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In This Issue...
> Endowment Initiative Celebrates MBF's 50th Anniversary
> Orphan Care Center Opens in Zambia
> How Rev. Day Carper Spends His 95th Birthday
> Volunteer Stories: Sandra Cornish
> Two Unique Trips Planned to Malawi

Winter 2007  |  Volume 14  |  Issue 5

Orphan Care Center Opens in Zambia
Iowa Church Helps Make it Possible

       Thanks, in part, to a generous gift from First Presbyterian Church in Wilton, IA, the Mandevu Orphan Care Center and Community School facilities in Lusaka, Zambia are now completed.
       More than a thousand AIDS orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s) are taught and fed through 11 care centers in Zambia sponsored by the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). Mr. Costin Mwale, HIV and AIDS coordinator for the CCAP, estimates that there are more than 1,200,000 OVC’s in Zambia today, and by 2012 could number 2,200,000. Clearly, our partners in Zambia need ongoing support for their efforts to feed, clothe, and educate these children.
       At the Mandevu Center, as in each of the CCAP centers, orphans are placed in homes in the community and come to the center for food, clothing, and schooling. The goal is to train the children to eventually be self–supporting.
       First Presbyterian of Wilton, IA began partnering with the Mandevu church when a large bequest left to the church sent them on a search for a mission project. They called MBF for suggestions, and decided on the Mandevu AIDS Orphan Care Center. Pastor Bruce Giese visited Zambia in 2006 and established the connection with the Mandevu church. Since then, the

Iowa congregation has continued that connection, sending boxes of clothing and toys for the children and a donation from the summer VBS project. Pictures of the people of both congregations have been exchanged.

"The joy of the church at Mandevu is contagious," says Pastor Giese. "It's the poor helping the poor."


PC(USA) congregations interested in helping to sponsor care centers such as this may designate their gifts to Community Based Orphan Care.


Endowment Initiative to Celebrate MBF's 50th Anniversary
Dan Force

       Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) has set a goal of raising its endowment funds to 10 million dollars by 2013, the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the MBF. In recent years, donors have created endowment funds with gifts and pledges totaling over 5 million dollars. These funds not only provide funding for international health ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which includes medical missionary salaries, and support of health programs in many countries, but also support the operation of MBF.
       Endowment income provides critical long-term financial stability to support the people and programs of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

international health ministries via MBF. These endowed funds have one objective: to support initiatives not just for one year, or even one generation, but in perpetuity in the name of Jesus Christ.
       To assist with this initiative the Board of MBF has retained the services (on a part-time basis) of the Reverend Dan Force, the retired (2004) Executive Director of MBF. Dan will be in contact with supporters and friends of MBF.


If you would like more information now about MBF’s Endowment Initiative please contact Dan at dlfstw@verizon.net or 1168 August Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403 or call 443.822.1675.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Everett Morgan, the 22-year-old son of Les and Cindy Morgan, our mission coworkers in Bangladesh. Everett has been diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma of the left pelvis and is being treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Praise God for recent reports the tumor is shrinking. The Morgans thank you for your prayers and for God’s obvious hand in their lives. As Les says, "God has looked upon our family in one of our darkest moments and extended to us his grace and showed us his love."

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Beverley Booth is on medical leave from mission service in Nepal. Please pray that she’ll be able to return to her work with PC(USA)’s United Mission to Nepal soon.


Another Birthday, Another Opportunity

        After 95 years, how do you celebrate your birthday? If you’re Rev. Day Carper you consider it an opportunity to celebrate God’s gift of life by directing your birthday gifts to support medical mission.
       Rev. Carper started planning early and crafted a box with two slots, one for donations and the other with a small “tree” of dollar bills coming out of the opening. He decorated the box with pictures of moringa trees, and assembled information to share with family about the role moringa trees play in fighting malnutrition. As his enthusiasm grew, so did the number of family expected to participate in the celebration.

Approximately 50 children, grandchildren, great-grands, nieces and nephews joined the party. After each $20 was counted, Day read a note of how many trees they would be able to buy for their Congolese friends, over 300 trees.
       Day had a fun time planning this part of his party and noted, “This time all of us together will be buying a food supplement for our African friends, instead of socks, ties or candy for the 95-year-old Dad, Grand-dad, or Great Grand-dad.”

Rev. Carper, with his wife Bessie, went to what is now DR Congo right after graduating from seminary in 1940. After 12 years of happy service together, Bessie died of malaria. Later he was married to Blanche, a nurse serving at Mutoto. They have continued their service (overseas and stateside) together for almost 55 years. A nephew writes, “Uncle Day is amazing! He has been an inspiration to many. We had a great time at his 95th birthday.”


Volunteer Stories: Sandra Cornish, R.N.

