What Will I Be Doing?

Why go to Africa? That is what my daughter is wondering! She can't figure out why I would leave my family for two weeks and not even be able to talk with her over the phone. (She is slowly coming to accept the trip--but you can still pray for her). I'm going on what is called a Pastor's Vision Trip. The purpose is to expose North American pastors to the mission and relief work in the 3rd World. I'll also have some teaching input at the African churches.

I'm still waiting for a finalized itinerary, but here is an outline of where I'll be traveling. We leave from Washington-Dulles airport on a direct flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a 15-hour flight going over, and 18-hour flight coming back. After an overnight stay in Jburg, we fly to Pemba, Mozambique. Pemba is an Indian Ocean coastal town in the far northeast corner of the country. We've been told that the beaches there are some of the best in the world. Hopefully we'll get a chance to experience it! From there we fly to southern Mozambique to the town of Beira. On April 25th, we begin to experience the African roads. Traveling overland we will visit Milanje, Blantyre, and Mangochi. All of these cities are in Malawi. We then go west into Zambia and end our trip at a two day missionary retreat at the Macha mission near the city of Choma.

The places we are visiting have a rich history. This area is where much of the earliest Brethren in Christ mission work took place. It was also the region were the famous David Livingston spent much of his life. I am convinced that I will receive much more from this trip than I will ever contribute to our African friends. Since I have never been to Africa I know very little about the culture. But what little I have been told, I will share in my next post.

Thanks for the various ways that many of you have supported this upcoming trip. I know that many of you are praying and so I would like to give you three specific prayer requests. First, pray for my family as they are paying a price by not having a dad and husband around for two weeks. Second, pray for safety in travels. Third, pray that God would speak to me throughout this trip and that somehow he would use the opportunities I will have to encourage our African friends.