It is not enough, but we are
praying that they will certify our program. Our clinical officer,
Ishmael Nyirenda, and nurse, Monica Mwale, have returned from
intensive training in Kenya under the tutelage of old Congo friends,
Drs. Ray and Judy Brown at Nazareth Hospital. The need for the
new preventive healthcare building looms big on our horizon and
fund raising for it is a priority now.
For our friends at our home church in Leesburg, we have good
news. The 52 computers have arrived! Bill’s old friend from
his Congo childhood, Harry Bolton, was here for the occasion as
was our nephew David Sugue. The container was opened at Frank
and Nancy Dimmock’s home just after they left for the United
States. There were cartons of hospital equipment, bednets, home-based
care (HBC) kits, school supplies, musical instruments for the
choirs, supplies for shallow wells, and the computers. They were
separated according to destination, as some were going to all
of the 5 hospitals and mission stations in Malawi. Each of the
hospitals received 25 large boxes of assorted medicines and medical
supplies from Interchurch Medical Assistance and the bednets and
HBC kits are still being allocated. The computers were divided
up, with 22 going to each of the two secondary schools here at
Embangweni and the balance to the hospital.
On arrival back at Embangweni, the huge truck with trailer (see
the attached picture!) caused quite a stir and was so big it actually
knocked down one of the hospital gates—which the maintenance
crew got completely rebuilt by one week later! It took an entire
day to sort out all the contents and find storage for it. We had
to use Martha’s living room to store and sort some of it.
We were so fortunate to have Harry here, as his experience and
knowledge about computers was invaluable. He networked all of
the hospital computers so that now we have email within the hospital
compound. People are setting up passwords and the classes for
Word and Excel at the primary and deaf schools in the evenings
are full with waiting lists. Already the hospital administrator
has asked the accounts department to put the bank balances and
other financial information on the network so she can monitor
the information from her desk; the doctor has asked for pharmacy
inventory to be kept posted so he can watch stocking levels for
key drugs; and other uses are popping up all over. Harry also
set up networks at Robert Laws Secondary School (ROLASS) and the
Community Day Secondary School where they will be used for teaching.
The students promptly put on a big “thank you” program
complete with poems, skits, and specially composed songs.
I think the greatest joy, though, was in setting up the computer
lab at the Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). This school
is just off the station and is run by the government and not the
mission. But it is the school attended by the children of most
of the people who work on the station. They have had virtually
no support from the visiting U.S. congregation representatives
or from the mission. They were ready with their room in order,
tables made and bars on the windows and doors. Those who have
the least are the most appreciative, and these people have certainly
demonstrated that!
During all this excitement, we have also enjoyed the visit of
a multi-talented and super-helpful group from two churches in
Lynchburg, Virginia. Under the leadership of Dr. Harold Riley,
they replaced broken windows and lighting at ROLASS and continued
the organizational work in that library; they repaired oxygen
concentrators, incubators, and various other electronics at the
hospital; they installed surge suppressors for the computer rooms
and water pump; they conducted chapel and prayer services in the
hospital and the schools; they conducted several seminars and
Bible studies for the elders and deacons of the church; and they
spent two days at Kalikumbi where they showed videos, surveyed
schools, and baptized babies—to mention just a few of their
activities. We are always thankful, not only for the projects
that such visiting groups are able to support, but also for the
love and fellowship that they cultivate among the people of Embangweni
and its surrounding villages.
Finally, as we write this, we are considering the possibility
of extending here for another year beyond the end of our current
appointment in December. We are waiting to hear a decision from
PC(USA) on this but, as always, we know that these things depend
in large part on funding. If the new building becomes a reality,
Bill will be needed to assist in the supervision of its construction
and Beth to help the transition of services to the integrated
approach that has been planned. The HIV/AIDS programs are progressing
well and have very capable leadership. The data collection is
another story—many needs in this area. Bill is working
hard to find and train a Malawian to maintain the information
systems when he leaves, but this will not be a reality for a long
time. Also Beth has recently been asked to help set up a quality
assurance program for the hospital.
We have been asked to add a note to you on the change in address
for Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) contributions for those
of you who have been giving to our personal support, to the work
account for Bill, or to the Embangweni Hospital ECO account:
Presbyterian churches should send checks to their their normal
receiving sites. For contributions from individuals, make checks
out to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and send to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
It is important to put the ECO account number and name on the
check memo line and also on the cover letter or note. Also, please
send a copy of this cover letter or note to International Health
Ministries, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. (It
is also a good idea to send us an email message if the donation
is not a monthly pledge or if there is a special designation for
its use.)
Checks for the new preventive health services building can be
sent to the Embangweni Hospital ECO account 862149 with a note
designating the contribution for the building.
Our ECO numbers are:
074522 - personal support - Rule
051730 - Systems Management Specialist - Rule
Click on the button below to give to the personal support of
the Rules online.
Click on the button below to give to the Embangweni Hospital
ECO account online:
Click on the button below to give online to Bill Rule's work
as a systems management specialist:
And so, fundraising is always a part of what we do here. Malawi
is working to find ways to sustain itself, but is a long way from
accomplishing that goal. The rural villages and countryside where
we work have no real sustainable income other than a little from
tobacco and maize. Health care and education here at the mission
station are funded largely from the government and from contributions
from churches in the United States, Scotland, and Ireland.
We thank you all for your interest, your prayers and your support
for us and for our work.
God’s blessings to you,
Bill and Beth
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
58
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