Presbyterian Mission Agency Melissa Johnson mission co-worker serving in Zambia Fall 2023

A Letter from Melissa Johnson, serving in Zambia

Fall 2023

Write to Melissa Johnson

Individuals: Give to E132192/ in honor of Melissa Johnson’s ministry

Congregations: Give to D500115 in honor of Melissa Johnson’s ministry

Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery)

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Dear friends,

The world is in chaos, but I want to offer you positivity and encouragement to help you realize that love can help overcome chaos. There are so many amazing things happening in Lundazi that I miss my “Life in Lundazi” much more than usual! The health of the rural village of Phalaza will soon be much improved thanks to the project management provided by Richard Willima, the CCAP Health Department Coordinator. Cecilia Shawa, Eunice Zimba, and Fannie Banda facilitate the education and empowerment of girls all over Zambia. And I cannot forget that all of this is part of a more extensive partnership that includes each and every one of you! Your prayers, love, and generous financial support have genuinely blessed the people of Zambia. Let me tell you about all the fantastic progress that is being made in the improvement of the health and wellness of Zambians.

Two of the three staff houses now have new roofs!

Eunice Zimba, Fannie Banda and Cecilia Shawa (L to R) are showing off the washable, reusable feminine hygiene kits that are ready to be distributed.

Eunice Zimba, Cecilia Shawa and Fannie Banda (L to R) inspecting the new industrial straight stitch machine.

The Phalaza Rural Health Center staff house is almost ready for the installation of the metal roof.

The washable, reusable, feminine hygiene kits are all boxed up and ready to ship to Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.

Richard Willima, CCAP Health Department Coordinator, and Rev. Chisazon Chunda, Moderator of the CCAP Synod of Zambia (L to R) are examining the new industrial serger/overlock sewing machine.

Lexington Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Virginia, has been a strong advocate for the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Health Department’s ministry from the beginning of my ministry. The need for a new rural health center in the community of Phalaza has been a true calling for the church and many of its members. My contact at Lexington Presbyterian Church has been an ongoing fundraising facilitator for the new Phalaza Rural Health Center. Last year, she contacted me about helping to facilitate the writing of a Birthday Offering grant for the completion of the clinic. But, in addition, she recommended that we not only apply for the completion of the clinic but also consider adding a mother-care shelter and kitchen to help with the maternal care of the local women. Richard and I were so excited by her interest and involvement that we all worked together to put together an application for the Birthday Offering grant, and the Thank Offering grant to cover all our bases in case one was not approved. Unfortunately, we did not receive the Birthday Offering grant, but Richard received a notification in May that the CCAP Health Department had been awarded our Thank Offering grant. These funds will allow for the completion of the staff houses and allow the Ministry of Health to provide healthcare workers to begin working in Phalaza to improve the lives of that community. I met with her recently, and she told me how she has never been one to raise funds or solicit money from people. Still, she truly felt God was calling her to this ministry to help the people of Phalaza, especially the women and children. Because of that calling, she has helped facilitate an anonymous donation that will allow for the construction of the mother care shelter and a kitchen that the Thank Offering award did not fund.

Richard has been busy collecting bids, managing the delivery of construction materials and consulting with the contractors. The roofs are on two of the three houses, and as quickly as he is moving this project forward, the houses will soon be completed.

As a result of my sharing about the incredible work that the CCAP Health Department Days for Girls Enterprise is doing, many of you have also been supporting this project. In case you haven’t heard about Days for Girls, they are an international NGO whose goal is to uplift women and girls through improving access to menstrual health supplies and education and reducing, and hopefully eliminating, the stigma women face daily around menstruation. Northwood Presbyterian Church in San Antonio and First Presbyterian Church in Burlington, North Carolina, are two of our most ardent supporters. Still, many other congregations have also played a role in the growth of this social enterprise. The CCAP Days for Girls Enterprise has provided over 2,000 washable, reusable feminine hygiene kits and education to girls across Zambia, and their impact continues to grow. Because the CCAP Days for Girls Enterprise is a part of the greater church of the CCAP, they have been able to provide these kits all across Zambia – from Livingstone to Lusaka, to Kitwe, to Ndola and Chipata – all across Zambia! We are so grateful that the CCAP Synod of Zambia and the pastors across the country support and assist in delivering the kits. The team recently purchased new industrial sewing machines – two overlock/serger machines and one straight stitch machine. These new, powerful, high-speed machines will help them fill all the orders they are receiving and allow them to impact even more girls every month.

Because of the growth and impact of the social enterprise, the CCAP Health Department has now become a sustainable department. The income from the sale of the kits has allowed for salaries for all of the team and the ability to pay for needed supplies and expenses for both the department and the staff and their families.

I cannot thank you all enough for the love, care and support you continue to provide to the CCAP Health Department and the people of Zambia. These two projects have a wide-reaching impact that will continue improving the lives of the people of Zambia for years to come. Thank you for helping us to overcome chaos with love.

Melissa

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Tags: Zambia