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Aaron Moorepictured below distributing mosquito nets in Africa is the Every Home for Christ Overseas Projects Manager.

Aaron writes...

Every year there are more than 247 million cases of malaria and over one million people killed by the mosquito-borne infectious disease. 90 percent of those deaths are African children.

These statistics can be hard to fathom

5,500MOSQUITO NETS WERE GIVEN FREE

It happened because you gave a gift!Thank You -

when you live in a country where malaria doesn’t even exist. Statistics on Malaria are often so big they are incomprehensible. Imagine getting severely ill, feverish and writhing around in pain on the floor, unable to work or complete simple tasks.

When I visit Africa I meet with those suffering from Malaria face to face in their houses. Without fail, in my visiting week, at least one village will cancel or reschedule their time with me due to a sudden death from Malaria. For obvious reasons the

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family can’t leave the body around and the funeral is held at short notice.

Every Home for Christ just purchased and delivered 5,500 insecticide - treated mosquito nets to stop malaria in impoverished villages in Malawi and Zambia, Africa.

Mosquito nets are the most effective means of preventing Malaria. The proper use of insecticide-treated nets combined with prompt treatment of malaria in the community can reduce malaria transmission by 60% and the mortality rate in young children by at least 20%.

Each mosquito net allows for at least 2 people to sleep under it. In practice many of the nets will often have 3 children or a mother, husband and baby under them. That’s around 15,000 lives protected from malaria over the coming years.

Still there aren’t enough nets for everyone so Every Home For Christ prioritises who

receives a net. All recipients fall into one of the following 5 categories:

1. Orphans

2. Mothers with children under 5

3. Elderly and widows

4. HIV/Aids infected persons

5. Disabled people

One father said, ‘We had only one net for 7 people in our family. Thanks to EHC we now have one net for my wife, baby and daughter and one net for the boys. This will mean we won’t be sick so often, our baby is protected, the children can continue attending school and I can keep working in the farm to grow our food.’

Thank you to all those who bought a net for a needy villager! Net distribution in these villages is a time of smiles and merry making. Your gift enabled the impoverished to literally dance upon injustice!

Rob Innes presented 36 concerts throughout New Zealand organised by John Ealand and promoted by Southern Star radio to raise funds for mosquito nets and finally he and his wife Sandra went to Africa as volunteers to help distribute the mosquito nets.

Rob said, “It is difficult to put into words when life provides you with a rare experience such as we have just had recently in Africa.

When Every Home for Christ provided an opportunity for Sandra and me to join them as volunteers to go to Malawi and Zambia to help oversee the distribution of mosquito

nets, we were just a little overawed and somewhat apprehensive.

Our experience however, was that we ended up being reluctant to leave our new found African friends and that ruggedly beautiful land.”

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Rob said: “There were many significant moments but one in particular that touched my heart was when I gave a group of boys a small rugby ball to play with. They wanted me to play with them, they ran and laughed and were just so excited and it really impacted on me that something so small could bring such great pleasure to these kids. many things we take for granted can mean so much to others who have so little.”

Sandra said: “There were many moments that touched me but in particular the first time we drove into a village. We were greeted like we were royalty, they were so happy to see us, they danced and sang, shook our hands and bowed before us. This was so humbling and made me appreciate how blessed we were to be able to be a representative for everyone who contributed towards the mosquito nets.”

The impact of our time in some of the poorest villages in those regions will stay with us forever. We were struck with the warmth and love from those dear people. The gratitude for the work Every Home for Christ is doing in Africa is overwhelming and we felt extremely humbled in being a part of the work there.

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To see firsthand the difference people’s donations back home are making is exciting and encouraging.

The malaria prevention programme with the distribution of mosquito nets as pictured below is being very gratefully received and we experienced first hand the real need of these nets (mosquitoes are very alive and active in these areas).

Speeches by many of the village leaders included heartfelt thanks for the Food Security programme along with water well provision as pictured below and other projects. These projects in particular are turning their circumstances from being close to starvation to having plenty of food for everyone.

8FreeStockPhotos.com

The local Every Home for Christ workers and volunteers are doing an exceptional job of educating and encouraging local farmers and villagers in better techniques to secure a healthier future by growing their own food.

Sandra and I have returned home with a new zeal for the ongoing work for Every Home for Christ.

We are now looking for more ways to improve our effectiveness in raising funds for the work over there. We are so grateful to Every Home for Christ for providing the opportunity and to friends and family for the generous financial support. They gave us the opportunity to visit Africa and it was a privilege to represent the Every Home for Christ supporters who gave towards this awesome cause. We would not hesitate to return if we had the opportunity.

Indeed, a “life changing, awesome” experience!

Rob & Sandra Innes

The children also captured our hearts and we will always remember their laughter and fun - loving nature in spite of their circumstances.

FOR YOU TO GET THINGS

PRAYER IS GOD’S WAY