Team/project visitors
Thanks to everyone who has kept in touch since the last
Newslink – July 2014! The trust has been busy sending five more
containers and organising the visits of more than 15 team
members for specialist projects in Malawi.
05/07/14 from Dundee arrived 07/10/14
All had successful visits. John spent a lot of time
getting people to the right place on the right day, fed,
watered, equipped and housed. The Internet is erratic
and phones unreliable. The vehicles were a challenge
as they rapidly disintegrate on the rough “tracks” to
remote areas. Praise God everyone arrived and
returned safe and well.
26/08/14 from Strachur arrived 14/11/14
Visitors 2016 – please keep in touch as places are limited.
Containers
The Raven Trust...serving needy communities in Malawi
June 2015
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:12 - This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in
many expressions of thanks to God.
06/12/14 from Dundee arrived 10/02/15
04/03 15 from Strachur arrived 15/05/15
Prayer points
06/06/15 from Dundee should arrive in September 15
Praise God for 20 years of the amazing journey of the Raven
Trust. Truly “workers together in Christ” – many thousands
of people involved in getting on with the practical work of
looking after orphans and widows, seeking justice for the
poor and sharing the great good news of the Gospel. Thank
God for all this practical supply, physical protection and the
joy of doing this work.
Nearly 6000 boxes of much needed goods support the
hospitals, schools and projects, plus the work of other
charities in northern Malawi. Thanks to everyone who
supplied, processed, transported, unloaded and
distributed everything. What a blessing to have good
teams here and in Malawi – thank you all!
The Dundee store is open every Saturday 10am – 12
noon. The Strachur store is open by arrangement with
Iain through the Raven Trust office - 01369 860436
Prayer requests – sensitivity and wisdom as we work in a
different culture, that our ways will not hinder the Gospel,
but serve to encourage others to get on with the work.
Please also pray as we look to continue the work of the
Raven Trust into the future. This is truly God’s work and
not ours!
Future Plans
Celebration Day - Mid November 2015 - more in the
next newsletter.
Summer Projects - John hopes to
 rebuild Zenda Bridge upstream after it was damaged.
last year due to flooding and landslips
 start a new footbridge for another village
 write up the water maintenance pilot project as well
as look after various visitors and team members.
Alan Laverock hopes to continue with the farming
initiatives (see Malawi Fruits website) and accountancy
projects
Milnes - a large dental team will visit in September (see
Smileawi website) and also another two dental
conferences
Sue Kevan and team will be training staff to use the
“eye box” to do sight tests and continue to upgrade
facilities at Livingstonia and Ekwendeni and also raise
funding for training and treatments.
Bob and Jan Baxter’s education work continues to vet
and supply resources, provide training and encourage
communication between schools.
John Littlejohn - will write up reports on Northern
Malawi water and monitor technicians in Malawi
We are looking to launch two new funds and this is the
first announcement of these.
Laptops – many of the CCAP departments do not have
adequate computers and this is holding back
training work. We would like to establish a fund for
the supply of these.
Education fund – often, we are asked to fund school or
college fees. Normally we say “no” as the demand
would be overwhelming and would be neither
achievable or the right way forward. But
occasionally we do come across a deserving cause
and are unable to help due to lack of funds. So we
would like to set up a small specialist fund to
upgrade the qualifications of a trainee, and then
probably bond the trainee to an appropriate
establishment for a couple of years, This would not
be a general education fund. This way there
should be a reasonable amount of oversight of the
student, the funds and the outcome.
If you are able to contribute to either of these, then we
would be pleased to hear from you. But not as pleased
as the Malawians!
John’s report from Malawi
Malawi is a wonderful country with friendly, generous
people despite the difficult conditions. The government
is financially dependent on aid which has been severely
reduced. This, coupled with a very poor maize harvest –
the staple diet and subsistence crop – could mean a very
difficult time at the end of the year for Malawi, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
I have seen several containers unloaded at Ekwendeni.
The team responsible for the unloading and distribution
is very well organised so all the departments usually get
the right boxes. At a well outside Ekwendeni I spotted a
small family and the children were all wearing jumpers I
think I recognise from Scotland. It does get cold here
(3000 feet, 10°C) and these knitted goods keep children
warm and healthy. So a big “thank you” to all our
knitters who are doing a wonderful job.
