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March 7, 2000
Dear friends and family,
Time is a nebulous concept and is so difficult to measure in
any form, be it numerically, by events, by seasons, or by the
frequency of our MCP letters. It can seem that so much happens
in such a short time, yet in other ways there appears to be so
little that changes. The well-known verses in Ecclesiastes 2:1-9
are constant reminders to us that Time is not ours but God's and
that, whatever happens, it is in the Creator's schedule.
We are experiencing the fun and angst of raising twins who are
nearing three years old and who are learning that becoming independent
brings responsibilities and frustrations. Michael and Jason are
loving their verbal and physical freedom. We are so thankful for
the chance they have to grow up here where they are free to explore
and experiment. They are speaking both Chitumbuka and English
and are now differentiating which to speak with whom.
We and Jim's mother and family are thankful for your prayers
and support when it was discovered that she had had a mild stroke
in November 1999. Although the stroke was mild, it still caused
a change in her lifestyle and was worrisome for all of us. She
is recovering and back to work at her church.
Jodi and Ernbangweni Hospital say a huge "thank you"
to those many who have supported the nursing scholarship. Ellen
Tembo has been sent to Tanzania for a year's training in anesthesia
using funds from the scholarship. She will be returning in a few
months. Jodi is still working away to find training opportunities
for other nurses. We are praying that one nurse will be accepted
to attend a community nursing course and another will be accepted
into an upgrading course this year
In the past six months several friends have either moved away
or died. Our friends Felton Ngulube (a nurse), Miriam Kaunda (the
wife of the accountant), Mr. Muntali (a laboratory assistant),
and Michael Kameza (the few-days-old son of a clinical officer
intern, Lillian Kameza), have all died. Judith Banda (a psychiatric
nurse) Mwawi Nyirongo (a nurse anesthetist) and Phoebe Chirwa
(a nurse midwife) have all moved away. We are constantly witnessed
to by the ability of people to sustain their faith in the face
of the many changes and challenges and the frequent deaths and
diseases that affect them
Jim is typically very busy and is excited about the building
of a uniquely designed chapel at Embangweni's school for hearing
impaired children, the completion of the renovations to the station's
manse, and the renovations to the primary school and to the church
at Mabiri. He is getting ready to start the Wellness Center and
the Lwosozi congregation's (Embangweni's) guest house. The Shallow
Well Program, which functions through the church and is strongly
supported by Marion Medical Mission, is gaining national recognition
for its program.
The primary health care program is gearing up for a busy year
This year will hopefully see further expansion of the mosquito
net project, training of community members to distribute contraceptives
at village level, a tuberculosis outreach program, and an increased
emphasis on preventing maternal death in the villages The primary
health care program welcomes the arrival of Fiskani Chirwa, who
has a diploma in Public Health from the University of Malawi and
is helping in the supervision and management of the mosquito net
and drug revolving fund programs. He is also helping Jim to improve
the sanitation of the communities that have shallow wells/ Margaret
Sinumbe, a Malawian United Nations Volunteer, is with us for one
year. She is working at the hospital and within communities to
educate and counsel people regarding HIV transmission and prevention
and the care of those who are HIV positive She herself is HIV
positive and is a great example of the catch phrase, "Living
positively with HIV."
We are frequently reminded of how much we can ]earn from our
Malawian friends though often it takes a visitor to point out
some of these lessons. Malawians are very tolerant of the mentally
ill and call them "people of God" because they say it
is God's protection that keeps them alive. Yet at meal time, if
a mentally ill person passes by, Malawians will share their food.
This acceptance was particularly clear one communion Sunday. At
communion, a formal procession brings the elements to the table.
This Sunday one well-known "person of God" followed
the procession carrying a duck. There was no disturbance, no move
to exclude him from the procession, and no laughing as the procession
continued uninterrupted. The man and his duck were such nonevents
that after church a visitor asked "Just what was the significance
of the duck?" If only we could all learn to be as accepting
of those people who are different from ourselves.
Bye for now and thank you so much for your continued prayers
and support, especially in the face of our poor correspondence!
James and Jodi McGill
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