Pre-trip jitters

We leave in less than 24 hours! Around 15 and a half to be exact!

As we busy ourselves with a few last minute things, please remember to pray for many things surrounding the trip.
Pray:

• That everyone remembers exactly what to pack and doesn't forget anything.
  
• That everyone stays calm during the rushing around.
  
• That everyone gets enough rest for the days to come.
  
• For Danny and Sandi Thompson as they prepare to send off the rest of the team and Danny prepares to return home in the coming days.
  
• That we stay healthy during these last crucial hours and during the trip.
  
• That God opens the hearts of the Malawian people and prepares them to hear His message that we are teaching.
• That God opens our hearts to the people of Malawi.

Thank you all for the great support you have given us throughout our preparations these past months!!!! May God bless you all!

URGENT Prayer Request

The Malawi Team needs to find where we can get our malaria medicine for an inexpensive price. If you know where we can get the medicine for cheap, let us know.

We are leaving in just over two weeks and need to start the meds a couple days before we leave.

PLEASE pray we can find an inexpensive way to get the medicine we need.

Thank you.

Malawi Meditations - Week 4

Malawi Meditations
Malawi 0808
Week 4 (July 21-31)
Meditations Before We Depart

Why are we going to Malawi? 4) To learn from Jesus for future ministry.

Scripture to think about this week:

Philippians 3:7-14
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Questions to ponder this week:

• Why does God want me to go on this mission trip?

• What do I expect to see when I am in Malawi? Am I open to being surprised by God? Am I open to having my expectations NOT be met?

• How can I be more aware of Christ as my companion now and while I am in Malawi?

• How can I become more aware of His love for me and for others?

Malawi Meditations - Week 3

Malawi Meditations
Malawi 0808
Week 3 (July 14-20)
Meditations Before We Depart

Why are we going to Malawi? 3) To proclaim Christ’s love.

Scripture to think about this week:

Matthew 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Questions to ponder this week:

• How might the people in Malawi be able to taste the goodness of Jesus through my attitude while I am with them?

• How can I shine the light of Jesus through the sharing of my testimony? What stories from my life can I share that will show how wonderful Jesus is to others?

• What can I do now to prepare myself to be salt and light while in Malawi? Are there any troublesome attitudes that I have right now that I need to deal with before I go?

Malawi Meditations - Week 2

Malawi Meditations
Malawi 0808
Week 2 (July 7-13)
Meditations Before We Depart

Why are we going to Malawi? 2) To help the poor.

Scripture to think about this week:

Luke 14:12-23
12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." 15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' 19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' 21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22 " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' 23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

Questions to ponder this week:

• Does God have a special heart for the poor? Do I?

• What other Scriptures do I know about helping the poor? What else did Jesus say about the poor?

• If we are not supposed to give money to the poor in Malawi, what can we do to truly help them on behalf of Jesus?

Malawi Meditations - Week 1

Malawi Meditations
Malawi 0808
Week 1 (June 30-July 6)
Meditations Before We Depart

Why are we going to Malawi? 1) To encourage and support our missionaries.

Scripture to think about this week:

Philippians 4:10-19
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Questions to ponder:

• In what ways am I like the Philippians in this mission trip to Malawi, and in what ways am I like Paul?

• What did Paul think about the Philippians’ generosity toward him? What did God think about it? See v. 10 and v.18. What acts of generosity have happened to me with regards to this mission trip?

• In what specific ways can I be generous to our missionaries in Malawi?

• In what ways can I have the same attitude as Paul in vv. 12-13?

Featured Member-Danny Thompson

Danny Thompson is going to Malawi with his wife, Sandi, and his two kids, Emily and Zac. Here is a little about him.

Basic Information:
What is your name? Danny Thompson

How old are you? 49

Fun questions:
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch

What is your favorite movie or TV show? Movie: Casablanca TV: Dallas

Serious questions:
Why did you choose to go to Africa this summer? Work with and help HIV/AIDS orphans

What is your favorite Bible verse? II Corinthians 4:7-12

What are you looking forward to when you get to Africa? I want to see my children experience what I experienced when I went to Africa the first time.

Do you have any specific prayer requests? Funding. I need to have a couple real estate transactions in the next month to help pay for the missions trip.