Hand tools from the container go to the training
workshops so the apprentices can have a basic set to
start their own businesses and they are very thankful as
hiring tools is expensive.
One of the many Raven Trust projects in the last two years
has been the refurbishment of the sewerage system at
Ekwendeni hospital which had become blocked and broken
in many places. Now the hospital and staff houses smell a lot
better! Replacement pump and parts, some cement and
bricks, a bit of cash to pump out the pits, some know-how
and a lot of backbreaking, hard, smelly work by a very good
Malawian team completed this vital project.
Another project which is nearly completed is the Water
Maintenance Pilot Project at Ekwendeni to identify, monitor
and repair wells. Lots of agencies have looked at the
problem of wells not being maintained but most lack the
local “feet on the ground” of a dedicated team and
reporting structure. It is a hard, hot, long day’s work to
dismantle and refurbish a borehole well, often simply
because a rubber ring has disintegrated (50p worth!). Parts
do wear out. This is hardly surprising when you consider that
recent survey data shows that there are so many families
using some of the wells and boreholes that the pumps are
subjected to an extremely high usage. Wear and tear can be
expected when pump components have to operate
hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of time per year to
keep the villages in clean water.
Once completed, the pilot project will be written up and
run at Ekwendeni plus a couple of other sites to make
sure the project is a viable way of maintaining wells in
rural areas. Already in the Ekwendeni area thousands of
people now have clean water from once broken wells.
Many thanks to our sponsor who has sourced funding
and freely given his advice for this project.
It is always a privilege to walk in the steps of pioneer
missionaries, continuing the work of evangelism,
education, health and, commerce.
Education – Bob and Jan Baxter’s Report
Smileawi – Nigel and Vicky Milne’s Report
Focus on Malawi – Sue and John Kevan’s Report
Accountancy training – Alan Laverock’s Report
We have always been impressed with the Malawian
attitude to education and we are so encouraged when
we learn about new moves emanating from it. The
results of the national exams continue to improve at
Tcharo and now we have extended the provision of
resources to Masuko (after a chance meeting with the
head teacher on a boat). This community is still further
down the lake than Tcharo, not easily accessible but
desperately keen to do what they can for their children.
This year has been a busy one for Smileawi. In September/
October we visited Malawi; our team consisted of two
dentists and our wonderful helper Catherine Smith. We
spent just over three weeks in Malawi and visited
Ekwendeni, Embangweni, Livingstonia, T'charo and a
number of rural clinics. We ran pain clinics at all of these
sites and saw almost 700 patients.
Ten years ago, Focus on Malawi (FoM), an informal
group of medical and non-medical volunteers, started
working in association with the Raven Trust to help
establish self-sustaining eye clinics in Ekwendeni and
Livingstonia hospitals.
Our partner church, CCAP, has over 20 cost centres –
places where accounting records are maintained. In
general, the accounts keepers lack the skills to take
these records to the stage of final accounts which are
audited. Lack of audited accounts means that they are
unable to partner with grant-giving bodies in UK. These
units include 3 hospitals, LISAP (the AIDS project),
schools etc. and the lack of grants holds back the work
with some of the neediest people on the planet.
The project aims to pass on the necessary skills through
training in Sage Accounts and Excel. So far, we have
worked with the 3 hospitals and the Health Coordination
Office, with LISAP, with Ekwendeni Nursing College, and
with the radio station (Voice of Livingstonia).
In July we aim to continue with the above and also to start
with the University of Livingstonia and the Lay Training
Centre. If time allows, we would like to move on to the
Women’s Guild and William Koyi Guest House.
The project aims to have audit accounts for 2016 by the
end of April 2017.
One of our teaching colleagues, Gift Nyirenda, has been
transferred from Luwuchi to the Rumphi district and,
while we continue to send materials to the lakeshore
schools to support the earlier library and resource
centres, we are now able to initiate a similar scheme
there. It’s wonderful because Gift will develop this
himself [at the moment at his school and one other] as
he was instrumental in establishing the earlier projects.
Already several boxes have been sent to Rumphi.
