FUNdraising

There are some many ways to raise funds to go on a missions trip. Sometimes you have to get creative and other times, well you just have to clean out your house and ask others to do the same. Kelley and I decided to have a yard sale. We figured we had some junk to get rid of and that any money we made would help fund our trip. We thought, maybe people would like to donate their junk and help us out as well. Considering the economy, maybe people are in a better situation to give stuff than money. We were so blessed as many of our friends made donations to our sale.

The sale started bright and early last Saturday. I said to Kelley, I will be happy if we make $600. Kelley said, between the two of us? and I said, yea. She was like, oh yea. Our plan, was to set up as much as we could in the garage, so we could open the doors and drag out minimal things as we knew people would try and early shop. Our sale was no exception. About 6:45, we opened the garage doors and no sooner than we did, a van pulled up. He said mind if I go ahead and look around. I said sure, but we won't be able to give you much attention. He said I am use to that. He began looking. Within 10 minutes, he left with $235 worth of merchandise. He bought our invisible dog fence and bose stereo system. I was hoping this was an indication on how the day was going to go.

Some people noticed that our sale was for a mission trip and spoke to us about it. While some people were just there to shop. At the end of the day, God blessed us in so many ways...through the people we were able to share our hearts with, the friends that stopped by to show us support and He showed us the money. Drum Roll please! Our total was $1656! A far cry from our $600 dream. We are amazed and humbled.

If you have any ideas on fundraising suggestions. Let us know!

Adziwa

For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope - Jeremiah 29:11

As mentioned in our first post, our church has partnered with the Capital City Baptist Church (CCBC)  in Lilongwe, Malawi. Their project, affectionately known as Adziwa, which is translated in their language as He knows, is a positive expression of hope in God for the future of orphans. The project has many objectives, and we are honored to be a part of this huge task that God has laid on their hearts and ours. Their overall goal is to improve the welfare of orphans and their families in the peri-urban and rural communities of the nation of Malawi. Recognizing that a child is the product of his/her environment, the vision of the ADZIWA CCBC Ministry is to provide comprehensive integrated community based care for the orphaned children by influencing their total environment; thus enhancing their potential to fulfill their lifes God-ordained purpose and make their contribution to society. How are we going to help them reach their goal?  The People's Church (TPC) has committed to partnering with CCBC for 3 years. During those 3 years, as a team (TPC and CCBC) and with the help of hired local workers, we hope to give a key to 15 or more families, which will open the door to their new house, so that they have a safe place for the orphan(s) they have taken in as well as their family. In addition, to the houses, a school is in the works, as over half of the children in Malawi do not receive formal education. While our team is there, we will hopefully be able to give a key to one deserving family.

brick making process - sifting the clay

School's progress

However, it's not all work and no play. Who can go to Malawi without sitting and spending time with a sweet face like this?

We will have be opportunities to sit, play, sing and talk with the kids, women and men of Malawi including taking part in bible study and church services. One thing we would like to take as a gift to the children are pictures. Yes, we want to take them pictures of people who have came on previous trips and take polaroid pictures of the children and let them keep them. We are guessing that some kids may not even know what they look like. How fun would it be to see their face when they see their beauty. If you would like to help us, you may purchase polaroid film and drop it off at the church with a note saying for the the July Malawi team.    

Please continue to pray for the 3 TPC teams that are going this year. The people of the Lilongwe and those dealing and living with AIDS. Pastor Henry of the CCBC in Malawi and the rest of the staff and that their vision is fulfilled. 

God is Love, 

TPC - Malawi July Team 

Photos by Caleb Magnino, posted with permission. For more of his photos and stories of Malawi, go to his site.

The Warm Heart of Africa

For the readers who have been to the warm heart of Africa, you know that we are referring to Malawi. Our leadership, at The People's Church, embarked on a search for a global ministry a few years ago. A number of things, that we like to call divine appointments, led our pastors to Malawi. After coming across the Capital City Baptist Church and speaking with their pastor, our pastors truly felt that God was calling our church to partner with them and help them with their vision (which we will discuss in a later post).  Our church has sent numerous teams over the past 2 years, and we are grateful, that God has called us to help with His vision. We are a team of 10. Some of us are individuals, husband and wife, mother and daughter, father and daughter, mother and son, and even grandparents, daughter, and grandson, but we are all uniting to encourage, give hope and show love to a community who is hurting. Through all the hardships, they are able to find joy.

We feel that God has called each one of us, as we each bring something unique to His table. We would like to share with you what God has equipped us with for this journey.

• Scott: administration, labor, relating to kids
  
• Suzy: nursing, compassion, nurture
  
• Tucker: building and working
  
• Stephanie: photography, blogging, children's worship, service
  
• Jim: kindness, building
  
• Betty: compassion, arise to the need and serve
  
• Kelley: teaching and working with children, faith, love to talk to people and hear their stories
  
• Brandon: soccer, service
  
• Mary: working with children, crafts, discipling
  
• Richard: prayer walking, organizing, building, witnessing, teaching
  

We are excited about this opportunity and we cannot wait for July!  We ask that you keep us in your prayers and continue to come back to the site. Will you be a part of our journey?

Photos by Caleb Magnino, posted with permission. For more of his photos and stories of Malawi, go to his site.