Motivated by Bible’s Dorcas, on 22nd July 2018 over 200 women guild of the Seventh-day Adventist church from eight branches of Salima, Kamuzu road, Msangu, Kaphatenga, Lipimbi, Mafco, Lifuwu, and Sengabay in Salima SDA district shared word of God and gifts to patients at Salima district hospital. Clad in their beautiful blue and maroon uniforms, the women marched from Salima Seventh-day Adventist church to Salima district hospital some 3 kilometers away. All the way, they marched and sang songs of praise to God as people watched, listened while others quizzed where these women were marching to.

At the hospital, they witnessed in TB and children wards before sharing word of God with expectant women and guardians at the guardian shelter. Their message centered on love and hope. Mrs Mwayi Chibwe in TB ward encouraged the women with Bible reading from 2Kings 5:14. As Namaan was instructed to bath 7 times in river Jordan to get healed, so should the patients follow the doctors’ prescriptions diligently. Speaking in childrens’ ward Mrs Alexia Thundu shared on John 5:2-9. This man had been sick for 38 years, but each time he needed to step into the pool when angel moved the waters, he found no help. It was only through Jesus’ help that he managed to get his healing. ‘As guardians for these children we need Jesus Christ to heal our children as there is no any other help than that of Jesus Christ,’ she encouraged them. Shepherdess Aida Chiwamba speaking at guardian shelter asked the women to love one another. They should not steal from one another but that love should always be above everything. She encouraged them that regardless of how complicated their problems may seem to be, but Jesus is the great healer and end to their problems. Prayers were offered by Mrs Annie Chinguwo, Mrs Grace Maweha and Mrs Grace Gobede. The chairpersons were Mrs Moreen Lumbe, Mrs Esnert Sikwese, and Mrs Dorika Tchona. The main choir song was ndimafuna bwenzi la pantendere ndi pamavuto ndilo Yesu Christu.

After the word of God, they donated salt, sugar, and tablets of soap to the patients worth MK105,000.00. In her speech before the donation, the district chairlady for the Salima dorcas, Leni Makako said the items were sourced from the women’s contributions and they decided to donate to TB and children’s wards because as women who have once been admitted, they understand that most patients in these wards stay longer which means they need a lot of basic items. Speaking in separate interviews, clinicians in charge for TB and childrens’ wards, Benson Banda and William Abini respectively were thankful to the dorcas and the church for the visit. Banda said some of these patients stay in the hospital between 14 days to 2 months with some without guardians. Abini was so thankful and asked for more of such word of God and food items as it encourages the patients and guardians to feel loved. On this day, the hospital had 42 in-patients in TB and Children wards.

Lucia George, one of the guardian, thanked the SDA church for the word of God shared to them. George said the prayers offered to them has uplifted their faith as without God’s hand, they cannot receive the healing mercies. She is hopeful that they will be released soon. She was also very thankful of the items given to them and asked God to bless the women more, she concluded.