May Mission Moment

Called Into the World-Together

Abel Makungwe is the field officer for the Lutheran malaria program in Zambia. One of his best tools is a little flat stick that costs just about one dollar. 

That little plastic stick is in the main part of a malaria test kit that’s perfect for the open clinics that Abel holds in rural areas far from hospitals or clinics.

Here’s how it works: Someone comes to the open clinic table, and Abel pricks her finger to draw a tiny drop of blood. He puts the drop in the tester, and the results are clear just 15 minutes later. If two lines show up in the window on the tester, she has malaria- and if so, Abel reaches into his supplies and gets her started on effective medicine right then and there.

These inexpensive test kits – Rapid Diagnostic Tests, to give them their proper name – make it possible for Abel, as well as many pastors and other volunteers he has trained, to test and treat people in the villages and in rural churches, close to those who are most vulnerable.

Abel and the others he has trained always start with education, teaching people in and through the churches about the importance of early testing and treatment.

That’s the key to the work of the ELCA Malaria Campaign. We believe God is calling us into the world- together. Together, we can do so much more than any of us could do alone, and Abel’s work is living proof. Because of our church-to-church connections, we’re able to reach people right where they live- and we’re able to break down some surprising barriers.

A village leader explains, “People used to be scared to have their blood tested for malaria because they thought it was going to be used for Satanism. But now, after the malaria education we had at the church, they are more than willing.”

That leader was the first one in line to be tested at Abel’s open clinic. He says, “We thank the church for bringing this program to our area. Please continue with the good spirit of having a heart for the poor. Thank you!”

People like Abel Makungwe are working hard every day to make malaria history – teaching, testing and treating as many people as they can, and training more volunteers to join them in their work.

Your support is helping people who are at risk for this treatable, preventable disease- and they’re already saving lives. Thank you!

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ChristineDonahue
TLGCS Mission Interpreter Coordinator