The National Curriculum has been expanded and in
2014 we were able to supply classroom sets of
Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths books to 4
Secondary schools in the Ekwendeni area and are now in
the process of supplying the same to the schools further
north: Livingstonia, Chitimba and Mlowe. All up-to-date
science textbooks are needed.
Pupils with special needs have, at last, been recognised
by the Government who have introduced a teaching
Diploma in Special Needs and now a degree course for
teachers. A very dedicated teacher is working in northern
Malawi and we are supporting her in any way we can.
Also a nurse in Livingstonia was given a biology textbook
and passed her upgrade exam with flying colours and
then handed the textbook back so someone else could
benefit .
Strachur Store - Iain MacPhillimy’s Report
In October 2014, after several years of helping Iain
MacPhillimy in the store at Strachur, Moira and Brian
Togwell retired from their sterling service to the work
of the Raven Trust - brilliant fellow workers, as two
thirds of the team at the manse outbuildings! Our
sincere thanks for all their hard work and humour
whatever the weather, sometimes freezing when Moira's
hot water bottle, and the mobile heater relieved the winter
chill. Their good cheer raised the temperature as Moira
completed all of the recording details for many thousands
of goods, and Brian generated much heat from his activities
as mover and stacker. And, they introduced the Monday
morning coffee break, sometimes out of doors in the lovely
Strachur sunshine. Brian and Moira have also provided the
catering on container days for large numbers of our
volunteers while other local helpers produced liquid fuel in
the form of soup, baking and other culinary delights. Well
done, Brian and Moira! We wish you well.
We also, with the help of the Raven Trust, ran a second
dental conference for the local dental therapists in the
north of Malawi. This one was incredibly well attended
with 14 dental therapists (out of 21 in the north)
present. Many thanks to John Challis for all his hard
work organising the event. Thanks to him also for
arranging a third event in May 2015. The local dental
therapists have formed an organisation called Smile
North which hopes, with our help, to meet twice a year.
We are also supporting the dental therapists with
materials and dental equipment and special thanks
should be given to Clyde Dental Products, Schottlander
and Premium Plus who continue to support our friends
in Malawi. All of this material of course travels out
thanks to the Raven Trust.
Plans are already well in place for this year's visit. We
will be taking out a much larger team of five dentists
and two assistants. We hope that this will be the first of
many large teams to go out. Our health education
programme in Malawi was extended this year. As well
as supporting Livingstonia Primary school, we are now
supporting the nursery school as well. Furthermore, we
have encouraged all of the clinical officers and nurses in
Embangweni and Ekwendeni to take out a simple oral
health message when they go out to rural clinics. All in
all a very exciting year.
Evangelism
The work continues but with
some serious challenges. One of
the leaders was hurt in a road
accident, the loudspeaker system
for the Jesus film had to be
replaced (damaged due to lack of
technical know-how). BUT - in
four rallies over 2000 people saw the Jesus film in their
own language and 300 became Christians. Many more
pastors are needed to set up churches and teach -huge
opportunities but very few labourers…………..
Ambulance Boats
Both boats have maintenance issues. John Watt and his
team do an amazing job in keeping these boats afloat
half a world away despite all frustrations and
communication problem. These boats are still saving
lives along the shore of Lake Malawi.
In co-operation with hospital management, and with
help from many people, there are now (in 2015) two
well-equipped eye clinic buildings and trained staff
working in them. FoM sources ophthalmic equipment,
sends prepared and measured second-hand glasses,
sponsors Malawi-based clinical training, and its
volunteers visit most years to do clinics, to meet
management for planning, and to train local staff.
Ekwendeni Hospital eye clinic now has two members of
staff who do basic eye tests and prescribe reading
glasses. To broaden the scope of this service, FoM
recently purchased and sent an autorefractor to
Ekwendeni to enable the staff to test and prescribe for
more complex vision needs. An FoM team from the UK
will arrive late May 2015 to train the staff in using the
machine.
While at Ekwendeni Mission, the FoM teams never fail
to visit the school for blind children. They usually
discover that many of the children can, with a little help,
get some useful vision to help improve their lives. Some
complex conditions may need surgery and, whenever
possible, FoM will pay the cost of treatment at a
specialist hospital in the south of Malawi.
