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December 1998
Dearest Friends,
The last you heard from us was the alphabet of our lives in December
1997. It has been a busy, challenging, full-of-growing, good year
since then here in Lilongwe. We are settled into our home and
community and schools and have all found our "niches."
We would like to share some of the highlights with you.
Frank: I divide my time between local
Malawi responsibilities and an exciting new (part-time) position
as a health consultant for the PC(USA) to our partners in eastern
and southern Africa. One important aspect of this consultancy
role is being a channel of ideas. During trips to Kenya, Ethiopia,
and Zambia in the first half of this year, there were opportunities
to share knowledge, experiences, and ideas. I find this "cross-pollinating"
role satisfying. For example, small, patient-retained health booklets
were started in Lesotho years ago. We have initiated them in Malawi,
and they are catching on like "wildfire." They give
a patient more knowledge of his or her own health situation, they
reduce unnecessary or repetitive tests or treatments, they give
a health provider the patient’s history at a glance, and
they save lives. I have taken samples of these little booklets
to Kenya and Zambia as well. Another example is that of high frequency
radio communication, which has reduced unnecessary trips (thus
expense) and saved lives here in Malawi. It has also improved
coordination between the various health units. We are still improving
and expanding this service to isolated clinics and mobile services
and could use some help. (This is a hint for any radio operators
interested in giving some time, expertise and equipment to a great
cause.) Similar communication networks could be helpful in Ethiopia
and Mozambique. Another important tool is the development of management
policies for health institutions. The manual we developed for
the Synod of Livingstonia (in northern Malawi) has been amended
for Blantyre Synod (southern Malawi) and Mwandi Hospital (Zambia).
It provides a framework for human and material resource management.
Locally, I have been quite busy with the Christian Health Association
of Malawi and the five Presbyterian hospitals and their programs.
In all of this travel, whether within Malawi or within the region,
I have seen a wide variety of needs and responses to needs, and
I would like to challenge us all to think about how we should
respond to need as a church. People appreciate help, but do not
want to be dependent forever. Think about the appropriateness
and sustainability of the project or projects you choose to support.
Think about using local materials and resources—for example,
think of paying several local ox-cart owners to haul materials
rather than importing a very expensive tractor that no one knows
how to use or maintain. Channel resources in constructive and
appropriate ways, empowering and validating local leadership where
possible.
It has been a tremendous blessing to me personally to visit these
various countries and establish relationships with church health
providers. I have met quite a few saints of every culture and
color working with joy and devotion in very difficult circumstances.
I am convinced of the importance of this job, and appreciate the
insight of the PC(USA) in recognizing the need. For it to continue
to happen it needs your support! I have been given an Extra Commitment
Opportunity (ECO) number for consultancy work: #047974. Thanks
for sharing in this important ministry.
Moses: (12 years old): One of the
most fun things we did this year was go to Scripture Union Camp
in Zimbabwe in August. The most fun thing at camp was learning
about God and singing songs and playing sports. Camp Olympics
was the most fun thing. What we did was do wheelbarrow races and
three-legged races and our tent won all of them, even bobbing
for apples in water and for candy in flour. I learned to trust
in God and get to know Him better, and whatever I do he will always
watch over me.
Nathan: (12 years old): The best things
that happened this year for me were the two field trips our class
took, one in April and one in September. The first was to the
sugar farm and factory in Dwangwa. It was interesting to see how
they make sugar. I also helped burn off a big field of sugarcane.
We stayed in some chalets. I roomed with my brother, Moses, and
two friends, Hyun Choi from Korea and Sam Wilkinson from England.
The second field trip was to a forest reserve near Lilongwe called
Dzalanyama. We did an animal habitat study next to the Katete
River that runs through the reserve. We camped in tents next to
a forestry lodge.
Jessica: (10 years old): My favorite
thing that we did this year was to help dig shallow wells at Embangweni
during our mid-term break from school in October. Here is an essay
that I wrote about it.
It was Thursday. I woke up at 6:00 a.m. After breakfast, we went
to some villages and put in shallow wells. The villagers had already
dug the holes and lined them with bricks. We helped put in the
pipes and put on the cover and attach the pump. I was the official
secretary and picture-taker. We put in three in the morning and
two in the afternoon. For supper we had sloppy joes and watermelon
and brownies.
Friday was different. First of all, we went for a visit to the
deaf school and I learned that being deaf affects how you speak.
Then we went to Chizimia. They were having a party to celebrate
the completion of some new school buildings. We were the honored
guests, which meant we got to sit in comfortable chairs in the
middle of a shaded area. We also danced and ate a huge dinner
of goat, chicken, greens, eggs, nsima, rice, and Fanta! Dad came
and got the Dendys and me to go do shallow wells. The first one
we went to, we had to walk a long way to get there and when we
finally did get there, they weren’t finished laying the bricks,
so we helped and when we finally finished it was almost sunset.
Dad said we had to do one more, so we drove for about 15 minutes,
then we couldn’t drive any closer, so we walked over two
hills and finally got there when it was just getting dark. The
people of the village lit a fire for us and one of them actually
had an oil lantern! We finished and figured out that the plunger
didn’t work. Mr. Soko said he would go back in the morning.
Then we had to walk all the way back! We got to Embangweni around
7:30 p.m.. We were supposed to have dinner at the Storniolos at
6:00 p.m. They had saved some food for us, but I was too tired
to eat. It was a full, exciting day. The End.
Katie: (8 years old): I am really
happy to be in a new school since September. It is a small school
called ABC Christian Academy. I like it very much. I have a lot
of friends. One of my friends is called James. He is my best friend.
He goes to the same school as me. We are even in the same class
and grade. I am in grade 3. The fourth graders are in the same
classroom as me because there is only one teacher. How is the
U.S.A.? My older brothers and sister go to Bishop MacKenzie International
School. I am enjoying Lilongwe. I just came back from school a
few minutes ago. Bye.
Andrew: (1 ½ years old ): Andrew
is 21-months old now and still a charmer. He is very sturdy on
his feet, negotiating our long outside stairs (up and down) with
no problem. The motivation has been that we live upstairs, but
the cars live downstairs, and they are his current obsession.
He will sit in my station wagon for an hour at a time, steering,
punching buttons, wiggling whatever will wiggle. We have to warn
people that visit to lock their car doors because Andrew will
figure out a way to get in and "drive" if they don’t.
This morning he got into a visitor’s car, and we found him
trying to put a house key, which he had found on the floor, into
the ignition. He is a "clever, clever boy" (as the British
say) and he loves tinkering with things. He is also sweet, obedient,
a good sleeper, and cute as anything. God obviously knew what
we could and couldn’t handle in child # 5!
Nancy: Our lives have been punctuated
and blessed by a variety of visitors throughout this year, some
staying overnight between destinations, some staying a week a
more, some in and out for only a meal. We are glad that God has
called us to this "crossroads location" where we can
provide "a haven of rest" for the traveler, the weary,
the lost, the hungry, the stressed, and those just in need of
a bed. While it is our privilege to serve them, each one has touched
our lives and enriched us in return!
God is Great and Gracious in all His dealings with us, and we
give Him our praise! We hope that you have had a good year of
challenge and growth as well. We wish you a wonderful Christmas
celebration and a Happy New Year.
With love in Christ,
Nancy, Frank, Nathan, Moses, Jessie, Katie and Andrew Dimmock
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