“Our purpose is to build the Church.” Unified under this call, Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) organized a short-term medical camp from February 10-14, 2026, in Chabera, Kenya. Executive Director Kate Wood and retiring Field Director Gary Evans led six WELS volunteers, coordinated with the leadership of the African Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), engaged LCMC church volunteers, and partnered with the Kenyan Health District in the third ‘pop-up’ medical camp in Kenya. The first medical camp in the underserved Chabera area drew just shy of 2,400 children, women, and men in five days, many arriving by foot, and some by motorcycle taxi traveling up to five kilometers (about 3.12 miles) for free medical services, medical screening, and medication.

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Our core team of 12 ‘strands’ included Paul Mboya, John Michoro, Pastor Sammy Mwangi, Bishop Onunda, and eight CAMM representatives from America and England. We flourished, unbroken, relying on collective strengths to witness God’s amazing provision in cross-cultural relationships and in Kenya’s rainy season, which arrived early, stirring up sticky, red mud. We weathered communication lapses that can happen when diverse cultures work together and faced a myriad of opportunities to meet the daily surprises, to us, unexpected, but God-undaunted! Creatively, we pivoted to address dwindling medicine supplies, giving urgent IV support when we lacked equipment, and transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital. We bonded in God’s diverse, resourced family!

“His mercies are new every morning.” The LCMC advertised the medical camp through flyers, word of mouth, and a couple of large banners at crossroads in the community. Kenyan medical professionals provided screening, consultation, and education, assisted by CAMM volunteers. The LCMC staged large event tents, acquired plastic outdoor chairs, and designated pathways with red twine to guide people through the camp for services. Every patient received a gospel-based welcome, a printed booklet to take home, and often, individualized prayer. Witnessing a pastor kneel and place his hands on the patient to pray framed possibilities for complete healing. When wind upended one tent, and pouring rain carved a stream through the pharmacy tent, God’s people scrambled and showed up with many hands and hearts to ensure everyone’s safety, righting chairs, and filling troughs with stone. We experienced God’s new mercies every day in Africa and hold fast to his mercy in deeper ways as we return home.

“Read your bible, pray every day if you want to grow.” Simple lyrics Chabera’s church children sang during a three-hour worship service, lyrics that set the tone and rang through camp every day. The song welcomed ten first-time visitors the Sunday we worshiped together, and welcomed patients, young and old. Singing, beautified with hand motions, became our anthem, sparking God’s love and faithfulness despite fatigue, uncertainty, and at times, frustration. Pray for the Chabera church and community and stay tuned to see how God continues to bless them.

Written by Janet McElvaine, member at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Everett, Wash.

Nutrition challenges in Mwembezhi

Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre stands as a beacon of hope for communities that face limited access to healthcare and resources. For many families, it is the first and sometimes only line of defense against malnutrition and its far-reaching consequences. At the heart of these efforts lies the Nutrition Department, a dedicated team working tirelessly to ensure that no child or mother is left behind in the fight against hunger and poor nutrition.

Mwembezhi Lutheran’s catchment area is predominantly rural, with most households relying on subsistence farming for both food and income. Seasonal food shortages, poor diets, and widespread poverty often make it difficult for families to provide consistent balanced meals. Limited awareness about proper nutrition further contributes to high rates of undernutrition, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies among children under 5. Nutrition is not just a health issue; it’s a barrier to education and overall community development. Recognizing these challenges, Mwembezhi Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre has a nutrition segment to help in early detection and treatment of malnourished children. We do clinical care, education, and community engagement to create lasting change.

Nutrition services at Mwembezhi
1. Growth monitoring and promotion (GMP)
We provide regular weighing and height checks for children who are under 5. Growth monitoring helps us detect early signs of malnutrition and intervene before problems escalate. Caregivers receive personalized counseling on age-appropriate feeding, hygiene practices, and how to make the most of locally available foods. Early childhood development (ECD) services are integrated into GMP, allowing us to assess developmental milestones and ensure that children are not only well fed but also mentally stimulated through play, laying the groundwork for a healthier future.

2. Management of acute malnutrition
Children presenting with moderate or severe acute malnutrition are given life-saving care. This includes Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), High Energy Protein Supplements (HEPS), and close follow-ups to monitor recovery. Children with medical complications are referred for inpatient treatment to ensure that no case falls through the cracks.

