Dr. Sue Makin (right) is one of only two gynecologists working outside the large cities of Malawi. She has taught hospital staff a simple test for cervical cancer, the most common cancer found in Malawian women and often undetected until late stages when nothing can be done.

reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the world, our partner, the Church of North India, is sponsoring an HIV/AIDS awareness program for rural people who have very little knowledge of the pandemic. At present the program is in need of funds to keep going.

Rev. Janet Guyer, Regional AIDS Consultant for the PC(USA) in Africa, is training Presbyterian congregations to develop their own AIDS programs, encouraging them to build waist-high cylinder gardens for AIDS patients to grow the food so necessary to keep them healthy.

Women are critical to the well being of families and communities in developing countries. PC(USA) medical co-workers are doing what they can to keep these women healthy.

You or your group could make it possible for Mubishi Maternity Clinic to be completed, or you could enable the rural HIV/AIDS program in India to continue.

Among the most telling marks of Presbyterian mission historically has been a concern for the welfare and dignity of women and leadership in mission by women. Women physicians were notable in mission service long before they were common in the medical field. Those marks hold true today in Presbyterian medical mission. That tradition continues in long-term mission service. Women currently serving in the mission field as physicians and nurses:

Rev. Shirley Hill, RN; Cynthia Morgan, M.D.; Sue Makin, M.D.; Martha Sommers, M.D.; Nancy Haninger, R. N.; Barbara Nagy, M.D.; Denise England, R.N.; Gwen Haspels, R.N.; Jodi McGill, R.N.; Magda Iskander, M.D.; Irma de le Torre, R.N.; Elizabeth Turk, R.N.

Concern for how women get marginalized has unfortunately been necessary from the earliest times of the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is a judgment upon us that is still urgently needed today.

In this issue we will focus on women’s health and how we seek, with our church partners and with you, to be a part of God's healing grace in addressing this great need.

-Will Browne

At Lalor Elementary School in Hamilton Township, NJ, after seeing a presentation , on a mission to Kenya by Ms. Patricia Flores, students in the Rotary Club sponsored Early Act program wondered how they could help. Under the guidance of their teacher, Mrs. Margaret Oliver, the students sought further information from Ms. Flores on the Kikuyu Orthopedic Hospital in Kenya and began plans for a flea market to raise money to donate.

They created posters, distributed fliers, and even placed advertising on their local cable channel. Soon items for the flea market began arriving. The students tagged the items, arranged tables, and arranged for snacks to be sold too. The event was a success and $325 was collected and donated to the pediatric wing of the hospital, through Medical Benevolence Foundation.

MBF works everyday to help those in need in places like Kenya, and applauds the efforts of the students at Lalor Elementary for their hard work, and their care and concern for people in need. They are a wonderful example to students everywhere. We thank them, as

No, it’s not a newly discovered disease or an arm of the United Nations. And it’s definitely not one of those handy shortcuts the techies use so they can talk even faster in their already unintelligible language. (“Out post is clear.”)
OPIC stands for Overseas Private Investment Corporation. It’s an agency of the US government, closely allied with USAID and ASHA. OPIC is a corporation we appreciate because it guarantees loans at a discounted rate to deserving foreign projects through US institutions like MBF. What does it get in return? Goodwill toward the US, if everything goes well.

Right now, MBF is sponsoring and facilitating an OPIC loan of about $10 million for St. Stephens Hospital in New Delhi, India to replace their 100 year-old main building. The people in this extremely poor section of Delhi depend on the hospital for medical care, and the hospital has delivered that care and maintained an excellent reputation for many years.
So thank you, OPIC. And thank you, faithful donors, who will help us raise funds to help St. Stephens repay their loan and replace some of the ancient equipment and furniture for the building.

Caryl Weinberg was regional liaison for HIV/AIDS in Central and West Africa from 2001 until 2005 when she was flown home because of illness. Caryl recently attended a women’s conference in Africa, representing her home church, First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, where she is Missions Director.

MBF: From your experience in Africa, and your recent return there, what do you think contributes to health problems in African women?

Caryl Weinberg: Some very basic things. First, extreme poverty--including lack of funds to pay for health, not enough food, lack of sanitation, lack of education. All these feed into the issue of health. Another issue is low self-image. Many women in Africa just don’t know anything different. Often they believe they are less valuable than men. Their self image is a reflection of the perception of the men in their lives. Sometimes even their Christian beliefs support this attitude, and that they are simply there to please the man in their life.

MBF: What can change that?

Caryl: It will take many things, of course. But women coming together, discussing these issues and finding solutions themselves is crucial. Because of this, in 2007 women in the African presbyteries along with some of us from the PC(USA) organized the first gathering of what came to be known as "Tumekutana," meaning "we have come together." The second "Tumekutana" will be held in Rwanda in 2010 with "Peace and Reconciliation" as the theme.

MBF: What was the conference you attended recently in Africa?

Caryl: It was a 2 1/2-day workshop in the Kananga area [of DR Congo] for women of various presbyteries between the East and West Kasai.

The women really feel the need to come together. Most of them walked to the workshop. One woman walked for several days—116 k! Another walked 70k, and another 25k. And they had to pay their own fee.

Caryl Weinberg (left) at the Tumekutana women’s conference in Nairobi in 2007 with two other conference leaders: Veronica (center) and Rose (right).

During the workshop a lawyer spoke on laws of Congo concerning women and human rights. Then the leader of the women’s organization for the Presbyterian Church of Congo, Pastor Christine Ngalula, spoke about women being created equal in the sight of God. Another women’s leader, Mme. Victorine Manga, talked about the Moringa project organized by Nancy Haninger and how women could help feed their families with these plants that are high in nutrients.

MBF: How did the women respond to all of this?

Caryl: The idea of equality in the sight of God is a very new concept to many. They asked me if it was "right" to be single. They questioned that living alone and unmarried (not attached to a man) was something to be afraid of, as it brings evil and bad health. I’ve learned not to try to convince people they are wrong. Rather, I focus on the Biblical truths that we need to cling to whether married or single. So, "For God so loved the world (women, men, married, unmarried) that He gave His only Son." And, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God . . .", and "I will never leave you or forsake you." I simply share truth from Scripture that we need to guard in our hearts always. It’s the "untruths" that bring fear.

At the workshop, this was the topic of tea breaks too. I pray that God’s truth sinks in and brings peace to these women, whatever state they’re in, one and all.

Mme Victorine Manga (left) and Pastor Christine Ngalula, who spoke at the recent women’s workshop in DR Congo attended by Caryl Weinberg. The garments hanging behind the women were made from cloth designed by Bridget, the leader of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The women sell the garments to raise money for women’s work. Each woman attending the conference received a piece of the cloth as a gift.

This Christmas we invite you to share God's love with a hurting world. Through MBF, you can give a gift of life through a wide variety of healing and support ministries. When you do, you can name a friend or loved one as an honoree. That honoree will be sent a Christmas card, informing them of this important gift in their name.

This Christmas give a gift of love

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