Saturday, December 17, 2005

MALAWI UPDATE

As Christmas approaches our latest initiative is Malawi' cards, some with a Christmas message and others left blank so they could be used for a variety of other occasions. Put them on your list for Christmas mail and birthdays.

Thank you for your support at the Christmas stall and raffle which raised just over $1,000 .The raffle had special significance in that the first prize was a beautiful but simple table cloth and place mats, embroidered by a St Kizito parishioner so that this year we shared with them in our fundraising activities.

Thanks for your support, either in donations, wonderful prizes donated or in supporting our activities in so many different ways. Many thanks to all of our committee members who worked so effectively together in making the year such a successful one.

The group this year expanded our communications network, introduced new initiatives such as the Jewellery Night and Christmas Cards whilst maintaining our traditional activities comprising of our Trivia night, Eltham Little Theatre and raffles. It all contributed very well and helped your parish enjoy a special fellowship whilst raising funds.

Below is a recent e mail from Fr Patrick

To everyone there. I want to say thank you for all your prayers and support in the past year and to wish each one of you and your families the blessings of Christmas (Emmanuel) now and through out 2006.

I had hoped to send you some photos of the food distribution which is up and running but was unwell for a while but will look into it soon, I hope. The second distribution took place today for Christmas and in the spirit of giving to those in need you are very much part of today's event and others through out the year and to come.

God Bless,

Fr. Patrick McCallion
Thank you and wishing you a very happy and holy Christmas

Thursday, December 08, 2005

NEWS FROM SR MARY DOONAN

Dear Lindsay & Friends
Once again we start to prepare for Christmas – although hard to believe as an Irish person in the midst of such heat. Christmas is always a time of hope and also a time to reflect back on the past year and thank God for His many blessings.

I just got back from Home leave in Ireland at end of October, - already it feels like I have never been away. You are possibly hearing on the news that Malawi is one of the countries hit with food shortage yet again. The South and along the lakeshore are worst affected. Although thankfully we are not among the parts worst hit we still have many vulnerable families needing assistance with food, seed and fertilizer. We have just completed helping the women to purchase fertilizer and seed – there is a voucher system for cheaper fertilizer arranged by the Government but still the really poor cannot find adequate cash to buy the seed and fertilizer, they needed further help. The women are busy working in their gardens these days and we are all busy praying for good rains and a good harvest. We have also bought maize, beans, cooking oil and salt which we have stored at the Parish to help poor families over Christmas.

At the end of October our Women’s Groups participated in The International Women’s Fair here in Lilongwe where they did manage to sell some of their handcrafts. Whilst they were happy with what they sold and their experience of the sale they realised just how difficult it is to sell crafts. Whilst the women enjoy and are excellent at their craft work and love to learn more they also need to make some money. So now I am encouraging all my expatriate friends to buy their Christmas gifts from the women!

The various Women’s Groups again produced some beautiful warm sweaters for the orphans in the villages and Township – this seems to have become an annual event alongside distribution of blankets for the Cold Season.

We have recommenced our mosquito net scheme – we can get subsidised mosquito nets, Mk80 each, from the District Health Office- some women sell them at MK100, which is affordable and make a little profit and it means most families have nets and we see a lot less malaria. The women are very happy these days as we now commence our TB Programme with Government in the Township. This means people who are coughing no longer have to walk miles to the hospital for testing or treatment – instead samples for testing will be taken and if positive for TB medication will be provided free of charge to them in the Township. TB is rampant in the Township so we hope this programme will encourage more to come forward for testing and treatment and so cut back on the amount of TB in the community .The numbers of orphans in the community continues to increase as more parents become ill and die with AIDS. It is our hope that The TB Programme which will work hand in hand with our HIV\AIDS Programme will encourage more adults to go for HIV testing and counselling and avail of the ARV medication which is available. This should facilitate people with HIV to live longer and with a better quality of life – and what a difference that should make to their children too.

We also continue to provide a support group and basic counselling services for the women – our hope in time is that they in turn will gain enough confidence and skills to start talking with the orphans and indeed their own children re HIV\AIDS and death- but this will take time as it is counter cultural.

They are but some of the happenings in the villages and township – the daily joys and struggles the women and their families face. I hope they will give you a little picture of how you in partnership with us have helped the women and their families. Thank you again for being our partners in Christ’s healing mission here in Malawi.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers and we will remember you and your intentions too. Again, we wish you a happy Christmas and peace and joy in the New Year.

Sr. Mary

From our MMM Women’s Group’s and Sister Mary Doonan MMM

NEWS FROM FR PATRICK IN MALAWI

Just a quick e-mail to say you were very much in our prayers today as we started out distribution of Maize seed and fertilizer. I took a few photos to finish off a roll and should have them developed tomorrow or the next day and will see if anything to scan. 100 families received 50kg fertilizer and 5kg maize seed today. On Wed 150 families will receive Maize, ground nuts and beans all full of protein to help during this time. The maize is very scarce but I have my contacts from 2002 period and are will to sell me maize, however the price is double the normal price. We hope to continue with these 150 families until end of March. Each month they will receive the distribution to help them to harvest time. I am sure at some stage I will be asking you to send more funds, but for the moment with your donation and other funds available to me we can manage for this distribution and the next which will be before Christmas, then I will let you know.

Confirmations went off well at Mtsiriza on Saturday. It was the first time they had confirmation at their center and so were very happy. Normally it is combined with the confirmations here at the parish center. On Sunday we will have the confirmations here at St. Kizito. I hope also to have some photos to send you of both once I get them off the ones taking photos.

I really have to congratulate you on the beautiful cards you created and are sending. Really they are perfect and I would have loved a few myself to send, maybe next time.

Well this was to be a quick note, believe me I am exhausted these days. I should say also that rains did arrive last week and it has helped cool the air down a bit. Please keep us in your prayers that we get good rains this year. It is very late and again anxious times since it is a week already since the heavy rain. This time is always an anxious time for everyone.

God bless and continue you good works,

Sincerely,
Fr. Patrick