Diagnosis: Demon-Possession
When T arrived to the village clinic, her mother related an unusual medical history to Pam. “T can’t speak. She avoids eye contact. She does not respond to direct questions or commands. She has convulsions. Years ago, she burned all the fingers and toes off one side of her body.  We are both members of an  African Traditional church.”  Pam passed the word to the medical volunteer team members from Selma, AL,  asking them  to stop everything and pray for T.  Diagnosis: demon- possession. In this atmosphere of prayer, Bob began to tell T and her mother about new life in Christ. To the mother’s astonishment, T began to speak, pouring out her life story. The voices had begun speaking to her when she was just a little child. They told her to throw herself in the fire. T did not want to do this anymore. She wanted to be free. Bob led T in a lengthy time of repentance and renunciation, and she eagerly prayed. She immediately began smiling and speaking to others with a more radiant countenance than we could imagine. Pray that T will become a bold witness for Jesus in her home village.

Summer Semester vols         
It has been great to have Mary McVay, Janie Ogle, our daughter Rachel, and Molly Jones working with us this summer. These girls have lived independently in the   village below our house, and participated in a number of different ministries.  They have taught at the women’s Bible school, led a weekly backyard Bible club, assisted the Selma medical team in a week of clinics, prayerwalked a tough portion of our Mozambique ministry area, partnered with a local youth agency, and learned a lot about Lomwe traditional culture.  As we say goodbye to these young ladies, please pray that the Lord will continue to use the things they experienced here to grow them in the ways most useful in His kingdom!

AIDS in our area        
When we first headed to Malawi in 1994, AIDS was the number one concern expressed by many of our friends.  But in Lomweland, AIDS is only one of many ways to die.

 While it is not unusual for the district hospital to send people to our house for either medicine or spiritual counsel, a recent arrival broke Pam’s heart.  The man was shaking, laboring to breathe, and still had an IV port inserted into his arm. When she asked the man what he needed, he initially asked Pam only to pray for him.  He explained that he had been being treated at the hospital for AIDS-related pneumonia.  However, the hospital was now discharging him to go home to die (imagine this: no pain medicine and no hospice care).  This man had been on ARV’s (anti-retroviral drugs) for the past 3 years, but now the medicines were no longer working.  The hospital workers told him that it would be a hardship for his family to have to claim his body from the mortuary and pay someone to transport it all the way back home.  They told him it would just be easiest all around if he were at his home village when he passed away. 

In Lomwe traditional thought, it is critical for a person to be buried in or near his home village.  Spirits of departed loved ones and neighbors are said to be the main forces that interfere in the daily affairs of man.  As a person approaches death, his relatives and neighbors believe they must show him great respect and grant any last requests so that when the person dies, his spirit will be favorably disposed to them instead of angry. 

With all this in mind, the man then asked if we had any spare soap.  He said he knew his family would want to bathe his body and wash his clothes after he died.  Pam brought him soap, a bottle of drinking water, and a little money to help with his transportation.  After making sure this man had already trusted Christ for salvation, Pam encouraged him and prayed for him.  We use a little book called “Kukhala m’Chiyembekezo” (Living in Hope).  This book was designed to encourage AIDS sufferers; it is available in a number of languages through local Bible Societies.  The main thrust of this little book is that the present life is full of troubles, but the life to come will be glorious for those who are prepared for eternity through a relationship with Christ. Pray for AIDS sufferers and the missionaries and health care workers that minister to them. Approximately 1/3 of the people we come in contact with are HIV+.  Pray that we will be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading when sick people come our way.    

In June, our whole family (along with vols) traveled back into Mozambique for prayer-driving.  We have now prayed over most of Lomweland, an area the size of South Carolina. One district in our People Group is significantly less reached than any other part of Lomweland, and many in that area are now being targeted for proselytizing by a deliberate Islamic outreach.  Pray for us as we begin evangelizing along this battlefront. Pray specifically for deeper Portuguese and eventually eLomwe language skills; deep into Mozambique we cannot use the Chichewa language we are so comfortable with here in Malawi.