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Health & Fitness

"Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?" — 23 Hours from Africa

My opportunity to go to Africa on a two-week mission—a personal journey of preparation for body, soul, and spirit.

MALAWI: a short-term mission opportunity of a lifetime!

On March 25, I will be flying out of LAX on a 23+ hour journey to a small country in south-eastern Africa.

I'm going as a member of a short-term missions team from FaithBibleChurch in Orange County. There are seven of us, including my son and granddaughter.  We will be putting on a Family Camp for the church in Lilongwe, Malawi over the long Easter weekend.  And we will be sharing the message of the Gospel  through Jesus Christ in a local orphanage and a prison the following week.

Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This is a journey that I never imagined would happen. I've always supported missionaries through our church, hosted many of them in my home, encouraged adults and children to pray for them, write to them, and perhaps even to join them one day.

And now, that opportunity has come to me. I'm eagerly looking forward to see how God might use me as a part of this team. If you are a believer, please pray that God would be glorified in this work. (We will return April 7.) 

Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Where Malawi is and What the People are Like

 Over 14 million people live in this thin strip of a country in southeastern Africa, an area just smaller than the state of Pennsylvania. A great majority of these people live in a village setting, in mud huts with grass roofs. Farming is by far the most common occupation - some for export, but most simply for survival. Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world, Malawi is a stable country, and if you’ve watched the news lately, you’ll know that this is a rarity in southern Africa. Malawi has seen many missionaries over the years, as far back as David Livingstone.

Both the stability and the Christian influence are factors in creating a society that is for the most part a happy one, despite the poverty and disease of the area. Malawi’s slogan is “The Warm Heart of Africa,” and almost anyone who’s been there will confirm that these are warm-hearted people.

Christian influence, happy people - why do they need missionaries? Because there have been very few long-term ministry efforts in Malawi, and the people are hungry for the ministry of the Word of God. The church in Malawi needs well trained pastors and church members who can carry on the ministry.

Serving in Malawi, are Brian and Anita Biedebach (on furlough till July), Matt and Rachel Floreen, and newly arrived Jim and Bethany Ayers and their families. All are under the leadership of GraceCommunityChurch in Sun Valley, CA.

"Let the peoples praise you, O God; 

Let all the peoples praise you!

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy." 

Psalm 67:3-4

If you would like to follow the continuing series of Malawi blogposts until we leave (my personal "journey") see:

"The Beginning" http://bit.ly/164AOvl

"Heart Preparations" http://bit.ly/XZr7e6

"Physical Meltdown" http://bit.ly/ZG742N

"Team Meetings & The Book - http://bit.ly/ZGUyPp

"Use me, Lord! No, wait. Seriously?" http://bit.ly/133bUO1

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