Ceremoy in a village

We had an amazing day sharing our stories with the women of Mgwamwa. We got to help Linda hand out diplomas to the women who had completed training to become "counselors" in their community for the rape crisis project. There is such a need, though rape is illegal in Malawi there are not real consequences for the perpetrator so one of the things that can be done is bring comfort to the victims.

Then on our way out of the community we were told that another community wanted to have a meeting with us. The Traditional Authority was there he is the man who is over the group village head men who are over the chiefs. This was quite an honor. There was quite a ceremony with many speeches given ...(think of a political rally in the US i have found the polictians are the same the world over)There was a fabulous youth choir and then a play on the importance of knowing your status (HIV/AIDS) and how relationship with Jesus is the only answer. The community is wanting Somebody Cares to come and be a part of their community because they seen and heard how this can make such a difference.
After this ceremony we were invited to a home where we were fed a feast of rice, chicken and vegetables. This was a huge sacrifice for the community to make and I can honestly say i have never felt more honored in all of the times i have traveled to Malawi.

Sewing in Matanda

the past two days have been a bit of a blur we have been in the communities working with a group of women to show them how to create a dress out of pillow cases..thanks so much to dressagirlaroundtheworld.com for the inspiration. We have seen the women go from quiet and shy to excited and laughing ..more than likely laughing at the azungu (white) women trying to show them how to sew. We have found though that many of them have never even held a pair of scissors and so we started at the beginning. We shared with the women as we sewed that God had stitched them together in their mothers womb and that he had a plan and a purpose for them. We also shared with them the power of prayer and how as women they can come together not just to tell their sad stories to each other but to let their heavenly father know about it as well. That they can come together and agree in prayer. This past 5 days have flown by however hopefully will have a bit more time to update..pray for us today as we go and share our stories with the women and i share with the a group of 80 pastors and leaders

First Day on the Job

First day in Malawi and what a great team i have. Today we were with the home based care workers..these amazing individuals truly become the hands and feet of Jesus as they clean and wash dishes, haul water, check up on their patient's well being all as VOLUNTEERS..We "helped, " the volunteers today as by hauling washing and praying for the sick and the dieing.
Thanks for all your prayers

First Day on the Job

Well we made it and praise God so did our luggage. We were in the air and on the ground in airports for aprox 40hrs before setting foot in the warm heart of Africa (Malawi) The team has been great and we hit the ground running this morning. We went to Mgona and "helped" the Home Based Care workers..we visited patients and a few of us even hauled some water and swept a floor or two. It is amazing the amount of work the volunteers do in one day and it is all because they love Jesus. They are the hands and feet as they visit patients, clean and sweep homes, haul water and wash dishes and so much more. These hard-working individuals truly walk in Jesus shoes as they minister to their own community. I fall in love more each time i come with God's people on the front lines of Malawi.

Waiting in Dubai

We are waiting in the airport in Dubai anxious to get to Malawi and continue the adventure ..

Pillowcases for Malawi

thanks so much to all the amazing women that have contributed to our pillowcase project. We will be leaving in a couple of days and we will take the pillow cases to teach the widows how to sew and create dresses for little girls in their own community.

We will update our blog when we are in Malawi and i hope to upload pictures as well so you can keep up with our team..

Getting ready to go

Only 13 more days until me and 4 others pack up and leave for Malawi Africa. It will be my 7th time and I continue to be awed at the opportunities to join God where he is at work. He is definitely at work in Malawi. We will be working with Somebody Cares Ministry. This great group of folks do amazing work in the fight against HIV/AIDS in their small country. They work with over 500 volunteers to spread the good news of Jesus and sometimes they even use words but for the most part they simply are the hands and feet of Jesus as they wash, clean, administer medicine and pray for the many patients in rural Malawi.
Our team will be visiting patients with these volunteers as well as playing with the children and creating memory books with some of the widows. We also will be doing a simple sewing project. But most of all we are going to love and encourage so many who are on the front lines.

Our team consists of Janette Danney, Kathy Briggs and Dan and Deb Herman and myself (Ruth Mitchell).
Hopefully you will follow us and pray for us as we do our best to bring a bit of Jesus to Malawi from Arizona USA