Malawi Missions Trip: June 6-18

MCM front entrance

CHANGED HEART
          Going into our Malawi trip, I, unlike most on the team, was actually looking forward to the time for discussions I would be able to spend with the adults who were there at the children's center, and was far more compelled to go on the trip with that in mind than for necessarily spending all my time with the children there. However as we pulled into MCM (the center) to meet the huddles of children swarming around, I developed a very different sort of feeling and absolutely fell in love with them; especially as I got to spend more time interacting with them, their personalities all flourishing and manifesting themselves in such different, unique ways. Allen Phiri, Daniel Julius, Hanileck George, Benson Henry, Peter, Timvenji, and so many other boys and girls, whom our righteous Lord has intricately made and cares for.

VBS PROGRAM

Benson Henrey

          The team had the opportunity of coming each day to hold a VBS program. We had crafts, skits (acted out with translated narration), games, and free time, as well as a lunch break in the middle. Our focus through the program was the fruit of the Spirit, each new day adding another part with lessons from the story pertaining to it.

Lisa and I with craft group

HOSPITAL VISITS
          But the children's mission wasn't the only ministry opportunity that we had. We were also able to visit a hospital and go into several of the wards with gifts and pray for those with sickness and disease. There are so many people in need of our prayers! One of the mothers I met had a very young child with a head the size of a basketball. Another child had a malignant tumor on his head. Another heart problems--on and on. We take far too many things for granted; one of the most common being the mere existence of life in itself, with legs to walk, arms and hands to work, and a functioning mind to run it all. Pray for both the healthy and the sick in Malawi; as they are equally in need of the Gospel of Salvation!

brick pile: stacked and burned
from the bottom to harden

VILLAGE VISITS
          In addition to the hospital visits, we had a chance to visit some of the villages; villages from which children at the center walked each day; a trip that was round 15 minutes by car. These people are such hard-working folk! And though one grandma we visited had next to nothing, she cheerfully insisted we sat on her grass mat, laughing along with our leader as they talked with one another. In what true quality her joy came through, when there was nothing earthly left for her to cling to. The Lord is doing a mighty work in Malawi, and it was very exciting to be able to go and see it firsthand!


          I so appreciate your generous contributions to the trip; it wouldn't have been possible without them. May all the glory and praise from it go to our Father, who has orchestrated it all!