        Thanks to medically trained volunteers with a heart for mission, PC(USA) partner hospitals and clinics can continue to function when there are gaps in their personnel needs. Short–term volunteers like Sandra Cornish, R.N. offer their services for two to three weeks, or even several months. Like Sandra, they return home feeling they have received more than they’ve given.
       In May of this year, Sandra contacted MBF to see what opportunities were available for a short–term mission volunteer project. By the end of September she was on her way to Tumutumu Hospital in Karatina, Kenya.
       “This mission trip was as much a spiritual experience for me as a mission trip. As I headed off

alone for Kenya, I felt a little intimidated with the thoughts of all that was needed and what little I had to offer. I struggled with the thoughts of not being enough and what was I thinking that I could accomplish by this short two–week mission trip. For me the rewards of the trip were many--a renewed reliance on God in all circumstances, an appreciation for the beauty of Kenya and the warm and welcoming people of Tumutumu parish, a loving connection with a few special people I met while there. I did not go on safari; I did not buy any souvenirs; but returned home with a full heart and warm memories.” 


If you’re interested in a similar experience, please visit MBFoundation.org/volunteer and complete the volunteer information form. 


Two Unique Trips to Malawi in 2008 

Malawi Mission Trip, late February - early March
       This trip will be returning before Easter. We are looking for qualified pastors, church mission committee members, church elders, and healthcare professionals. Exact dates, agenda, and costs for the trip are to be determined in the next few weeks as team members are selected. Please consider coming to visit our Presbyterian mission workers in the field at hospitals, clinics, and programs MBF supports!
Contact Chip Lambert: 412-715-7793 clambert@mbfoundation.org
[Learn more at the ISTV page]

Malawi Travel Study, May 14-18
       On this trip we will visit and learn from our Malawian partners, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) and Ministry of Hope, and grow in understanding of God’s call to each of us as partners. Activities will include visits to CCAP Mission Hospitals, Nkhoma, Embangweni and Health Department in Livingstonia Synod, Ministry of Hope Child Care centers and Crisis Nurseries, opportunities to visit with mission co-workers, and travel through northern Malawi along Lake Malawi and visit Liwonde National Park.
       Anticipated costs are $3,750, including air flights, travel insurance, in country transportation, lodging, meals while in Malawi, gifts for our Malawian partners, and program materials. Application and $2000 deposit due by January 10, 2008.
Contact Pam Ator: 800-675-9250 pator@mbfoundation.org
[Learn more at the Malawi Travel Study page]

       Both of these trips are currently seeking applicants. To learn more or submit interest, please see www.MBFoundation.org or call the numbers given here.  


'Tis the Season for Alternative Giving

        This Christmas we invite you to share God's love with a hurting world. Through Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF), you can give a gift of life through vaccinations, cataract surgery, or other forms of support for healing ministries. When you do, you can name a friend or loved one as an honoree. MBF will send a Christmas card to the honoree informing them of this important gift in their name.

This Christmas give a gift of love.

       If you are interested in Alternative Giving, please contact us at 800-547-7627. You can order a brochure, or simply place an order with your credit card. You can also visit us online at www.MBFoundation.org to place an Alternative Christmas Gift order.

Note to Churches:
       Thank you to all who requested materials and included MBF in your Alternative Christmas Giving. We would love to hear the stories of your markets. Email us at mwyenberg@mbfoundation.org to share your experience and offer suggestions for what you would find helpful next year.


New Shared Funding Opportunities

       Through American Schools & Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) shared funding grants, donors have a unique opportunity to multiply the giving power of their gifts. Helping us to match the shared funding needs of these grants essentially means that for every dollar you contribute, about five dollars goes toward that cause. Three of five active ASHA grants continue to need shared funding as the end of 2007 approaches. They are:

Miraj Medical Center in India
Needs: $30,893
For: neurological facility equipped with EEG machines,

EMG/EP lab, ventilators, CT scanner, ICU beds, plasma pheresis machine and other furnishings

Haiti School of Nursing
Needs: $64,711 (may need additional $50,000)
For: dean’s residence, dormitory module, security wall

Nkhoma Hospital, Malawi
Needs: $103,264 (may need additional $53,600)
For: new dorm facility for nursing campus

Please contact MBF at 800-547-7627 or info@MBFoundation.org for more information.


Now 100% of Your Designated Gifts
Go To Your Cause!


Coming in 2008: Mission Connection
to Have All New Topical Format

       MBF is proud to announce that it no longer requires a 5% administration charge in order to process restricted gifts. This means that when you donate to a restricted purpose, we can now pass along all of those funds to the programs you specify.
       It is also important to note that unrestricted giving remains essential. These funds can be used for unexpected expenses and allow MBF to be flexible enough to use funds dynamically where they are most needed and will be of the greatest help.

       Keep an eye out for next year’s first issue (Spring). We’ll be changing to a new topical format for each issue, in order to bring you even deeper and more engaging news on mission!

Next Topic: Mission Workers

Mission Connection is published by the Medical Benevolence Foundation,
a validated support mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
PO Box 770636, Houston, TX  77215-0636  |  info@MBFoundation.org  |  800-547-7627
Editor: Catherine Davis
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