Coming Together to Serve Malawi
Pure Mission's Vision for the Madzanje Village Medical Clinic
Posted 07/21/2010
Over recent years, the relationship between Malawian nationals and American missionaries has grown and flourished. There have been hard times, of course; and at the least there are always cultural and language barriers to overcome. But the reason the Americans persevere and continue to return and the reason the Malawians look past our Western mindsets and have patience with our ways can be summed up very simply. The basis for our unified alliance is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Teams have traveled repeatedly from America to work hand in hand with Malawian nationals, to create over time what has become known as Esther's House Ministries. Esther's House Ministries exists to share the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. The people involved work diligently to give daily meals to malnourished children and allow an opportunity for education so the children will grow up with a better chance of being able to provide for themselves and their children. Esther's House Ministries strives to improve the quality of life for widows selflessly giving what they have in this world to care for orphans left by the cruelty of sickness and disease. The ministry provided by Esther's House is not a work that Americans "invented" or "began"; it is simply a work perpetuated out of the obedience of Americans who have joined with the Malawians to be a part of it. The partnership for such a vast undertaking works because the love of God exists within the hearts of His people. For "if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need but shuts off his compassion from him - how can God's love reside in him?"
Our experiences serving in Malawi have opened our eyes to the reality of global statistics. Knowing someone dies of Malaria every minute is a compelling thing, but now we know the name and face of a woman who didn't die because the resources were available to transport her to town to receive the life saving medicine she needed. She is not the only one; over time the statistics and stories have become our friends instead of mere numbers. But more important than being our friends, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, a part of the Body. If there were something causing pain to our arms or legs wouldn't we all do whatever was possible to relieve the suffering? The question that begs asking now: what is body of Christ doing to alleviate the pain in Malawi?
The vision of Esther's House Ministries is to come alongside the work currently in place serving the orphans and widows to help make their community better. One of the next steps Esther's House Ministries feels is necessary to make this happen is to build a clinic in the Madzanje Village. The nearest medical facility to Madzanje is nearly 20km away-a distance much too far for the sick, pregnant or elderly to walk. The resulting cruel reality is that thousands do without medical care every year, many times leading to tragic and unnecessary death.
The need for medical care is great in many places in Malawi but the decision has been made to move forward with a medical clinic in Madzanje for many reasons.
- The medical clinic will compliment work already being done in the Ntcheu District, making a bigger sustainable difference than working a solution to one problem here and the solution to another problem there.
- Esther's House Ministries now has a full time American missionary, aRN who is very qualified to help train Malawians working in the clinic and also very capable of maximizing the clinic platform as it becomes a training center for basic hygiene and first aid practices for the general population.
- Esther's House Ministries is in partnership with an American doctor whom God has given a true heart for the people of Malawi. He has committed to dedicate a significant amount of his time to creating a medical training center in Malawi.
- The Lord has granted Esther's House Ministries great favor in relationships with tribal and governing authorities. These relationships allow projects to progress much more smoothly than could otherwise be expected.
So what does this mean to you and me? Esther's House Ministries is asking individuals, churches, families, and organizations to follow as God leads and make commitments to bake sale, garage sale, or just plain give to help the people of Malawi. Esther's House Ministries is looking for commitments of $5,000 by each family or organization. It would only take 60 groups to meet that goal.
60 groups committing to raising $5000 each would provide enough capital to...
- build a village clinic
- furnish and equip the clinic
- equip the clinic to be a medical training center
- build staff housing for Malawian nationals learning in the program
- provide for mission lodging for international servants
Be praying about how God wants you to become involved!