At the David Gordon Memorial Hospital in Livingstonia,
a senior ophthalmic clinical officer recently joined, and
he has exciting plans to start cataract surgery in two or
three years’ time. Buildings to house an operating
theatre and a recovery ward are being planned while,
already, much of the surgical equipment has been
sourced.
There’s still much to do to achieve stable, selfsupporting eye care services, but to date we know that
many people – who are unable to afford glasses at city
prices (among them local teachers and medical staff) –
have received a new lease of life through the work of
the clinics.
The Raven Trust
Bay Villa, Strachur, Argyll, PA27 8DE
Telephone +44 (0) 1369 860436
Email:- strachur@aol.com
www.theraventrust.org.uk
Scottish charity SC30260
Company limited by guarantee Co No SC362281
Principal Trustee: John O. Challis
Company Secretary: Susanne Challis
John Littlejohn During October 2014 we surveyed
around 40 shallow wells and boreholes in the
Ekwendeni Hospital catchment area and water samples
were taken for chemical and bacteriological analysis.
This revealed that:Salty tasting water was a common complaint from those
people using borehole water.
The microbiological quality of the shallow wells was
considerably worse than most of the boreholes
although latrines were mostly distant from the wells
and unlikely to be the source of the contamination.
The construction of the boreholes, especially around the
wellhead, was much superior to the shallow wells.
Many shallow wells had short excess water run-off channels
and often had standing water at the wellhead. Concrete
aprons were frequently cracked and in general poor
condition.
So during May 2015 we focussed on encouraging better
wellhead hygiene and public health workers at
Ekwendeni have now started on a pilot wellhead
improvement programme which includes fencing off the
well using local shrubs, first as a constructed lattice
fence, but then as a living barrier to animals by planting
thorn bushes round the well. Longer excess water runoff channels will be constructed using concrete. These
will incorporate, at a suitable distance, a drinking area
for animals and end in a soakaway planted with banana,
mango or other trees or shrubs to use the last of the
water and prevent it from re-entering the water table.
Thank you for being part of the Raven Trust –
everyone has a vital role in this work.
God bless – from John, Sue, Cathie, Iain and Alan
Education – Bob and Jan Baxter’s Report
Smileawi – Nigel and Vicky Milne’s Report
Focus on Malawi – Sue and John Kevan’s Report
Accountancy training – Alan Laverock’s Report
We have always been impressed with the Malawian
attitude to education and we are so encouraged when
we learn about new moves emanating from it. The
results of the national exams continue to improve at
Tcharo and now we have extended the provision of
resources to Masuko (after a chance meeting with the
head teacher on a boat). This community is still further
down the lake than Tcharo, not easily accessible but
desperately keen to do what they can for their children.
This year has been a busy one for Smileawi. In September/
October we visited Malawi; our team consisted of two
dentists and our wonderful helper Catherine Smith. We
spent just over three weeks in Malawi and visited
Ekwendeni, Embangweni, Livingstonia, T'charo and a
number of rural clinics. We ran pain clinics at all of these
sites and saw almost 700 patients.
Ten years ago, Focus on Malawi (FoM), an informal
group of medical and non-medical volunteers, started
working in association with the Raven Trust to help
establish self-sustaining eye clinics in Ekwendeni and
Livingstonia hospitals.
Our partner church, CCAP, has over 20 cost centres –
places where accounting records are maintained. In
general, the accounts keepers lack the skills to take
these records to the stage of final accounts which are
audited. Lack of audited accounts means that they are
unable to partner with grant-giving bodies in UK. These
units include 3 hospitals, LISAP (the AIDS project),
schools etc. and the lack of grants holds back the work
with some of the neediest people on the planet.
The project aims to pass on the necessary skills through
training in Sage Accounts and Excel. So far, we have
worked with the 3 hospitals and the Health Coordination
Office, with LISAP, with Ekwendeni Nursing College, and
with the radio station (Voice of Livingstonia).
In July we aim to continue with the above and also to start
with the University of Livingstonia and the Lay Training
Centre. If time allows, we would like to move on to the
Women’s Guild and William Koyi Guest House.
The project aims to have audit accounts for 2016 by the
end of April 2017.
