I want to share with you one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. I met this young man the first time I went to Malawi Africa on a medical mission trip of which I was the only dentist to every work in the Zomba region. I met Wellington on this mission trip and he was a dental therapist who worked alongside of me doing dental treatment. Before I left Malawi he asked me to sponsor him to go to dental school. The story is too long for this post but 5 years later he graduated from dental school in Uganda and he and his family returned to Malawi ( you can read thru our Office Happenings page to see more details of this story). I purchased a dental facility for him a year ago in a professional office building and today his dental practice is growing. He still does many hours of community service to help the very needy in the Malawian villages while he continues in private practice. Wellington his wife Takondwa and daughter Fumni have us as their American family as we support them in every capacity necessary.
This video is just one example of how he is affecting the lives of his people with his God given talents.

May God continue to bless all of us with the good we can do for others.

Celebrating Amy’s 5-year work anniversary with a nice dinner.  We appreciate Amy’s dedication to the office.

My 92-year-old patient who’s been with me for 30 years!!  She’s an Albright College graduate like me!!!!

It was a nice day to be a periodontist!!!

Celebrating the holidays with our staff!

Dr. Gradwell celebrating the holidays with the staff at Dr. Freedman’s office where he practices monthly for years! 

This is Wellington Chikuni, my Malawian son!  We met 10 years ago on my very first medical mission trip to Malawi, Africa and we became instant friends.  I helped put him through dental school in Uganda, Africa and today he is a dental surgeon in Malawi.  I secured a US Visa for him and he is now in America visiting, his very first time out of Africa!  Wellington has been in my office observing and has also had the opportunity to observe a general dentist and orthodontic office.  He got a chance to see the ocean and feel the sand for the first time.  He is getting the opportunity to sightsee and get a feel for America, he is really enjoying the food as well!

There are also 5 other Malawians who got a chance to visit America through Villages In Partnership, they received dental check-ups and had their teeth cleaned at the office this week.

This past Saturday, Wellington and I attended the 15th Anniversary Gala of Villages in Partnership, the non-profit organization where I have my dental clinic in Malawi.  Because Wellington is a dentist in Malawi we work alongside each other providing dental care and dental surgery to over 300 villagers each time we have our clinic.  It’s been a blessing to spend this time together.

It was with great excitement that Cydney Chikalema made it to the US from Malawi Africa.  When VIP found Cydney at age 10, both his parents and his sister had already passed away.  Villages In Partnership took him under their wing and he was able to attend secondary school and college in the capital of Malawai, Lilongwe.  Here we are celebrating a dinner at my home and getting ready to send him to graduate school at Wheaton College in Illinois.  This is truly the work of the lord.  Help me in your prayers for Cydney to have a wonderful experience in America and in school.