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Tag: #Africa

Oct 29, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

When Kathy and I travel dusty rutted roads to remote rural villages in Africa, we’re often reminded that what to us is third world is not necessarily so for the inhabitants, especially those being cared for by our WOW partners. The pic above is a good example.

Here’s a single mom, obviously proud of and enjoying her young son. Both are healthy. Both are happy.

And, both are benefiting from WOW’s comprehensive Home Based Care (HBC) ministry, in this case “Somebody Cares Malawi”. We have been in partnership with SCM for 24 years and have seen thousands of dying orphans and widows lovingly ministered to with weekly HBC visits.

The opportunistic diseases that plague HIV infected patients are numerous. Everything from oral thrush to dysentery, bed sores, dehydration, diabetes, various kinds of tuberculosis, and occasional leprosy(!) challenge our godly volunteers relentlessly. Yet they faithfully soldier on, their hearts motivated by love of God and neighbour.

Again and again over the years we have witnessed the recovery and renewed vitality of many patients who were at death’s door but are now happy and healthy like the young woman in the picture. Their joy is both physical and spiritual. They sing and dance in gratitude to the Lord. They have no sense of deprivation. They are content.

This is why we always return to North America humbled and inspired, our African friends constantly reminding us that regardless of outward abundance or lack, the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Oct 1, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Many times over the years Kathy and I have visited remote African villages where our local church volunteers are compassionately providing home-based care (HBC) for afflicted and/or dying orphans and widows. In the dust, heat, and adversities of disease and soul stressing poverty, these indomitable volunteers provide the loving extension of Jesus’ hands to “the least of these”, as he put it. They are truly agents of healing and hope.

Many of them are widows themselves living on the edge. Some are living with HIV, their viral load managed by medication, and all are poor. But WOW, through our local champion pastors, makes sure they have food and medical care to enable them in their selfless work. WOW also provides bicycles enabling them to travel the long rutted roads to their patients in a third of the time it would take to walk.

I see them as ministering angels.

What has impressed and humbled us over and over these past 25 years is their total gratitude for our help. What’s more they see our support as a gift from God and they give him the glory with guileless child like enthusiasm. Even the elderly widows sing and dance for joy.

I’m always aware that our work is supported by the Lord and his people. It truly is a team effort. And we praise the Lord with our African brothers and sisters for his steadfast love and faithfulness.