Happy New Year – even though we are into February!

We celebrated New Year’s Eve at Missionary Peter Martin’s house. Most of the Lilongwe Lutheran Mission families took part in the fun. We started our evening with devotion led by Pastor Martin and we sang a hymn. We had an “appetizer potluck” for dinner and then played Trivial Pursuit. Pastor Martin set the clocks ahead so we “rang in the New Year” a couple of hours early (for the children’s sake).

The rains have begun and we are enjoying “Rainy Season” right now. The rains have not kept us from getting to our clinics at Suzi and Thunga so far. We have been thankful already for the good tires and 4WD on the “new ambulance”. The maize and tobacco are growing throughout the countryside and the landscape is mostly green again. The green scenery is a blessing from the rains. It’s beautiful! Occasionally it gets hot but not for long because the near daily rains bring the temperatures back down. Most of the time the temperatures are quite comfortable.

Our gardener, Elias, has decided to leave employment with LMC and move closer to his “home village.” We were sorry to say goodbye to him and will miss him, but we hope he will enjoy being closer to his extended family. We have talked with several candidates that are interested in the LMC gardener position so we expect to hire someone soon.

Lack of diesel has continued to be a difficulty throughout January. Last week we were able to refill both ambulances, so we should be able to get to our clinics this week and next week. Please continue to pray for the fuel we need so that we can get to our patients. The price of diesel is about $8 a gallon.

We were able to buy a new washer and dryer thanks to a special donation from the LWMS projects. Thank you to the LWMS! Both have been installed and are working well.

Both Melissa and I have been blessed with visitors this month. It is very rewarding to share first-hand the work that is being done at our clinics. Our health teaching session at the clinics this month focuses on anemia and malaria. With the rain comes mosquitoes – and with mosquitoes comes malaria. This signals the start of a very busy time at our clinics.

Besides getting to experience what our days are like at different clinic sites, my friend Maria has been able to attend a “joint worship” service, where the pastors combine the Chichewa and English services. We are always blessed with beautiful singing from the Chichewa choirs but at the joint service we get to hear more of it.

God’s Blessings,
Kari

Father, let me dedicate all this year to Thee,
In whatever earthly state Thou wilt have me be.
Not from sorrow, pain, or care freedom dare I claim;
This alone shall be my prayer; Glorify Thy name. TLH #118