The Raven Trust… serving needy communities in Malawi
Containers…
FCL69 has arrived at the store in Ekwendeni. It contains a
range of items including clothing for various orphan care
projects, books and computers and sheets of lead to line xray room doors at Ekwendeni and Embangweni so that the
rooms are radiologically secure.
May 2010
carried out. Each health catchment area is producing a fiveyear plan for water supplies for drinking and irrigation.
Agriculture project
FCL70 was loaded recently with 1121 boxes including an
autoclave steriliser for the operating theatre at Embangweni.
This will replace the ancient piece of kit that has many
problems. The loading went well and 26 people came to
help on a dry warm spring day. It was good to see some new
faces and it is amazing how the team always comes together,
the loaders, the packers and the catering staff. Once the seal
was fixed the final act of the day was for the Minister to
commend the container in prayer on its long journey to
central Africa.
FCL71 - boxes are arriving in the Strachur store where the
numbering team, check and record the contents and
destination of every box onto the ships manifest.
Tools given…
Ben, a self-employed Grade 3
vehicle mechanic in Mzuzu,
received a box of engineering
tools, including metric spanners,
which had been donated and sent
out in a container. He was
delighted with these tools as he
could not afford to buy them and
tools of this quality are hard to
come by. Ben keeps our vehicle,
as well as many others,
roadworthy in Malawi. Thank
you to whoever provided this special gift.
Green labels…
A group faithfully sends boxes via Blythswood’s store which
we receive and ship yet we don’t know who you are. The
labels are beautifully produced and taped onto the boxes and
we would like to hear from you so we can put a name on the
records.
North east weekend…
A weekend of meetings is being planned for Friday 29th to
Sunday 31st October at Lossiemouth, Macduff/Gardenstown
and Peterhead. The meetings will be for prayer, praise and
information about the Raven Trust. A meeting in the southwest is also being planned. Details later.
Water well repair project…
Every report received from
Malawi is an encouragement
as so much has been
achieved in reinstating safe
water supplies to many
thousands of people in the
Ekwendeni area for a modest
cost. A local survey is being
The first set of bullocks and ploughs has been placed at
Jumbo, north of Ekwendeni. The first year’s assessment will
be carried out shortly. Further funds have been raised by
Mark Greenwood on various sponsored events. Discussions
were held recently with the Chief, Minister and other
community workers in the Henga valley. Another set of
bullocks and ploughs will be provided for this community.
The aim is to increase food production and help these remote
rural communities out of poverty.
2010 summer project…
Alan Laverock is
leading a group
of 26 people (in
two groups) to
work with the
hospital
(DGMH) at
Livingstonia.
The main
project is to reroof houses
belonging to
young orphans.
Working with
Young Soko of
the Primary
Health
Department
(PHC) the
Housing for Orphans project aims to build at least one house
for an orphaned family and supply and fix about a dozen
steel roofs to replace straw roofs. This will make them waterproof. Next year it may be possible to cement the floors and
plaster the walls. Blankets, cooking pots and curtains will be
provided so that the house can become a real home.
Raven House in Mzuzu…
The group will also undertake work at Mlowe health clinic
which has lacked maintenance over many years and will
carry out improvements to staff houses, install 24/7 water
supply and bring electricity to various buildings. The team
has some highly skilled trades people and youth workers
who will be able to share skills with local craftsmen and
youth leaders.
March 2010 visit…
John’s job list had 42 tasks and 90% was achieved! The
varied tasks included delivering letters and packages to
various individuals on behalf of Church support groups,
monitoring developments at a school house building
programme for a linked Scottish Church and preparing
accommodation and tasks for the summer building project at
Livingstonia. At Embangweni, time was spent planning for
the x-ray equipment installation later in the year and at
Ekwendeni some refurbishment was carried out at the X-ray
room installing a lead x-ray proof glass window and bricking
up a doorway. Having bought an oxygen level tester, the
oxygen concentrators at the various hospitals were tested
with interesting results. A new supply of filters has been
purchased and will be taken out to service these pieces of
equipment on the next visit.
The Synod of Livingstonia has made available a different
house in Mzuzu. This is larger than the previous one and
provides accommodation for people visiting the Church’s
work and ministry. From the comments in the visitor book,
these facilities are much appreciated. The house is basic and
comfortable and a quiet oasis following busy days on
projects and meetings.
Give thanks…
• for improvements in Kiston’s condition.
•
for containers, supplies, loadings and distribution of
goods and all involved in making this happen.
•
for progress in the water wells project and the
interest from other organisations in the pilot project.
•
for the agricultural projects and for Mark’s
fundraising for this
Pray….
•
that Kiston’s health will continue to improve
•
that the Orphan Housing project will lead to each
young person benefitting from better housing and
understanding something of God’s love for them
•
for the safety of groups visiting Malawi and that
each will have a smooth journey and a useful visit,
bringing information and feedback to Scottish
churches and groups.`
Needs….
This antique is the main autoclave found at
Embangweni. A modern replacement from
Aberdeenshire is on its way in FCL70
An asset survey of equipment was carried out at all three
mission hospitals and faults identified -sometimes simply a
bulb required such as in the operating theatre light but some
times the fault is more complex. More work is needed in
these areas.
Malawi Familiarisation Visits
Over 40 people will visit Malawi under the guidance of the
Raven Trust this summer to see the country, meet the people
and experience the conditions there for themselves. Many
people who have done this in the past have gone on, in
subsequent years, to work on their own projects with support
from the Raven Trust, e.g. Sue Kevan in the eye clinic work
and Keith Feay in his work with hospital equipment training
and maintenance, especially x-ray.
We are aware that there is a
great need in hospitals in
Malawi for single blankets,
and cotton sheets. Can anyone
help?
Bay Villa, Strachur, Argyll PA27 8DE
+44 (0) 1369 860436
Scottish charity SC 30260
Scottish company limited by guarantee SC362281
1 Chronicles 16: 9 – 36
“Sing praise to the Lord; tell the wonderful
things he has done. Be glad that we belong to
Him….. Go to the Lord for help.”