HCJB Global in Malawi

The HCJB contingent at the lake (Elizabeth, Jessica, Jerry, Mike and me)

We have had a wonderful opportunity to host the Koleski's here in Malawi. It's still a bit weird to be the tour guides here since we still feel quite new. Jerry and Elizabeth currently work in Shell, Ecuador with HCJB Global but are exploring opportunities for them once their children are past 8th grade (the last grade in the local mission school). We were able to show off the lake and have lunch together with Jessica (a grand total of 5 HCJB employees in Malawi! ). We then stopped at Kindle Orphan outreach program. This is a program that has affiliations with HCJB Global that provides very needed orphan care in the medical, education, and community development arenas. Their program has expanded greatly in its 4 years of work and they are showing God's love through their love and deeds for children and families in great need.

Andrew Barr (founder of Kindle) gives us a tour

Berean Baptist

People waiting for clinic

One of our patients


As I mentioned, there is a short-term team visiting from Berean Baptist church in Burnsville, MN. They have been a big encouragement to us and we (Mike and I) have been fortunate to join them in their medical clinics a few times this week. It was a good opportunity to practice medicine and practice our Chichewa, but I must admit it was a bit overwhelming as well. There were about 400 patients waiting for us when we arrived. I don't think we saw them all but it was a busy day. I was fortunate to have Diana work with me as an interpreter. She is a surgical nurse at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. She was fabulous--not only with her interpreting but also with patient rapport and honest discussion about needing testing for HIV and other difficult issues. It was sad to hear so many patients' stories of deaths in their families. One 12 year old HIV-positive girl had lost both her parents and was now living with her grandmother. She came alone to the clinic to be seen for a cough and otherwise was quite healthy. But she started crying when talking about her parents and she was scared for her own future. Diana was wonderful with her, able to listen and encourage her, and give her hope for her future with HIV medicines and with Christ.
Diana and me after a busy day

"Jiggling"

Sam wants to learn how to "jiggle" he informed us this morning. We assume he means juggle since he asked to have three balls to play with. But from now on it may be "jiggling" in our house since it cracks us up.

We were able to welcome a team from MN yesterday--Berean Baptist Church has sent 20 people to work with World Relief here in Malawi in health care and pastoral care and counseling. We were able to worship with the group at our church and then take them to Partners in Hope for lunch and a tour. Since we haven't officially started working it was a little strange to be the tour guides, but we enjoyed sharing the history and future vision of PIH with the group. We were also blessed by them with gifts for our family (including the 3 balls that prompted Sam to learn "jiggling") and with their presence. Mike plans on joining them tomorrow in their outreach clinic so we will have to give an update.

The kids are back in school after a 2 week Easter break. And my parents had safe travels back to the states last week. We miss their presence--especially the kids because they were constant playmates and companions for them during the last month. Their visit prompted us to get a guest room ready, so it's open for any visitors. (hint, hint)