Dear Friends & Supporters of Kindle Orphan Outreach:
One of the important things when working with children is to monitor their growth & development. This morning I visited the two locations in Kindle where this activity takes place on a regular basis. First of all, I was at Katawa Community Clinic where a special shelter has recently been built that makes it possible to hold Under-5 clinics five days a week. Under-5 clinics are a routine part of the Health system in Malawi, where every child up to 5 years of age can be monitored monthly and receive the inoculations against childhood diseases. In this community, until recently, this was only done randomly every few months or children had to be carried many miles to a government clinic. Now, at Katawa Clinic, this service is provided as part of the regular ministry of Kindle's Health Department.
From Katawa Clinic I went on to the event that is held every Friday at Kindle's base ~ the Nutrition and special needs clinic. Here children with special needs come for extra help. They might be very young orphans being cared for by a grandmother, aunt, or even a widowed father, an uncle, or older sibling. Some are children of HIV+ mothers who cannot breastfeed, or perhaps even the baby is HIV+ also. Others are referred from Katawa clinic because of severe malnutrition. Every child is received with loving care at Kindle, and there are about 100 children registered for Friday clinic, It has become a life-line support for these precious kids and their care-givers. Each one is weighed and evaluated (Why has he lost half a kilo this week? - He was sick with a cold and diarrhea.) Each one receives the help they need in the form of medicine and milk or food. The guardian is given needed instructions and encouragement.
As the Health Department is growing, just like the kids we care for, so the need for partnership in support becomes more apparent. I wonder if you who are reading this letter might be able to help us in some way. First of all, we are in urgent need of a staff house. We wrote about this last year, mentioning that the community has already donated bricks. Well, the bricks are still there in a heap..... but Kindle has not yet sourced funding for building the house. We have had to rent a house in Salima for the second clinical officer we have hired, and he has to ride 25 kms one way on a motor cycle to get to work every day, rain or shine, mud or dust. Secondly, any amount of regular funding for medicines and supplies at the clinics will be gratefully accepted. If you would like to be a part of meeting these needs please contact us for more information.
While we are looking especially at the growth of the Health Department in this letter, I must tell you of a special matter of concern for prayer. Malawi is having an unusual outbreak of measles, and our community is also affected. Every day there are new cases, both adults and children, who are transported to the District Hospital. At least 2 of the kids from the Friday clinic have died, as they have weakened resistance, but there have been other deaths in the community as well. Please pray that with God's help the health officials will be able to bring this epidemic to a quick end.
From this small picture of the Health Department, I am sure you can see that it is a crucial part of Kindle Orphan Outreach. There is much more going on at both the Katawa Clinic and the Special Needs Clinic than I have written about here, but we thank you for your interest and prayers for the staff, the patients, the donor partners, and most of all the children who are part of Kindle Health!
You know you are always welcome to write with your questions and comments, or to visit us on the Kindle website. The addresses are listed above.
Thank you for helping everyone at Kindle Orphan Outreach to GROW & DEVELOP!
Please Note: Gifts for Kindle Orphan Outreach may continue to be sent to the following addresses, or there is now provision for On-Line donation on the website:
- Australia: Make checks payable to Kindle Orphan Outreach, and send them to Andrew Barr: 953 River Drive, Keith Hall, NSW 2478 For contacting Andrew if you have questions or would like him to speak at your group, use email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- USA: There are 2 channels you can use: With clear notation that your gift is for Kindle Orphan Outreach, make checks payable to:
Water of Life Community Church, 7625 East Ave., Fontana, CA 92336
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
OR: Extreme Response Intl, P.O. Box 345, Snellville, GA 30078
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Canada: Extreme Response Canada, P.O. Box 1013, Simcoe, ON N3Y 533
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) - UK: Cheque payable to Starfish Malawi, designated to Kindle. Send to Terry Pickford, 12 Haffenden Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6QE (Request Gift Aid to Starfish)
(email contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) - Malawi: P.O. Box 311, Salima, Malawi
Or direct deposit into Stanbic Bank, Salima Acct, #014/00/04860600
(email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Attn: James Kabuli)
For all of these, it is helpful to us if you drop us a note at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that we know to expect your gift, and respond to it. Thank you!