One of our teaching colleagues, Gift Nyirenda, has been
transferred from Luwuchi to the Rumphi district and,
while we continue to send materials to the lakeshore
schools to support the earlier library and resource
centres, we are now able to initiate a similar scheme
there. It’s wonderful because Gift will develop this
himself [at the moment at his school and one other] as
he was instrumental in establishing the earlier projects.
Already several boxes have been sent to Rumphi.
The National Curriculum has been expanded and in
2014 we were able to supply classroom sets of
Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths books to 4
Secondary schools in the Ekwendeni area and are now in
the process of supplying the same to the schools further
north: Livingstonia, Chitimba and Mlowe. All up-to-date
science textbooks are needed.
Pupils with special needs have, at last, been recognised
by the Government who have introduced a teaching
Diploma in Special Needs and now a degree course for
teachers. A very dedicated teacher is working in northern
Malawi and we are supporting her in any way we can.
Also a nurse in Livingstonia was given a biology textbook
and passed her upgrade exam with flying colours and
then handed the textbook back so someone else could
benefit .
Strachur Store - Iain MacPhillimy’s Report
In October 2014, after several years of helping Iain
MacPhillimy in the store at Strachur, Moira and Brian
Togwell retired from their sterling service to the work
of the Raven Trust - brilliant fellow workers, as two
thirds of the team at the manse outbuildings! Our
sincere thanks for all their hard work and humour
whatever the weather, sometimes freezing when Moira's
hot water bottle, and the mobile heater relieved the winter
chill. Their good cheer raised the temperature as Moira
completed all of the recording details for many thousands
of goods, and Brian generated much heat from his activities
as mover and stacker. And, they introduced the Monday
morning coffee break, sometimes out of doors in the lovely
Strachur sunshine. Brian and Moira have also provided the
catering on container days for large numbers of our
volunteers while other local helpers produced liquid fuel in
the form of soup, baking and other culinary delights. Well
done, Brian and Moira! We wish you well.
We also, with the help of the Raven Trust, ran a second
dental conference for the local dental therapists in the
north of Malawi. This one was incredibly well attended
with 14 dental therapists (out of 21 in the north)
present. Many thanks to John Challis for all his hard
work organising the event. Thanks to him also for
arranging a third event in May 2015. The local dental
therapists have formed an organisation called Smile
North which hopes, with our help, to meet twice a year.
We are also supporting the dental therapists with
materials and dental equipment and special thanks
should be given to Clyde Dental Products, Schottlander
and Premium Plus who continue to support our friends
in Malawi. All of this material of course travels out
thanks to the Raven Trust.
Plans are already well in place for this year's visit. We
will be taking out a much larger team of five dentists
and two assistants. We hope that this will be the first of
many large teams to go out. Our health education
programme in Malawi was extended this year. As well
as supporting Livingstonia Primary school, we are now
supporting the nursery school as well. Furthermore, we
have encouraged all of the clinical officers and nurses in
Embangweni and Ekwendeni to take out a simple oral
health message when they go out to rural clinics. All in
all a very exciting year.
Evangelism
The work continues but with
some serious challenges. One of
the leaders was hurt in a road
accident, the loudspeaker system
for the Jesus film had to be
replaced (damaged due to lack of
technical know-how). BUT - in
four rallies over 2000 people saw the Jesus film in their
own language and 300 became Christians. Many more
pastors are needed to set up churches and teach -huge
opportunities but very few labourers…………..
Ambulance Boats
Both boats have maintenance issues. John Watt and his
team do an amazing job in keeping these boats afloat
half a world away despite all frustrations and
communication problem. These boats are still saving
lives along the shore of Lake Malawi.
In co-operation with hospital management, and with
help from many people, there are now (in 2015) two
well-equipped eye clinic buildings and trained staff
working in them. FoM sources ophthalmic equipment,
sends prepared and measured second-hand glasses,
sponsors Malawi-based clinical training, and its
volunteers visit most years to do clinics, to meet
management for planning, and to train local staff.
Ekwendeni Hospital eye clinic now has two members of
staff who do basic eye tests and prescribe reading
glasses. To broaden the scope of this service, FoM
recently purchased and sent an autorefractor to
Ekwendeni to enable the staff to test and prescribe for
more complex vision needs. An FoM team from the UK
will arrive late May 2015 to train the staff in using the
machine.
