For those of you that know nothing about what I will be doing in Malawi, let me tell you!
I will be working with a program called HOPE for AIDS through a missions agency called SIM (Serving In Mission).
HOPE is an acronym that stands for:
Home-based Care
Orphan Care
Prevention
Enabling the Church
I will work closely with each of these four components.
This will be a 9 month long trip (September 2007 - May 2008).
WHY MALAWI?
Malawi is one of Africa's poorest countries!
Well over half of the population lives on less than $2 a day.
HIV/AIDS is disintegrating the very framework of society...
AIDS has created 300,000 orphans in this small country with a population of merely 10 million!
It is estimated that nearly 15% of the rural population and 35% of the urban population have contracted HIV.
About 10% of people's time is spent attending funerals in Malawi!
Over half of the teachers and nurses in the country are expected to die within the next 5-7 years because of AIDS!
There is obviously a pressing need for HOPE and HEALING!
UPDATE:
This summer has been an amazing time of the Lord preparing me for what I will be facing when I move to Malawi.
I have learned so much about the truth of scripture, and how that applies to the world in which I live.
As the day when I leave gets closer and closer, I am beginning to realize that this isn't just some far off plan that I have in the back of my mind. THIS IS REALITY... and it will be here before I know it!
I have many mixed emotions about it...
I am so excited about what the Lord is going to do in and through me while I am gone.
I am thrilled to be able to have an opportunity that few ever are able to experience...
Yet, I am sad to think about having to leave my family and friends that I love SO much!
Prayer Points:
Finances!... I am still in need of around $6,000. Pray that the Lord would graciously provide for that need.
Preparation... Ask the Lord to prepare me on all levels (spiritually, emotionally, physically)
Brokenness... Pray that my heart would begin to break for the people I will be ministering to... Ask the Lord to fill me with supernatural compassion.
Transition... This will be a huge transition in my life. Pray that it will be a joyous thing and not something that is painful. Ask the Lord to prepare a community of believers that I can feel at home with in Malawi.
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My hope is that I will be able to update this blog on a regular basis with the amazing things that the Lord is doing around me in Malawi.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with my contact info on the Left side of the page! I would love to hear from you!!
If you have any questions about how you can be involved in this minstry, please contact me!
I will probably update this page again closer to September...
Until then...
Blessings and Grace to you!
Ryan
