“He has a gentle and open nature like very few people that I’ve ever met,” reports Mark Thiesen an American working in the southern part of Malawi. Mark has been part of a missionary family in Malawi since he was a
small boy. His parents were missionaries in the northern part of the nation and now the mantel of responsibilities has moved down to the second generation. He is writing about Glen Kalitera who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002. Glen is still in his 50’s and became a widower in 2003 with the death of his wife.
small boy. His parents were missionaries in the northern part of the nation and now the mantel of responsibilities has moved down to the second generation. He is writing about Glen Kalitera who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2002. Glen is still in his 50’s and became a widower in 2003 with the death of his wife. “Glen’s case is particularly sad,” Mark reports, “because he has no one who is willing to regularly come visit or encourage him.” Glen tells of one son who is working in South Africa and sends him money for living, but Glen is lonely and must stay in his house all day. Another son lives nearby but does not come to visit as Glen wishes he would.
With the arrival of the wheelchair arriving in Thondwe (just south of Blantyre), compliments of the Free Wheelchair Mission and the Malawi Project Glen now has the freedom to get out for fresh air and to enjoy life again. He can also attend church services. Mark concludes, “When my mother and I delivered it, Glen wept.”