February 2002

Dear Friends and Family,

We have enlarged our family by one wonderful girl named Chrissiana Salome. She was born on September 28, 2001. Sadly, her mother died from maternal complications in an oxcart on the way to the hospital, three days after delivery. This is unfortunately too common in Malawi, which has 1120 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Salome’s birth family decided they were unable to care for her and took her to a day orphan-care program called Ministry of Hope. The Director knew us from our friends the Dimmocks so he called us. With the help of the Rodehavers, one-year PC(USA) volunteers in Lilongwe, and the Social Welfare Department, we brought Chrissiana home to Mzuzu within five days of learning about her. She was 13 days old and weighed 2.5 kg (5 ½ lbs). At four months, she now weighs 5.5 kg (12 lbs). She is absolutely adorable and will have us wrapped around her finger for the rest of her life. The boys do all kinds of antics just to see her smile, which she does with wonderful regularity. Jim’s mother was with us for the Christmas holiday, and Chrissiana was baptized at our church on Christmas Day with both of her namesakes present. We do have a signed adoption order from the Malawi courts and are beginning the process of getting an American passport. Pray for guidance as we go through that procedure.

In February, the Synod of Livingstonia ran a two-day HIV/AIDS workshop for all pastors in the synod (nearly 100). As interim coordinator for the synod’s AIDS control program (LISAP) and synod primary health care coordinator, Jodi was heavily involved in the organization and support of this PC(USA)-funded conference. It was an exciting and successful event.

The Reverend Gideon Byamugisha of the Anglican Church of Uganda was a crucial speaker. He and his wife Pamela, who accompanied him, are both HIV (+). Gideon is a dynamic, open, dedicated, and convicted speaker, and I believe he had many of the pastors reviewing/reflecting on themselves and the role of the church in the fight against HIV. Some challenging points were his discussion on four different options for a sexual relationship in a church and HIV context—it could be lawful and safe, lawful and unsafe, unlawful and safe, or unlawful and unsafe. I do not believe the pastors had thought about HIV transmission in that way before. In addition, he asked the question, "Are we using HIV/AIDS to control our congregations or are we using our congregations to control HIV/AIDS?" He gave an HIV risk assessment test, which proved that it would be nearly impossible for any married individual to be at no risk all. Only two of the pastors scored such that they were at no risk for HIV and therefore did not need an HIV test, (which no one believed!).

The vice president of Malawi, as chairman of the Government and Faith Organization Committee, opened the workshop. The hospitals and LISAP were very helpful during the two days, especially during small-group discussions. Pastors received resources such as posters, information on HIV/AIDS, and counseling materials. At the closing of the workshop, the moderator led a responsive prayer of commitment. Then baskets of red ribbons were passed and those who felt called to respond took a ribbon of commitment. It seemed as if all people took a ribbon.

At the conference, Jodi made a brief presentation on the synod’s AIDS control program and its role in the synod’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Or, at least she tried. She cried at the end of her presentation when she was asking the pastors to get involved. Too many of our friends and their children have died from HIV-related illnesses. HIV/AIDS is not an abstract concept. During a break before her presentation Jodi was talking to two people, one about her adult children who had died and one about his own status as he was just tested and was found positive. We pray that the conference will make a difference in the diligence of the church here and we ask you to pray for a permanent, full-time coordinator and funding for the synod’s AIDS control program.

It has now been one year since we moved to Mzuzu and we have made connections with people, have the boys in school, and are more involved in church life. Our church just voted Jim to be chairman of the English service committee. However, he was probably voted more for his uniqueness than his devoutness, since he is the only Caucasian elder in the church.

Malawi is going through a very rough time now. Its government is getting a reputation for being corrupt (founded or unfounded. There is no maize supply in the country, it is in a near-famine condition, and the currency has been devalued, requiring the government to issue a new larger note. Pray for people who are hungry during this time of year, that they may survive until harvest.

Additional requests for prayerful support are for guidance and continued enthusiasm for the newly established congregational-based mosquito net programs and for the expanding protected-water and sanitation program.

We thank you for your letters and e-mails. If you have written an e-mail and not received a reply, please try again. We (Jodi) deleted our inbox!

Jim, Jodi, Michael, Jason, and Chrissiana

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 41