October Malawi Update

A SUCCESSFUL TRIP

Dan Hayhoe and Terry Wills have just returned from a trip to Malawi, filled with meetings, visits, decisions and updates, and a final day with shovels in the ground for the new Health Facility!  Thank you, Dan and Terry, for travelling to Malawi and for your dedication and work during this crucial decision-making time. Special thanks to Newton Sindo and his team in Malawi for their input and the joy they bring to this work.

ANTENATAL (PRENATAL) & FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS

Both of these clinics are run by Alinafe, who is a midwife trained at the Ccap Ekwendeni Vocational Training Centre in the north. She is shown here in the small room at the nursery school where she sees patients on the rather rough exam table.

A few days ago a woman was brought in from a nearby village in the final stages of labour with a blood pressure of 231/137. She delivered the baby on this table and within an hour was on the back of a motorcycle with the baby on her way to Ngwelero. Only those who have been there can imagine the excruciating journey over atrocious roads to a health centre with very poor conditions, The new Health Facility will meet these needs and many more in the years to come.

VISITS AND GIFTS

A trip was made to Taulo to visit the homes of several volunteers. It is greatly appreciated when FVM visitors join the volunteers in the community and in their homes.  A few words of encouragement go a long way, but even more importantly, just sitting with them is a real pleasure for us all. It is also great fun to give some gifts. Toques are a favourite as you can see in the accompanying picture!

Chinangwa Nursery volunteers continue to do an incredible job of teaching and engaging with the children. The nursery school is recognized as the best in the district with primary school achievement commensurate with that and carrying on to secondary school. It is not unusual to have 500-2000 people present at the school, with children attending school and community outreach and clinics happening. Other non-government organizations (NGOs) also use the schools for the distribution of maize and fertilizer and helping to meet community needs.

Other visits were made to pay respects to Group Village Headman (GVH) (Senior Chief) Taulo and take him to visit Traditional Authority (TA) (Supreme Chief) Ngwelero. A great meal was enjoyed together of Nsima, pumpkin leaves and chicken.  On leaving the FVM guests were presented with the gift of a goat which happily spent the night tied outside Mulunguzi House while awaiting its future purposes.

SHOVELS IN THE GROUND

The groundbreaking ceremony was a successful event with key partners in attendance.  Pastor Justin Falinya offered prayers of blessing and there were obligatory speeches from all. The pictures show TA (Supreme Chief) Ngwelero and GVH Senior Chief Taulo, as well as his nephew Chief Taulo, in front of the great baobab tree which is within our boundary.

What an incredible milestone to reach! We will share more in the year-end appeal as we look forward to the coming months of progress as the Health Facility takes shape.

We express a sincere Zikomo kwambiri (Thank you very much!) for your love and support through prayers and donations.

The Future Vision Ministries family (North America and Malawi)

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