July 2025

Greetings in the name of our .

Last month, my husband Gary and I visited Malawi and Zambia over 11 days, meeting with our leaders and staff, and visiting clinics. This was my third trip to Africa in the three years since Gary and I returned to the States. Gary had also been to Kenya to start preparations for our 2026 medical camp, and then joined me in Malawi. We stayed in the apartment adjoining the house in Lilongwe and were able to see just how our Clinic Administrator, Lusungu Mwambeye, is capably handling the challenges of running the Lutheran Mobile Clinic. One example is how she arranged for surveys to be done of all four of our clinic properties to obtain government leases and prevent people from encroaching on our properties. We were there for the monthly staff meeting, and saw everyone diligently working together on monthly inventory and statistics, so that Violet Chikwatu, Nurse in in Charge, could complete the government reports for May. Violet and Lusungu continue to work well together and keep things running smoothly.

Going out to the village clinics is always my favorite part of these visits. It was obvious that the many outpatients seen in a day reflected the recent higher numbers in our monthly reports. I noticed that some patients had been seen at local government clinics and prescribed medicine that they were told to obtain at our clinics, because those clinics didn’t have any. I observed the nurses at the pharmacy station calmly giving numerous injections and intravenous medications for children and adults who were seriously sick with pneumonia, asthma and infections. There were several referrals to the hospital in Lilongwe. I saw in Violet’s record where in one day, eight patients were referred, mainly with severe pneumonia which is common in the cold season. These people depend on the preventative care and lifesaving treatment which the Lutheran Mobile
Clinic provides. We are thankful that CAMM is able to afford the essential medications, and that Violet works hard to find them in pharmacies around Lilongwe. Most importantly, we know that our patients also hear the soul-saving message of the gospel.

Going out to the village clinics is always my favorite part of these visits. It was obvious
that the many outpatients seen in a day reflected the recent higher numbers in our
monthly reports. I noticed that some patients had been seen at local government clinics and prescribed medicine that they were told to obtain at our clinics, because those clinics didn’t have any. I observed the nurses at the pharmacy station calmly giving
numerous injections and intravenous medications for children and adults who were seriously sick with pneumonia, asthma and infections. There were several referrals to the hospital in Lilongwe.

I saw in Violet’s record where in one day, eight patients were referred, mainly with severe
pneumonia which is common in the cold season. These people depend on the preventative care and lifesaving treatment which the Lutheran Mobile Clinic provides. We are thankful that CAMM is able to afford the essential medications, and that Violet works hard to find them in pharmacies around Lilongwe. Most importantly, we know that our patients also hear the soul- saving message of the gospel.

I was still impressed with how, despite seeing 150-200 patients along with the under-fives,
antenatal, family planning, nutrition and HIV testing/counseling clients, the clinicians and
nurses worked cheerfully and efficiently, as a team. The same volunteers which helped us
through COVID years were still doing blood pressure checks, malaria tests, weights, and
directing patients to the proper lines. Violet stepped in to help in whatever station she was needed. The nurse-midwives were happy to receive a new fetal doppler we had brought, to more easily hear the infant heartbeat of our antenatal clients.

One of the highlights at Msambo clinic was being able to see all five of the children with
disabilities who still receive regular physical therapy, and their mothers. All are continuing to make progress in mobility or speech. One little girl named Lontira who was born with a very deformed spine and has had difficulty sitting, is waiting for surgery. Mom told me she will go to a hospital in Blantyre when the specialists come to Malawi to do these complicated procedures. She is a member of the Lutheran church at Msambo. We pray for her brave mom, and for Lontira to have a successful surgery which improves her mobility.

After a busy week, we flew to Zambia. We spent time with Alisad Banda, Clinic Administrator who drove us out to Mwembezhi for a day at the Lutheran Rural Health Center. The staff warmly welcomed us as they prepared for Under-fives and Diabetic clinic. We spoke with Future Beloyi, our nurse who recently completed midwifery training. She was happy to receive a new fetal doppler for use with antenatals. We also spoke with Muzundwase Chikwekwe, a nurse who would soon start her midwifery training for the next 18 months. The clinic will benefit from having two Lutheran Nurse-Midwives, with about 150 deliveries at clinic in the past year.

We met with Jackson Kalekwa, Clinical Officer in charge, and Anthony Kasonga, laboratory technician, to discuss things like the need for more space for maternity patients and a separate laboratory area for TB patients. Anthony is the chairman at Martin Luther Church, adjacent to the clinic. We learned that he has been instrumental in causing the church attendance to grow to about 100 people each Sunday, including many clinic staff members, despite there being no permanent pastor. Alisad also holds Bible studies for staff on a regular basis. Crispin Chikonka, the clinic’s psychosocial counselor, gives a devotion for clinic attendees each morning. The LMRHC now has a second Clinical officer, Samalani Nyirenda, who works as a clinician alongside Jackson. We were glad to meet him in person and know that he was a welcome
addition to the team.

So, that’s the update from “the field”. Gary and I joined 3 other CAMM committee members in attending the LWMS Convention in Tulsa the last weekend of June. It was a joy to meet fellow CAMM supporters and speak with those who might be new to the medical mission. They have good questions and ideas for how to communicate about the mission and support our staff and patients. Thank you all so much for continuing to show your love for the work of CAMM and being faithful in prayer!

Your Sister in Christ

Beth Evan