While at Ekwendeni Mission, the FoM teams never fail
to visit the school for blind children. They usually
discover that many of the children can, with a little help,
get some useful vision to help improve their lives. Some
complex conditions may need surgery and, whenever
possible, FoM will pay the cost of treatment at a
specialist hospital in the south of Malawi.
At the David Gordon Memorial Hospital in Livingstonia,
a senior ophthalmic clinical officer recently joined, and
he has exciting plans to start cataract surgery in two or
three years’ time. Buildings to house an operating
theatre and a recovery ward are being planned while,
already, much of the surgical equipment has been
sourced.
There’s still much to do to achieve stable, selfsupporting eye care services, but to date we know that
many people – who are unable to afford glasses at city
prices (among them local teachers and medical staff) –
have received a new lease of life through the work of
the clinics.
The Raven Trust
Bay Villa, Strachur, Argyll, PA27 8DE
Telephone +44 (0) 1369 860436
Email:- strachur@aol.com
www.theraventrust.org.uk
Scottish charity SC30260
Company limited by guarantee Co No SC362281
Principal Trustee: John O. Challis
Company Secretary: Susanne Challis
John Littlejohn During October 2014 we surveyed
around 40 shallow wells and boreholes in the
Ekwendeni Hospital catchment area and water samples
were taken for chemical and bacteriological analysis.
This revealed that:Salty tasting water was a common complaint from those
people using borehole water.
The microbiological quality of the shallow wells was
considerably worse than most of the boreholes
although latrines were mostly distant from the wells
and unlikely to be the source of the contamination.
The construction of the boreholes, especially around the
wellhead, was much superior to the shallow wells.
Many shallow wells had short excess water run-off channels
and often had standing water at the wellhead. Concrete
aprons were frequently cracked and in general poor
condition.
So during May 2015 we focussed on encouraging better
wellhead hygiene and public health workers at
Ekwendeni have now started on a pilot wellhead
improvement programme which includes fencing off the
well using local shrubs, first as a constructed lattice
fence, but then as a living barrier to animals by planting
thorn bushes round the well. Longer excess water runoff channels will be constructed using concrete. These
will incorporate, at a suitable distance, a drinking area
for animals and end in a soakaway planted with banana,
mango or other trees or shrubs to use the last of the
water and prevent it from re-entering the water table.
Thank you for being part of the Raven Trust –
everyone has a vital role in this work.
God bless – from John, Sue, Cathie, Iain and Alan
Team/project visitors
Thanks to everyone who has kept in touch since the last
Newslink – July 2014! The trust has been busy sending five more
containers and organising the visits of more than 15 team
members for specialist projects in Malawi.
05/07/14 from Dundee arrived 07/10/14
All had successful visits. John spent a lot of time
getting people to the right place on the right day, fed,
watered, equipped and housed. The Internet is erratic
and phones unreliable. The vehicles were a challenge
as they rapidly disintegrate on the rough “tracks” to
remote areas. Praise God everyone arrived and
returned safe and well.
26/08/14 from Strachur arrived 14/11/14
Visitors 2016 – please keep in touch as places are limited.
Containers
The Raven Trust...serving needy communities in Malawi
June 2015
Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:12 - This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in
many expressions of thanks to God.
06/12/14 from Dundee arrived 10/02/15
04/03 15 from Strachur arrived 15/05/15
Prayer points
06/06/15 from Dundee should arrive in September 15
Praise God for 20 years of the amazing journey of the Raven
Trust. Truly “workers together in Christ” – many thousands
of people involved in getting on with the practical work of
looking after orphans and widows, seeking justice for the
poor and sharing the great good news of the Gospel. Thank
God for all this practical supply, physical protection and the
joy of doing this work.
Nearly 6000 boxes of much needed goods support the
hospitals, schools and projects, plus the work of other
charities in northern Malawi. Thanks to everyone who
supplied, processed, transported, unloaded and
distributed everything. What a blessing to have good
teams here and in Malawi – thank you all!
The Dundee store is open every Saturday 10am – 12
noon. The Strachur store is open by arrangement with
Iain through the Raven Trust office - 01369 860436
Prayer requests – sensitivity and wisdom as we work in a
different culture, that our ways will not hinder the Gospel,
but serve to encourage others to get on with the work.
