Central African Medical Mission – Melissa Schuetze

Hello from Malawi Africa.

The dry and cool month of July lived up to its name of being a typically slow month for the clinic. Don’t worry, we still had plenty of work to keep us busy, but instead of having 300 patients in our sick line, the numbers decreased to about 150 patients each day. I’m thankful there were no measles outbreaks like in July of 2010, and no riots in the city of Lilongwe like in July of 2011. The fuel shortages that kept us worrying for over a year have seemed to dissipate.

It’s also a month of transition for Lutheran Mobile Clinic. I am wrapping up my work and prepare to leave Malawi in a few weeks. Kari Belter, the current Clinic Administrator, will shift into the Nurse in Charge role. We are patiently waiting for the Malawi Immigration to issue Maria Reese a Temporary Employment Permit so she can begin as Clinic Administrator. Naturally, this is a time to reflect on the past few years of life in Malawi with Lutheran Mobile Clinic. I feel privileged to have witnessed some of the experiences here. I will never forget when a mother brought her premature infant to clinic and the pastor was able to baptize the child before we took them to the hospital. I will never forget the teenage boy diagnosed with diabetes and abandoned by his family. That young boy joined in to sing the hymn that morning at clinic. I will not forget the struggles and joys I shared together with my fellow Malawian nurses. I will not forget the sound of the church choir on a Sunday morning. Yes it has been a privilege.

It was very fitting today as I joined in with two Kingdom Workers volunteers as they were playing with a group of children. They were teaching the children some new songs and we ended with one of my favorites, which you also might have learned in Sunday school: “He’s got the whole world in his hands.”

I wanted to end with a sincere thank you to all who support this mission. My experiences and work here would not have been possible without the support from the ladies groups, churches and schools in the USA and Canada.

Together in Christ,

Melissa Schuetze (Nurse-in-Charge;

Lutheran Mobile Clinic)