to our southern clinic of Mwalaulomwe.

     We are happy to announce that Lutheran Mobile Clinic has a new clinical officer.  Our previous CO resigned in February, so we have been searching for one since.  This last week, Greyson Malunda agreed to begin working with us, beginning on 1 May.  We are excited to have him on our team.

     We have some more happy news to report.  Our housekeepers’s daughter, who has been living in our compound with her parents since her husband was killed in a car crash in November, delivered a healthy baby girl during the early hours of Good Friday.  The unbelievable cost of a three-night stay in the hospital and a delivery was K4300 (about $10.75)!  Mother and baby Alifina are home now and doing well. 

     For something different this month, Kari and I drove north and west of Lilongwe to Kasungu National Park, which boarders Zambia.  Because the grass was very high, we were unable to see much wildlife, but we had a relaxing stay at the Lifupa Lodge in the park. It is located at a dam, so we saw some hippos and antelope by the water.

    At the beginning of the month we said “farewell” to some of our visitors.  Kari’s family and friends who had been here returned home.  We also said “goodbye” to CAMM MAPper (Mission Abroad Program) Amanda Russow, who had been with us in Lilongwe for a month.  It seemed awfully quiet with just the two of us here again.  Very soon, though, Megan Behl will be returning as our new Sister-in-Charge.  We look forward to welcoming her back.

Wishing you all a blessed Easter and a happy spring,

 

Maria Reese

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” 

-Matthew 28: 5-6

             (Theme from our  Easter Service “Musawope chifukwa Yesu ali moyo!”)