Thanks in part to the support of your church, in 2011, Malawi Matters Inc. trained 492 key leaders from 43 C.C.A.P. Nkhoma Synod congregations in the central region of Malawi to become certified instructors of their “Creative Methods of HIV and AIDS Education” course. Following each five day session these men and women developed an action plan to implement in their churches, schools, and villages—potentially reaching at least 400,000 adults in their congrega-tions plus children and youth which could be at least 800,000 additional people.

We are pleased that Virginia Black, who serves on Malawi Matters’ Communications Committee, will de-velop a story on one leader in each category of those trained to share with you once a month in 2012. The story for January focuses on a Church Minister, Rev. Maurice B. C. Kalimenda.

Using God’s love to fight AIDS in MalawiMaurice B. C. Kalimenda says God called him into ministry when he was very young. He was raised by his mother, so poor that they had difficulty finding enough food. Even today, he says, his mother lacks basic needs. “But from such conditions God performed His wonders to educate me, so as a thank you to God, I accepted to work in the church,” he says. The pastor also sings gospel music, with a CD released last year. To him, challenges are stepping-stones to success. It is this outlook that helps him work in an area beset with HIV and AIDS, right now as the pastor of Cape Maclear C.C.A.P. In a recent e-mail conversation, he talks about AIDS and the church and we share his comments.

How has the spread of AIDS affected your congregation?The congregation I am serving has not been spared by the scourge of HIV and AIDS; I have members who are HIV positive and are on antiretroviral treatment. Recent results in Malawi shows that the Mangochi district (where Cape Maclear C.C.A.P. is located) has the highest HIV prevalence rate (21 percent) of the national one, which is at 14 percent. We are having

deaths related to HIV and AIDS, though reduced due to ART, but we must reduce the rate of new infec-tions. We have more orphans. Discrimination is still there, even in the church, though in other areas it has reduced. It has even affected the financial status of our members and the church as well.

Who does it affect most?Mostly it is affecting women and children. In my church we have more widows who are also on ART. The reason is that most men shun HIV testing because they feel if found HIV positive, no woman will ac-cept them for sex. So they prefer to be ignorant and continue their reckless behavior, not knowing that they increase chances to die earlier. Most orphans lack education support because men are still breadwin-ners, so if they die earlier, it means their children will drop from school. Cape Maclear has no fertile soils, which makes farming very expensive for a widow and she cannot harvest enough food. Sometimes they choose to sell sex to tourists and fishermen to survive. In so doing, HIV spreads further.

What are some of the stories that have come to your attention as a pastor, and how are you able to re-spond to them?Women are being victimized due to their HIV status in families mainly where we have discordant couples. This is common here; I don’t know why. When a man is HIV-negative, he doesn’t like to stay with a wife who is HIV-positive. The man chooses to marry another wife. I have received such stories so many times. I have also received stories of men who are HIV-positive and are on ART, but they have never revealed their status to their wives. As a pastor I had to take such persons to counseling so that life should come back to normal. I have also increased the campaign to break the silence in the church and families. I have formed a group of people living with HIV so that they should be sharing experiences and finding ways together how to end stigma and discrimination.

How has Malawi Matters worked with your church?Malawi Matters has worked wonderfully in my church mainly in HIV and AIDS education. We need more education to reduce the spread of HIV and MMI is an answer to that. Because of the training our leaders received, nearly all church groups in my congregation have been taught how to pass HIV and AIDS informa-tion to people of different understandings, which will help to pass the information in time.

How important is the training that Malawi Matters provides?Creative methods of HIV and AIDS education are very important because the modes of communication used do not miss anyone, starting from adults to children. People learn with more attention than mere lectur-ing. Its information is easily remembered due to its creativity. We want more trainers in our congregation because the few trainers we have are not enough

Rev. Kalimenda on right

Many Thanks for Your Church’s Support of Malawi Matters in 2011

to reach all the people in our catchment area. The leaders who were trained are not full time workers in HIV and AIDS education, so they sometimes need to take care of their homes. We need to empower wom-en and orphans so that they should be self-reliant.

Do you think it has been effective so far?Very effective so far. I even use the same methods in spreading the Word of God. It is working everywhere, not only in HIV and AIDS.

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Malawi Matters Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organi-zation whose mission is to develop and facilitate HIV and AIDS education with the people of Malawi, Af-rica. By connecting agencies and organizations and using hands-on techniques grounded in Malawian culture, we believe that Malawian youth and adults can find solutions to the HIV and AIDS crisis as well as improve and enhance the quality of life in this eco-nomically impoverished but spiritually rich nation.

Over 100 C.C.A.P. Nkhoma Synod congregations—approximately 1200 adult students—still need to be trained. Please become involved by making a dona-tion via check, Causes on Facebook, or PayPal on our website; joining a committee; writing a grant; collect-ing materials and supplies; serving on a training team; or using your gifts in many other ways.

For additional information, please contact: Malawi Matters Inc., P. O. Box 11694, South Bend, IN 46634, 574-255-3570, or phyllis@malawimatters.org.