Home with Handprints on Our Hearts!

The entire Malawi team arrived back to SFO at 3:20 p.m. today, Thursday, April 20. Though filled with gratitude for safe passage home and a desire to see family and friends, there is a part of our hearts and minds still in Malawi. The children and staff of MCM have changed us all "for good."

"You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart... Because I knew you..I have been changed for good."

We have so many stories to tell you and praises to share about all the ways we see God's kingdom and light growing in Malawi through MCM's impact on the children and families they shepherd. It's so encouraging, but there is much left to be done.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 

We appreciate everyone's prayers and support for the Malawi Service trip.  Read on about how you can continue to help the children of Malawi!

From the MCM website:
MCM Academy is growing! Their 3rd school block has been completed with classrooms for Pre-K through Standard 6. But the children need desks. Quality education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty for the 150 vulnerable children they serve. Something as simple as a desk makes difference in the way a child approaches their education. Only $150 enables us to purchase a solid desk for 2 students.

To support MCM, go to

http://desks-for-success-mcm.causevox.com

For more info about MCM

http://www.malawichildrensmission.org

TKA In Transit Back to Bay Area

Hi everyone! 

This is Amanda here to give you the last update on our blog. We are currently in New York at a layover waiting for our next flight home. Yesterday, we left Annie’s around 9:15 in the morning and had to say goodbye to both Ken and Avisha which was bittersweet because despite knowing we would see them again it was still difficult. After saying our goodbyes to our bus driver, Peter, we went on our way to South Africa. Once we made it to Johannesburg, everyone separated into groups to either get some food or go shopping during our six-hour layover. Our next flight was our longest and had a total of 16 hours of flight time. Most people slept for the first half because it was our normal time to sleep in Malawi. 

Everyone watched at least one movie if their TV was working, and many people had swollen ankles from the flight! Overall, our travels back to the States has gone fairly smoothly, and we are so thankful for it!

Since we have had 36 hours of travel time, I have had plenty of time to reflect on our trip. I have continuously been thinking about the kids at MCM and their beautiful smiles and joyful laughs. Those kids and their love for others and for God has made my heart full and my bond with my Lord stronger. All of us our very sad to be out of Africa because we would all love to spend more time in Malawi with the Mpembas and with the kids at MCM. Yet, we are excited to come back home and share with everyone the impact MCM has had on each of us and inform many people about the work that is being done in Malawi.

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with our blogs and been praying for us during this entire trip. We are all so thankful to each and every family member and friend who has encouraged us throughout this journey. We cannot wat to tell all the amazing stories and experiences we have had in Malawi!

See y’all this afternoon!

- Amanda

Avisha and Ken Mpemba, Executive Directors MCM, & Family

Malawi Last Day (Tuesday)

Hello all! 

This is Nicole and Delanie writing our second to last blog entry for this year’s Malawi trip! As we’re both sophomores, we had no idea what to expect coming into this trip, but we both had amazing experiences at MCM and can’t wait to tell everyone at home about it. 

Today, Delanie, along with a couple other students, visited the homes of Martin and Peter (two students at MCM) and their villages, and they got to speak to their caregivers about what their daily lives look like. They got to learn more about the kids and finally saw the reality of the kid’s lives besides what we’ve been already seeing at MCM. For the past two weeks, the kids here have shown constant love and appreciation to us and have blessed us in more ways than they could possibly imagine. Today was an especially difficult day, as we had to say goodbye to the kids and faculty of MCM, and while we knew this would not be our last time seeing the kids, tears were still shed. They walked us down the road until our bus caught up with us, and as our bus started moving, the kids ran alongside us and wouldn’t let go of our hands, which did nothing to help our tears. 

During devos tonight, Amanda led us in a discussion about what kind of impact this trip, the kids, and God made on each of us, and a constant topic throughout it was about trusting God in each and every circumstance, both here in Malawi and in the future. We were encouraged not to leave what we experienced and the feelings that came with each moment in Malawi and to share them with family and friends at home to make those moments last. Both Amanda and our leaders reminded us that this is not the end because we can still hold on to each experience by passing them on to others. We’re excited to see everyone again and tell you all about the crazy moments we’ve had here, but we’ll also be missing the kids here, and each story we tell will make us miss them even more. We’ll miss their contagious laughs and screams of joy and little drawings for each of us, and we’ll also miss our own moments of bonding within the team. Every single person on this trip has been blessed in so many different ways, and there is no one who will come back from this trip the same. 

