June 2014 – Focus on Malawi

28/06/2014

FCL 92 arrives in Ekwendeni

We have heard that the latest container from Strachur arrived and was unloaded this afternoon (28th June) It has taken just 2 months from Strachur to Ekwendeni and Jeffrey Mwala, the co-ordinator of Primary Health Care for the Synod of Livingstonia sent us this message:-

I write to inform you that we have successfully off-loaded the container Shipment No. FCL 92 EKW this afternoon here at Ekwendeni Hospital. Most of the members whose items were in it came to witness and collect them.

We want to commend your trust for the untiring support being rendered to us in this country. Please extend our appreciation to all who share their resources to us so that we can serve God’s people well. May God continue blessing your trust and all others supporting us.

Jeffrey Mwala

We pass on the thanks of all who receive the goods to those who donate, collect, pack, list and load containers in Strachur and Dundee

21/06/2014

Thanks from Ekwendeni

We recently received this letter from Kistone Mhango – Director of the Primary Health Care Department of Ekwendeni Hospital:-

CHURCH OF CENTRAL AFRICA, PRESBYTERIAN

SYNOD OF LIVINGSTONIA

EKWENDENI HOSPITAL

Greetings from Ekwendeni Primary Health Care Department. On behalf of the department, I am writing this letter to express our sincere thanks for the gifts that came to PHC Department through the recent container. We received the clothes for the children and knitted cloths for adults. We distributed these clothes during one of our static clinics and the recipients were very happy to get them as per the photos above. Besides that, we received the curtains and utensils. We have put the curtains in the windows of the PHC Block. Please extend our heart- felt appreciation to individuals, groups and congregations and of course to the Raven Trust team for organizing and put these items together for us. May God bless you abundantly.

20/06/201420/06/2014

Beekeeping in Malawi and Kenya

During his visit to Malawi, John visited the Livingstonia Beekeepers Cooperative – the end result of a project Begun by the Raven Trust 10 years ago when John was asked to send hives from the UK so that poor widows and families could generate a little income. Instead John taught locals to make their own hives and organised the training of Hudson Chisambo who, in turn, trained others in beekeeping and production of honey with the help of a colourful little book “Bees in Central Africa” which was written by Paul Latham and translated into the local language. In 2006 the “Honey House” was built to provide a clean space to produce, bottle and label the honey ready for sale. The cooperative now has 54 members who, between them, produces 7 tons of honey last year and Hudson has become a “trainers of trainers” in demand all over Malawi and beyond.

On his way home last week, John stopped off in Kenya at the request of a charity working there, to visit a community who would like to do the same as the Livingstonia group and advise them. He explained how they could progress with simple tools and equipment. Paul Latham’s book has already been printed in Swahili – the local language – and, it is hoped, that Hudson might also be able to visit to train and advise.