Please also pray as we look to continue the work of the
Raven Trust into the future. This is truly God’s work and
not ours!
Future Plans
Celebration Day - Mid November 2015 - more in the
next newsletter.
Summer Projects - John hopes to
 rebuild Zenda Bridge upstream after it was damaged.
last year due to flooding and landslips
 start a new footbridge for another village
 write up the water maintenance pilot project as well
as look after various visitors and team members.
Alan Laverock hopes to continue with the farming
initiatives (see Malawi Fruits website) and accountancy
projects
Milnes - a large dental team will visit in September (see
Smileawi website) and also another two dental
conferences
Sue Kevan and team will be training staff to use the
“eye box” to do sight tests and continue to upgrade
facilities at Livingstonia and Ekwendeni and also raise
funding for training and treatments.
Bob and Jan Baxter’s education work continues to vet
and supply resources, provide training and encourage
communication between schools.
John Littlejohn - will write up reports on Northern
Malawi water and monitor technicians in Malawi
We are looking to launch two new funds and this is the
first announcement of these.
Laptops – many of the CCAP departments do not have
adequate computers and this is holding back
training work. We would like to establish a fund for
the supply of these.
Education fund – often, we are asked to fund school or
college fees. Normally we say “no” as the demand
would be overwhelming and would be neither
achievable or the right way forward. But
occasionally we do come across a deserving cause
and are unable to help due to lack of funds. So we
would like to set up a small specialist fund to
upgrade the qualifications of a trainee, and then
probably bond the trainee to an appropriate
establishment for a couple of years, This would not
be a general education fund. This way there
should be a reasonable amount of oversight of the
student, the funds and the outcome.
If you are able to contribute to either of these, then we
would be pleased to hear from you. But not as pleased
as the Malawians!
John’s report from Malawi
Malawi is a wonderful country with friendly, generous
people despite the difficult conditions. The government
is financially dependent on aid which has been severely
reduced. This, coupled with a very poor maize harvest –
the staple diet and subsistence crop – could mean a very
difficult time at the end of the year for Malawi, Tanzania,
Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
I have seen several containers unloaded at Ekwendeni.
The team responsible for the unloading and distribution
is very well organised so all the departments usually get
the right boxes. At a well outside Ekwendeni I spotted a
small family and the children were all wearing jumpers I
think I recognise from Scotland. It does get cold here
(3000 feet, 10°C) and these knitted goods keep children
warm and healthy. So a big “thank you” to all our
knitters who are doing a wonderful job.
Hand tools from the container go to the training
workshops so the apprentices can have a basic set to
start their own businesses and they are very thankful as
hiring tools is expensive.
One of the many Raven Trust projects in the last two years
has been the refurbishment of the sewerage system at
Ekwendeni hospital which had become blocked and broken
in many places. Now the hospital and staff houses smell a lot
better! Replacement pump and parts, some cement and
bricks, a bit of cash to pump out the pits, some know-how
and a lot of backbreaking, hard, smelly work by a very good
Malawian team completed this vital project.
Another project which is nearly completed is the Water
Maintenance Pilot Project at Ekwendeni to identify, monitor
and repair wells. Lots of agencies have looked at the
problem of wells not being maintained but most lack the
local “feet on the ground” of a dedicated team and
reporting structure. It is a hard, hot, long day’s work to
dismantle and refurbish a borehole well, often simply
because a rubber ring has disintegrated (50p worth!). Parts
do wear out. This is hardly surprising when you consider that
recent survey data shows that there are so many families
using some of the wells and boreholes that the pumps are
subjected to an extremely high usage. Wear and tear can be
expected when pump components have to operate
hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of time per year to
keep the villages in clean water.
Once completed, the pilot project will be written up and
run at Ekwendeni plus a couple of other sites to make
sure the project is a viable way of maintaining wells in
rural areas. Already in the Ekwendeni area thousands of
people now have clean water from once broken wells.
Many thanks to our sponsor who has sourced funding
and freely given his advice for this project.
It is always a privilege to walk in the steps of pioneer
missionaries, continuing the work of evangelism,
education, health and, commerce.