Pray for safe travels and good health on our flights back home. Especially for Del. We’ll see you all in a bit,

 - Nicole and Delanie

Malawi Day 9 (Monday)

Hi Everyone,

It’s Calvin! It’s our second to last day, and we are all feeling sad but excited for tomorrow. This trip has been really fun. It has been so incredible getting to see all the kids I met 2 years ago and furthering our relationships. The group this year has been absolutely amazing, and I have appreciated getting to know all my fellow team members. We’ve all bonded so much, and it’s been interesting being 1 of 3 guys out of 19 students. Today, on our way back from MCM, we all listened to pirated music and sang at the top of our lungs. There is no dull moment here in Malawi! Tomorrow, my group will visit a village where some of the MCM kids live, and I’m really looking forward to doing that.

Thanks for reading. We’ll be home in a few days!

- Calvin

**********************************

Hey there!

This is Zoe! This past week has been absolutely amazing, and I love it down here in Malawi. I’m part of the computer team, and I’ve been working with the teachers of MCM, today with Edith and Simon. I was working with Edith particularly in typing and creating a report card for her students. As she was practicing typing, she was very determined to get things right, even though I had to correct her a few times in the beginning. After each two-minute practice, she would smile and then try again and again in order to improve, which she did. Just seeing the smile on her face when she saw her own improvement was amazing.

For the report card, they wanted to include a logo within the design. We went over how to create a logo a couple of times and how to create a report card, and finally, how to put the two together. Simon, who had created a report card a few days before, helped me out, and we learned together about how to solve the various nuances that were involved. Edith was eager to learn that too and soon had it down with no problem at all.  Simon, in turn, asked for help to create more complicated designs and how to create a calendar. It really amazes me the commitment and eagerness that the teachers have to help their students improve and to make things easier to do for the faculty in general. The students are so blessed to have such passionate teachers to mentor and help them grow to be great men and women.

Miss you all back in the states and see you soon,

- Zoe 

Malawi Day 8 (Easter Sunday)

Today, Easter Sunday, we went to church after an eye-opening week at MCM. Many of us are changed and have grown closer both to God and each other. I was wondering when I should sign up to write the blog and I just “randomly” signed up for Sunday, but it was definitely God choosing the day for me. During the prayer in church, I had a strong connection with God. The speaker was talking about how we see Jesus’ power in his resurrection, but we don’t always trust his power in other areas of our lives. I felt God’s presence then, and I had chills and was sweating and crying all at the same time. I was thinking about how just over a year ago my mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and we all thought she wasn’t going to make it. Through God’s power, her cancer changed from pancreatic to ovarian cancer without an explanation, and all the doctors had no idea how something like that could have happened. They were able to do chemo and surgery, and her cancer went away. However, her cancer returned about a month ago, and I found myself not trusting in the power that God so clearly showed me. I was reflecting on how I have no need to worry about my mom’s condition because God is looking out for her. It was a great moment for me today, and I definitely have grown closer to God and will have a newfound trust and deeper faith in him after today. That is just today alone – this past week with the children at MCM has humbled me to great lengths. I have seen their faith and love for God, and going on mission trips, I have always found myself learning more from the people I’m serving than they learn from me, but this trip is truly life changing, and I can’t wait to go back to MCM the next two days and spend time with the children there.

- Josh Pasquinelli

Malawi Day 7 (Saturday)

Hello everyone!

Today was a rest day after a long week of hanging out at MCM. We headed to Game Haven Safari Park early this morning to make our first safari tour. We took a safari jeep through the property to see the giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes. We were able to drive right through where the animals were and get up close to them. It was awesome to see God’s creation up close like that. The scenery and the animals together made for an amazing day. I am so thankful we were able the experience the safari. The weather could not have been better in the morning, and God gave us beautiful sunshine and clouds. The tours each took about an hour and a half. After we finished our tour, we were able to relax by the pool they had and play LOTS of cards. We had lunch at the safari park and were able to continue relaxing for a couple of hours. It began to downpour while we were at the park and it was incredible!

Next, we headed out to our host’s, Ken and Avisha, house for dinner. They were so gracious to host our team as well as the Ciraulo family. The food here has been great, but there is nothing like a good ole’ barbecue! Ken cooked up some burgers for us, and we hung out in the house playing…you guessed it! More cards! It was so great to hang out with each other outside of the center and get to know our host family more. After dinner, we sang a couple worship songs which was definitely the highlight of my night. I love hearing all of our voices blend together and worship the Lord. It is the moment I feel most at peace and the way I connect most with the Lord. We sang ‘One Thing Remains’ and the words rang so true to me. It says “One thing remains, your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.” Even after we leave MCM and Malawi, God’s love will remain here forever and in the hearts of these precious families.

I can’t wait for our last two days at MCM next week. These children have my whole heart! Hopefully this was enough to tide you over until tomorrow!

- Hayley Myers