The link below is to a video showing the life story that could be repeated many times over in Africa and south Asia.  Malaria cuts short an otherwise promising life of service toward neighbor and country.  A person dies every 45 seconds from a totally preventable and treatable disease.  Our congregation has taken up the goal of raising funds toward the Lutheran Malaria Initiative (to this point $3,200 has been raised, we have a goal of $1,800 additional monies by Easter--March 31 this year).  Every ten dollars provides the resources to educate, treat those infected, and prevent infection by means of an insecticide-treated net (the carrier of the malaria disease, the anopheles mosquito, feeds during the evening hours and so these nets have been found to be very effective in staving off infection from occuring in the first place).

The video below is meant to help you connect to the life story of a fictional African young woman in order to help you picture the impact of the disease and the counter-impact you can make, using your health and your wealth to benefit those in need.  This is a tangible way to show mercy, to assist in stopping a destroyer of lives, families, communities, economies, and nations.  Prayer is the way to connect with the author and giver of life, the One who preserves all creation by His powerful, life-giving Word.  His wealth is limitless and the wholeness He brings is everlasting.

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"Lord Jesus Christ, be with all those who suffer from disease and sickness in this fallen world, especially those afflicted with malaria.  Be with those researchers who seek to combat the disease.  Be with those doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who seek to alleviate the impact of malaria and the suffering it brings to individuals and families by means of education, vaccination, and the deployment of treated bed nets.  Be with your people in every place, especially those under the crosses of disease and suffering to place their confidence fully in You and Your mercy.  Amen."