Famine

Malawi is going through a terrible famine right now. The harvest was bad last year in that there really wasn't one due to the flood in November 2014 and the the rain stopping completely. People are starving. The harvest for this year is looking pretty good right now, but it is still growing and not ready to eat yet. Marion Medical Mission is helping to provide maize (the basic staple food) for families to get through this hunger time. I'll let this letter from Tom Logan tell more (and will follow up with pictures I took at one distribution) :

February 16, 2016

The famine in Malawi is real.

Marion Medical Mission’s (MMM) impossible goal in September of 2015 was to buy and distribute 10,000 110 pound bags of maize.

As a result of many wonderful giving people and Churches MMM has purchased 29,200 110 pound bags of maize and by February 20, 2016, will have distributed this maize to an estimated 80,000 people. And for only $16 per 110 pound bag.

Rev. Kachipapa, General Secretary of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Synod of Nkhoma, took on the task of identifying vulnerable families and getting the maize distributed to them. He asked each rural Congregation* working together with the Traditional Authorities, to identify 400 of the most vulnerable families in their areas regardless of religious affiliation. These Congregations (Women’s Guild, Men’s Guild, Deacons, Elders) along with Synod officials, monitor the maize distribution.

Lorries carrying 200 110 pound bags of maize are hired to deliver the maize to the distribution centers** where the selected vulnerable families receive the maize. The roads to the distribution centers are dirt and because this is the rainy season the transport becomes increasingly difficult resulting in increased delivery costs. The government of Malawi, seeing the effectiveness of the distribution system, is providing 7 trucks decreasing the transportation cost by an estimated 75%! God is good all the time!

Marion Medical Mission’s Synod of Livingtonia, and Synod of Nkhoma Well Program Field Officers distributed 2,800 bags of maize to rural communities within their catchment areas. Rev. Mwasakifwa and the Tanzanian Well Program Field Officers donated $600 to buy maize for their Malawian brothers and sisters suffering from famine.

There remain many in Malawi at risk of starvation. Famine means people are weak making it difficult for them to work in their fields, leading to another poor growing season. Famine means well maintenance people too weak to repair wells, and villages unable to offer a gift of food when their well is repaired…leading to a return to unsafe drinking water.

We have a most effective and efficient way of reaching those impacted by the famine.

We again ask your help in feeding the least of these as Marion Medical Mission struggles to buy and deliver additional maize to the most vulnerable. The cost is still just $16 per bag distributed.

100% of your designated donations will go directly to Malawi to purchase and distribute maize. No overhead expenses on the US side. In Africa 3% goes for monitoring and distribution.

Mail your tax deductible donations to Marion Medical Mission, 1412 Shawnee Drive, Marion Illinois 62959. To donate online go to: www.mmmwater.org, or on Facebook go to Marion Medical Mission.

Thanks so much for all you do…only together as God’s people.

Tom Logan, President

* Rev. Kachipapa explains these Congregations average 1,000 members and 11 prayer houses.

** The rural Congregations that selected the vulnerable families.