John will be out there from early July to supervise:-

• property maintenance at Mlowe Clinic and staff houses
• reroofing of a number of double orphan houses, replacing grass roofs with tin.
• building at least one house for an orphan family
• repairing a Mission Station house at Maponda
• providing local co-ordination for various families who are coming to see, hear, smell and experience Africa for the first time
• establishment of a hospital equipment repair centre at Ekwendeni and service of x-ray and oxygen concentrator equipment
• installation of power feed and x-ray equipment at Embangweni

There are many people coming out from the UK to undertake these tasks. We ask for your prayers that everything will go ahead smoothly, professionally and on time.

A tester has been bought which gives information on oxygen levels delivered by oxygenators. Interesting results ! New filters are being purchased and servicing will be carried out by the hospital electricians on the next visit to Northern Malawi.

…..and it still works, but Health and Safety would not approve! This is the current, main hospital sterilising equipment. It is powered by parraffin and the pressure pumped up like a Tilley lamp or Primus stove.

A few days ago an e-mail arrived, informing us that a modern replacement has been sourced in Aberdeen. This will shortly be on its way to Malawi.

Some funding has been made available to supply another pair of bullocks and a plough which will enable a community to increase food production and create an income from hiring the equipment to other villages. During his last visit to Malawi, John held discussions with a community in the Henga Valley, just north of Rhumpi. The farmers are very keen to become involved, have formed a local committee and are building facilities to house the bullocks.

Ben is a Grade 3 motor mechanic in Mzuzu. He is a good mechanic and does his best with very limited tools. During John Challis’s last visit to Malawi, John was able to present Ben with a set of tools donated to the Raven Trust. These will greatly help him in his work.

The rainy season has lasted longer than usual in Malawi this year. During John’s visit in March/April there were several heavy rain storms and the Gorodi Road was very slippery and had suffered some damage.

Workers were soon out with supplies of stones etc. to repair the road and prevent more damage.

A number of Tambuka Bibles were recently sourced and funded. These were given to various people in Northern Malawi. One was received by a Sunday School teacher who, the next day, was able to read a Bible story to the young people in the Sunday School for the first time in the local language. Tambuka is spoken only in the north of Malawi and parts of Zimbabwe.

A number of the Bibles will be going with the General Secretary of Livingstonia Synod (Rev Levi Nyondo) on a pastoral visit to Zimbabwe shortly.. The Harare congregation is linked with Malawi. We pray that God will use these Bibles among the people of Malawi and Zimbabwe.

John Challis returned to Strachur last week, just ahead of the cloud of volcanic ash which closed most European airports. He brought with him news and pictures from Malawi. On 7th April, he was in Ekwendeni to see the safe arrival and unloading of FCL68. The container, packed with all kinds of goods destined for Ekwendeni, Embangweni, Livingstonia, Bandawe, Mzuzu, Likoma Island and other places, was unloaded quickly and efficiently and the goods sorted out into piles for the various destinations and recipients. The local pastor then led prayers giving thanks for the donors and the safe arrival of the goods and for those who would distribute and use the goods sent.

More information on types of household goods is to be found on the “Elijah Packs” page.