The Hands and Feet of Christ....

I believe mission trips provide us with the opportunity to be the "hands and feet" of Christ.
I've been fortunate enough to do mission work in Mexico and Russia, and now I have the opportunity to do the same in Africa. I'm trusting that God will use the talents He's given each of our team members to accomplish the work He has planned for us in Malawi. Together, we will be the body of Christ as this poem by St. Teresa of Avila calls us to be:

Christ has no body but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Robin White

The future...

The future of any country is the religous and general education of the youth. I hope to listen to church and educational leaders in the country. Where there are needs, I hope to help. The book "Three Cups of Tea" gave me the fire in the belly to want to go on this mission trip.

Randy McMahill

Why am I going to Africa?
I am going to Africa because God called me to this mission a year ago. Over the last year I have learned a lot about the problems in Africa. I decided not to stand back and shake my head but to step in and do my part. I began doing fundraiser after fundraiser to buy supplies for the people of Africa. As my net total began to rise past my goal of $2,500 to $6,000 I knew God had a bigger plan for me. I loved going on mission trips every summer with my youth group(Washington, Ia) and knew traveling to Africa would be my next step. At a fundraiser I hosted in Ankeny I was invited to join the group traveling to Malawi, Africa. This opportunity came at the right time and I accepted with excitement. Weeks before I had been meeting with my youth leader and discussing different options for mission work I could do if I were to travel to Africa by myself. There is no doubt God has worked through me over the last year to help the continent of Africa. I realize this was only the first step of His action and I look forward to what lies further down my path.
Kelsey Bishop

what are the reasons im going?

I love to worship God, I love going to church (youth group, spring break mission trips, or just going on Wednesday nights to hang with God and friends), I love to talk about him and what he has done. Once I heard about this trip I was like WOW!!! that would be amazing to go and help them out because I just love to help people, and going to Africa and making a difference in a place outside of America is really getting out and doing his work for others. It is just so amazing what you can do when you put God first in your life. I know deep down we are all scared to go I know I am but when God comes first he blocks out those fears and gives us the strength to do this. But the number one reason I do mission trips and why I'm doing this one is its my way to say thanks. I mean he gave his life for us so I give my life to him and do his work on earth for as long as I live and every opportunity I get I will take it.

God Bless everyone
Sam Henry

I am Supposed to Go

I don't know why I am going, I just know I'm supposed to. Psalm 37:5 says, "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act." This scripture helped me decide to go ahead and commit. It also did help that in my current job I now have paid vacation and I haven't always had this.

To me this is a gift, an opportunity and a blessing from God. Who would have through that a little girl growing up on an Iowa farm would ever get to go to Africa - I didn't! I guess I didn't expect great enough things from my God!

The people of Malawi are very poverty stricken; they face life threatening diseases, starvation, early death, and yet they are a happy people who praise their God enthusiastically. We are going to their country to help them and teach them about Jesus and the United Methodist Church, but I'm pretty sure we'll probably learn more than we teach.

Betty Poley

Happy to be Going!

I am very happy to be going to Malawi and I am looking forward to spending time with the people of Malawi and greeting their families. I was born and raised on a farm with no running water - we used the well and pumped water. We raised our own food and worked the land. We praised God and were thankful for every day. As a child I danced to drums as I pounded out a rhythm on my mother's pots and pans. My Mother played the piano as we sang "Amazing Grace." I have always wanted to go to Africa. It stems from my grandmother's faith as a missionary and from within the depth of my heart. I look forward to this great opportunity to have them share about their lives for a short time. Mary Gates.

God's Tool to Serve!

This is my first missionary trip, and I'm going to soak up the experience like a sponge. I recently went through a life changing event with four surgeries in two years. Being a nurse the diagnosis was hard to take, and my husband and two boys had a hard time coping. Remember, God will never lead you where his grace will not keep you. I vowed to never take things for granted agian, and that my experience has not only made me a better person, but my Christian faith is stronger than ever. I have recovered from my surgeries , my family is still recovering , but God will use me as a tool to serve . I am so blessed , and when God spoke to me about Malawi I knew he bigger plans for me than I could ever imagine.

God Bless,
Elizabeth Sinn