3. Maternal and child education and counseling
Expectant and breastfeeding mothers receive essential information on maintaining a balanced diet during pregnancy and lactation. Health talks emphasize exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, timely introduction of complementary foods, and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond. Mothers are also encouraged to incorporate nutrient-rich locally available foods into their family meals.

4. Community outreach and awareness campaigns
Beyond the clinic walls, the staff and community health volunteers work hand-in-hand with villages. They conduct home visits, follow up with at-risk families, and lead cooking demonstrations that teach caregivers how to prepare balanced meals using locally available foods. These outreach activities not only extend the reach but also foster trust and awareness in the community.

5. Integration with other health services
We work together with Maternal and Child Health, HIV care, diabetes and hypertension clinics, and immunization programs. Late last year, one notable success story was of a diabetic patient who was on the verge of giving up life due to his condition. Through consistent counseling, dietary monitoring, and regular blood sugar checks, his glucose levels were brought under control solely through proper nutrition. Remarkably, he has maintained normal blood sugar levels for more than eight months without the need for medication. This integrated approach demonstrates that nutrition is not treated in isolation but as part of a broader continuum of care, addressing both the immediate and underlying causes of poor health.

The human impact
Beyond every statistic lies a story. Mothers who once feared losing their children to malnutrition now return to the center with healthy, thriving toddlers. Caregivers often share testimonials about how simple lessons on meal preparation and hygiene have transformed their family’s health. In October of last year, 1,700 children under 5 were screened for malnutrition, and 12.6 percent (214) were found to be moderately malnourished and 1.8 percent (31) were severely malnourished. This represented an overall malnutrition rate of 14.4 percent. Following close follow-ups and interventions, moderate cases reduced from 214 to 17 (92.1 percent reduction), severe cases from 31 to 6 (80.6 percent reduction), and the overall caseload from 245 to 23, marking a 90.6 percent overall improvement.

All the achievements in nutrition programs are a result of your support, help from CAMM, and the efforts of our dedicated staff.

Looking ahead
Despite successes, challenges remain. Persistent poverty, cultural feeding practices, and seasonal hunger continue to put families at risk. We will continue to encourage parents to bring their children for growth monitoring and promotion, ensuring that no child misses essential health services.

Written by Jackson Kalewka, clinical officer in charge

Last month, my husband Gary and I visited Malawi and Zambia over 11 days, meeting with our leaders and staff and visiting clinics. This was my third trip to Africa in the three years since Gary and I returned to the United States. Gary had also been to Kenya to start preparations for our 2026 medical camp, and then joined me in Malawi. We stayed in the apartment adjoining the house in Lilongwe and were able to see just how our Clinic Administrator, Lusungu Mwambeye, is capably handling the challenges of running the Lutheran Mobile Clinic. One example is how she arranged for surveys to be done of all four of the clinic properties to obtain government leases and prevent people from encroaching on the properties. We were there for the monthly staff meeting, and saw everyone diligently working together on monthly inventory and statistics, so that Violet Chikwatu, Nurse in in Charge, could complete the government reports for May. Violet and Lusungu continue to work well together and keep things running smoothly.

Going out to the village clinics is always my favorite part of these visits. It was obvious that the many outpatients seen in a day reflected the recent higher numbers in our monthly reports. I noticed that some patients had been seen at local government clinics and prescribed medicine that they were told to obtain at our clinics, because those clinics didn’t have any. I observed the nurses at the pharmacy station calmly giving numerous injections and intravenous medications for children and adults who were seriously sick with pneumonia, asthma, and infections. There were several referrals to the hospital in Lilongwe. I saw in Violet’s record where in one day, eight patients were referred, mainly with severe pneumonia which is common in the cold season. These people depend on the preventative care and lifesaving treatment which the Lutheran Mobile Clinic provides. We are thankful that the Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) is able to afford the essential medications, and that Violet works hard to find them in pharmacies around Lilongwe. Most importantly, we know that our patients also hear the soul-saving message of the gospel.

Moms waiting for the under-fives clinic

I was still impressed with how—despite seeing 150-200 patients along with the under-fives, antenatal, family planning, nutrition and HIV testing/counseling clients—the clinicians and nurses worked cheerfully and efficiently as a team. The same volunteers which helped us through COVID were still doing blood pressure checks, malaria tests, weights, and directing patients to the proper lines. Violet stepped in to help in whatever station she was needed. The nurse-midwives were happy to receive a new fetal doppler we had brought, to more easily hear the infant heartbeat of our antenatal clients.

