19 Days to go

Three weeks from today we should be touching down in Malawi after two nights of travel. Two back to back “red eye” flights are challenging physically, and I trust we will all get some sleep en route.

Fred Fall (right back row) is our “professional builder” and I am sure we will be looking to him for the “how to’s.” Fred has a construction business and along with the Malawian foreman, will direct our efforts. Pray that there will be a real sense of working together between our team and the Malawians. May we learn from each other.

20 Days to go

Garnet Stewart (2nd from right back) brings a wealth of construction experience to Malawi Team 2007, having gone through several home construction projects himself. Garnet works in tractor and farm equipment sales and this will be his first international mission experience. We appreciate his willingness to serve. Pray for his wife Diane on the home front during our travels.

21 Days (3 weeks) to go

Kees Visser (middle back row) makes the team a perfect 10. He is a member of the Charlottetown Christian Reformed Church and is a retired farmer, with previous mission experience doing construction in Grenada. He has been to Africa numerous times and his experience will be valuable on our team. We are grateful for his willingness to serve and warmly welcome him on our team.

We have our borrowed duffle bags from the Summerside Community Church team and we are ready to start packing the donated items that we are taking with us. There is room for more and we can accept donations at Wholeness Family Clinic, 20461 Trans Canada Highway, Crapaud.

22 Days to go

Great article by Mary MacKay in the Guardian today, Section C. Thanks Mary!. Have a look at http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=12726&sc=100 but be sure to buy The Guardian.

It’s been incredible how the community has rallied around us and we are so grateful, and so thrilled, to represent PEI in Africa. Pray with me that this is just the first step in an ongoing partnership between the South Shore area of PEI, Lifeline Malawi, and Ngodzi, Malawi.

24 Days to go

Paul MacPhee (2nd from left back row) is a drywall seam filler. He and his wife Betty have been keen participants on Malawi Team 2007 since day one. Pray that their hearts will continue to be stirred for missions and for Africa.

You can also see our team picture on the Wholeness Family Clinic website under International (click here).

25 Days to go

Darren Darbyson (left back row) is our ex-military guy with lots of international experience. This is his first mission trip and he will be overseeing our baggage. He is also organizing our day in London during our stopover there. Pray that a real passion for missions will be birthed in his heart during this trip.

28 Days to go

Four weeks from today is our departure from the Charlottetown airport! Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers as we prepare.

Chelsey Lake (right front row) is our youngest team member. This will surely be a life changing experience for her. Pray that what she experiences will leave a genuine passion in her heart to bring hope and healing to the African continent. Chelsey joins her mom Janet on this mission. And remember her dad, Kenny, holding down the fort at home.

29 Days to go

Janet Lake (3rd from left front row) brings the gift of music to our team. She is Island Wesleyan’s worship leader and an excellent guitar player. She has found a guitar that she will take to Malawi to leave. Pray that she will connect with a Malawian who has musical gifting and passion, and a willingness to learn to play the guitar. Janet is joined by her daughter Chelsey.

31 Days to go

Connie Trowsdale (2nd from left front row) has had a dream and a calling for missions for years. She is answering that call and we are thankful for her. Connie is a prayer warrior and very perceptive of people’s needs. She will be a great asset to the team. Please pray for Connie as she backs the team up with prayer and intercession.

32 Days to go

Today we will start introducing the team members starting left in the front row (see our team picture Feb. 5th post), Betty MacPhee. Betty is joined by her husband, Paul (2nd from the left back row), and this will be her first short term mission experience. Betty is a Kindergarten Supervisor, so brings a wealth of children’s ministry experience. She is also a great actor and loves drama. Please pray for opportunities to use these gifts and for strength to participate in the construction work.

33 Days to go

We are extremely grateful for the encouragement and the support offered by our home/sending church, Island Wesleyan. We are, however, in a period of transition with our pastor’s recent resignation. Please pray for direction for our church during this transition time, and that there will be a real spiritual boost when our team returns from the field. May we all stand together through this growing time together.

34 Days to go

We are a “team.” That means we aren’t going to serve as individuals, but rather a complementary body. To be complementary means to complete—to supply mutual needs and offset mutual lacks so as to become whole. Please pray that we will function effectively as a mature team with healthy interpersonal relationships and a genuine desire to be there for each other.

35 Days to go

The founder of Lifeline Malawi, Dr. Chris Brooks, was featured in an interview on 100 Huntley Street yesterday. You can see the interview online at http://www.crossroads.ca/broadcas/program.htm. His story is inspiring and challenging. His ministry is making a tremendous impact in this particular corner of Malawi. Pray for the Brooks and the Lifeline Malawi staff, as they host us, and as we come to serve them and the Malawian people they in turn serve.

36 Days to go

Our main mission is construction with lots of hard work outdoors in the heat. We need to prepare ourselves physically and we will need health and strength on the field. So please pray for our health needs as we prepare, and of course, during our time on the field.

37 Days to go

Cross-cultural work and ministry requires us to leave our cultural standards and expectations at home. What we do need to go with is a willingness to serve with humility. Please pray for us to have "servant hearts," and for flexibility and adaptability so that we don't go with our own agendas.

38 Days to go

We are grateful to God, our church family, local businesses and our community, who have so generously supported us financially during our fundraising campaign. We have achieved the financial objectives for our mission, and any remaining contributions will be taken directly to the field to help meet the tremendous needs there. We will prayerfully “sow” into the ministry of Lifeline Malawi as we feel led.

So, we are very thankful that as we begin our “40 days of spiritual preparation,” we need not worry about financial provisions for our mission. Thank God with us.

40 Days to Malawi

February 4th marks day 1 of 40 days of preparation for Malawi Team 2007 before leaving for Malawi on March 16.

Team Members: (front from left) Betty MacPhee, Connie Trowsdale, Janet Lake, Chelsey Lake. (rear from left) Darren Darbyson, Paul MacPhee, Hank Visser, Kees Visser, Garnet Stewart, Fred Fall.

We wish to thank all those who have already shown their love and concern for the people of Malawi through your financial support, and your thoughts and prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers during these 40 days of preparation and of course during our time in the field. We will keep you posted as long as we have Internet access.