| Larry and Janet's Lilongwe Letter September 2002 |
| Impressions...... One of our students is seriously ill and probably dying in a Lilongwe hospital (our ABC Community Clinic is not equipped for overnight inpatient hospital care at this point). While visiting him there, I was impressed by several things that I would like to share with you. An image that has been indelibly printed in my mind was the time when he was assisted to sit up to eat. His family, who maintain a constant vigil at his bedside, provides food for him and the other. Seeing that he was too weak to sit up for himself, (and hospital beds are not adjustable there), his younger brothers gently lifted him forward and sat behind him, cradling him in his arms in order to give him the support needed to take some nourishment offered by another of his brothers. Larry commented to me later that Malawians may not have access to adequate medical treatment, but they don�t ever live alone and they don�t have to die alone. As I think back on my years of working as a nurse in the States, I can�t help but think of the many frightened people who were facing such times all alone. � Who really is suffering the most? Since Larry and I both have been blessed with �O negative� blood, which is the universal donor, we were happy to donate for our student, whose levels were dangerously low. After being satisfied that the needle and equipment was new, sterile and unused, we each gave our pint. It was interesting to see the procedures used. For instance, instead of the 100 questions about the most intimate personal relationships (those of you who have given blood will know what I mean), they only asked our name and address and wrote our name on the bag. Then the lab technician swiftly inserted the needle and began the procedure � no bother for dressings or even tape � needless to say, we stayed very still! When finished, instead of fancy little crimping tools to stopping the flow of blood in the tubing, they simply tied the tubing in knots. |
| The students are back and school is back in session once again! The freshman are all eyes and wonder as they enter into the pace here at ABC. This semester, Larry is again teaching World History, Church History and Hermeneutics. I am teaching Christian Ethics, Leadership Training and a class for women on how to do and teach an Inductive Bible Study. It is so much fun to teach here, especially classes like Ethics, which is a discussion class. The way the educational system works here in Malawi, they are used to learning by rote memorization. When I get the freshmen in Ethics, and ask them questions that they have to think about, it is a new thing for them. They are especially amazed when I encourage them to contemplate the issues and even debate with each other! We get into the most interesting discussions. Some are the same as you might find anywhere else in the world regarding life�s issues, but others - such as Polygamy - are big issues here in Malawi, where about � to 1/3rd of our student body come from homes where polygamy is practiced. |
| NetACT... African Bible College has joined a networking association of Theological Institutions in Southern Africa called NetACT. Along with raising the standards of academic excellence, want to be more than just an organization who has meetings, and is therefore attempting to put into practice what they are preaching, by focusing on one area of need in Africa and working to make a Christian difference in that area. They have selected HIV/AIDS which is certainly one of the most significant needs to affect this continent. This past August, the ABC campus was host to the 2002 Annual NetACT conference, and people came here from 7 different Sub-Saharan countries (Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe) Without exception, those heads of institutions came by to ask how we did it at ABC, to have such a nice campus and students who go on to make such a difference in their world (we gave them a list of what our graduates are currently doing in Africa). We explained to them that too often, people feel like �this is Africa�, and that gives excuse for doing less than their best. Even with lower tuitions and incoming cash flow than many of them, ABC was able to stand ahead of the rest because of our belief that since we are working in Christ�s name, we should be giving our very best in every way we can. I have been elected as the chairman of the NetACT commission on HIV/AIDS and they will be flying me and another fellow on the committee from Zambia to South Africa where we will receive some specialized, intensive training on HIV/AIDS which will equip us to travel to all of the NetACT institutions teaching their students as well as the local clergy about what the Church can do in this current AIDS crisis. |
| Bicycle Ambulance... We now have a bicycle ambulance for those who need medical care but do not have the strength to make it to the clinic. Since vehicles cannot make it to the door of many of their huts, it will be a great thing to assist them in receiving the medical care they need. |
| Larry has been working hard this past year to complete a second master�s degree. He is credentialed in theology, but since much of what he is teaching here at ABC has to do with history, it seemed reasonable that he should pursue further studies in that area. In addition, we have found that we can study at the University of Stellenbosch, which is a very good school, for an entire year for less than it would cost for one post-graduate course in the United States. As college professors, it is important to keep current in what we are doing, so this seemed like a perfect opportunity to do so. Larry has now completed a MTH (master�s degree) in Church History and will be continuing his studies in this area. |
| I guess this issue has had quite a focus on HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, it is impossible to live here in Africa and not be at least indirectly affected by the horror this scourge is leaving on Africa. It is encouraging to see that that the Church is now looking for ways to make a difference in this part of the world as it seeks to make an impact in the areas of prevention of infection by teaching Christian values and Godly living, as well as caring for those who are afflicted with this disease |
| We are SO looking forward to Janet�s home church sending a team out to ABC in October! A group of 5 will be coming for a taste of Malawi. We will be moving from living in the village with the people to hopefully seeing an elephant on safari. I have told them to plan to get their sleep on the plane going home, because we have a busy time scheduled for them while they are here! |
| Prayer Requests: Pray for Aubrey, one of our students who was severely injured in a car accident. *UPDATE*** Aubrey has completely recovered and is back in class this semester � thank you all for your prayers!!! PTL! Pray for God�s continued direction and provision as we move forward to begin organizing for the Uganda and Swaziland campuses. Pray for the new school year as we begin once again, �Teaching the Treasures of God�s Word� |
 |
 |
 |
 |