One of the highlights at Msambo clinic was being able to see all five of the children with disabilities who still receive regular physical therapy, and their mothers. All are continuing to make progress in mobility or speech. One little girl named Lontira who was born with a very deformed spine and has had difficulty sitting, is waiting for surgery. Her mom told me she will go to a hospital in Blantyre when the specialists come to Malawi to do these complicated procedures. She is a member of the Lutheran church in Msambo. We pray for her brave mom, and for Lontira to have a successful surgery, which will improve her mobility.

After a busy week, we flew to Zambia. We spent time with Alisad Banda, Clinic Administrator, who drove us out to Mwembezhi for a day at the Lutheran Rural Health Center. The staff warmly welcomed us as they prepared for under-fives and diabetic clinic (pictured above). We spoke with Future Beloyi, our nurse who recently completed midwifery training. She was also happy to receive a new fetal doppler for use with antenatals. We also spoke with Muzundwase Chikwekwe, a nurse who would soon start her midwifery training for the next 18 months. The clinic will benefit from having two Lutheran nurse-midwives, with about 150 deliveries at clinic in the past year.

We met with Jackson Kalekwa, clinical officer in charge, and Anthony Kasonga, laboratory technician, to discuss topics like the need for more space for maternity patients and a separate laboratory area for TB patients. Anthony is the chairman at Martin Luther Church, adjacent to the clinic. We learned that he has been instrumental in growing church attendance to about 100 people each Sunday, including many clinic staff members, despite there being no permanent pastor. Alisad also holds Bible studies for staff on a regular basis. Crispin Chikonka, the clinic’s psychosocial counselor, gives a devotion for clinic attendees each morning. The clinic now has a second clinical officer, Samalani Nyirenda, who works as a clinician alongside Jackson. We were glad to meet him in person and know that he was a welcome addition to the team.

That’s the update from the field! Gary and I joined three other CAMM committee members in attending the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Convention in Tulsa, Okalhoma, the last weekend of June. It was a joy to meet fellow CAMM supporters and speak with those who might be new to the medical mission. They have good questions and ideas for how to communicate about the mission and support our staff and patients. Thank you all so much for continuing to show your love for the work of CAMM and being faithful in prayer!

Written by Beth Evans, former nurse in charge for CAMM

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are in the season of Lent, where we reflect on the suffering and death of our Lord. Isaiah 53:4,5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” This passage reminds us that the punishment and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ brought us everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.

This month’s newsletter tells the story of Smith Patulani, an under-5 child who is a patient at our Msambo clinic. Smith was born in October 2023 at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe. According to Smith’s mother, Modester Patulani, Smith was born through a normal spontaneous vertex delivery, and there were no complications during birth and throughout the postpartum period. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Patulani hails from Kabula village, Traditional/Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District. The village is not far from our Msambo clinic.

In February 2025, Smith got sick. He was presenting with fever, vomiting, and general body weakness. Upon seeing this, his parents took him to a local hospital, the Chankhungu Health Center. Chankhungu Health Center is one of the government health centers close to Smith’s village. At Chankhungu, Smith was tested for malaria, and the result came out positive. He was given a first line malaria treatment (lumefantrine artemether), which he took for three days at home, and he got well.

One Monday morning in early March, Smith’s father discovered that Smith’s lower limbs were not functional. He informed the mother, and they were both shocked, knowing that the child was fine after completing his malaria treatment in February. They then visited the Lutheran Mobile Clinic at Msambo on 17th March 2025, where they met one of our clinical officers, Davie Khumula.

At the clinic, Davie asked the mother some questions, including the medical history of the child. The mother explained everything and of course the malaria that he had in February. Davie also asked if the child received the polio vaccine, and the mother said the child completed all the vaccines, including the polio vaccine. The child was then examined for any possible signs of malaria, and there were none. Davie then examined the child’s legs for muscle strength, reflexes, and muscle tone.

He found that the muscle strength and reflexes were absent, and there was decreased muscle tone. Davie then explained more about the child’s condition to the parents, his plan of referring him to a hospital, and its importance. Smith was then referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further investigation for the possible cause of the paralysis, management, and initiation of physiotherapy treatment. We look forward to hearing more from Smith’s parents and how he is coping with physiotherapy treatment.

Lastly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who think about us. Your prayers keep us going. Your various donations have been of great impact to us, and that is why we keep running. May the good Lord continue blessing you and all that you do. As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace reflection and renewal, fostering a spirit of compassion and gratitude in our hearts.

Written by Violet Chikwatu, nurse in charge