Malawi Partnership Trip

2012 Malawi Partnership Trip -  July 16-29.  Please indicate your interest by November 15, 2011.

A group from our church will return to Malawi as part of our Partnership of Hope with the Malawi United Methodist Church, July 16-29, 2012.  During the trip we will tour projects our church supports and continue to strengthen our relationships with our United Methodist friends in Malawi.  You may wish to be a part of this trip.  The approximate cost of the trip is $3500, most of which is for airfare.  Scholarship assistance is available up to $2500 per person for up to five persons. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you decide to go to Malawi, it will change your life.  Consider this words from one of last year’s participants:

From Matt Phoenix:  Where did I see God on this trip?  A better question might be where didn’t I see God on this trip?  The people and landscape were both amazing, and the Holy Spirit definitely lives in the hearts of the people we met across Malawi.  Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, even the many folks we met along the way who were not associated with the church.  The worship services were all very energetic, with people who clearly wanted to be there with us in worship.  The children all seemed very happy, playful and rich in spirit; despite the material poverty in which they live. The land is rather barren in many places; but there is also much natural beauty in mountains, lakes and plains across the country.  In short, God lives everywhere in the people and places throughout Malawi

 From Nate Machovec:   God was everywhere during this amazing trip, at the farm Ankeny FUMC helped purchase, at each borehole we saw, at the churches being constructed, etc.  But most of all I saw God in the Malawi children.  Not just the children in the villages we stopped at, all children.  The children that would smile and wave while we drove by, the children that would run behind the bus so excited to see us even though they had no idea who we were, the children at the orphanage who have nothing but provided each of us a gift, and the children we actually got to fully interact with in the villages.  It really touched me how happy and joyful these children are.  They have almost nothing, but are so trusting in God and his plan.  They sang praise songs beautifully and believed in every word they sang.  I saw God in those children and they make me feel like everything the church is doing in Malawi is really working.

From Kathy Morgan:  Where did I see God on this trip?   In the women attending the Tailoring School who are like so many women of the U.S., looking for an opportunity to better themselves. They are taking the initiative to learn a trade that will provide an income. The school is small but mighty in power, purpose, and potential!
-  In a little boy named Bromes. This 11-12 year old touched my heart with his laughter, his kindness, and his concern. We spent about 20 minutes together but I will never forget him and out conversation. I will continue to pray for him daily and hope to see him again one day.
-  In the Hope Scholarship recipients. Education is empowering! Who knew I'd meet fellow accountants and we could talk debits & credits??!! Not only do the students better themselves, they give back to their church and community...something we should all do.

From Phil Sherman: I am still sorting out how the Partnership of Hope has changed me.  I would not say I was strong in my faith when I left for Malawi, going required a lot of trust and a leap.  I am still growing and struggling in my faith, but I see the lessons I learned from the faithfulness and gratefulness of the Malawi people creeping into my actions every day.  It has taught me patience and compassion, and hammered home the importance of serving those who need God's love.  Before I went to Malawi, I thought we were going to visit projects and support the things we were doing.  I learned very quickly that our mission is not one of shovels and bricks, it is one of love, kindness and respect.  The most important element of the Partnership of Hope is the investment in the people and in ways to help them lift up themselves while making sustainable improvements to their lives and the lives of those around them

From Kirsten Carrott:  Roughly a week into the trip, I basically had to throw my hands up in the air and say "God, you take over". I had a mix of emotions running through me; a lot of which I felt very guilty for thinking. I didn't know why I was there and didn't really think I was doing anything. I still may not know 100% why God had me go, but He definitely taught me to get out of my "norm". It was challenging and struggling at times, but it was a great experience to go and to get out of my norm of my typical mission trip. I was so used to the labor side of it, that when I didn’t do any of that, my walls went up and thought I was useless being there. God told me otherwise when I could see the smiles on their faces when I played soccer or frisbee with some of the kids and spend time talking with young moms.

From Brittney Smith:  I think my trip to Malawi changed me because I saw what God can do in people when everything else, all the material worries and focuses, are stripped away.  Their sole desire is to praise God and give him glory in everything they do, not just at church on Sunday mornings.  I've seen the happiness and joy virtually exploding through the people of Malawi in conditions that I wouldn't have previously thought joy could exist.