Volunteer

Summer Safari 2007 update

Our second Summer Safari is now history, but the results of this collegiate ministry are eternal! Twelve students from nine schools came together in a unity that was Spirit-given. They were given the God-sized task of living in a remote village for 2 months, learning about a new culture and language. Foti has poor overland access, no electricity, no clean drinking water, no communications capability (unless you climb the mountain to get line of sight to a cell tower), and lots of venomous snakes! In spite of their tough surroundings, everyone adjusted very well, thanks to your prayer support and to the logistical support of Tino, Eden, and Simba of African Christian Tours & Safaris. ACTS provided tents, outdoor shower enclosure, and a comfy safari truck with full cooking facilities. ACTS also treated the team to funtime at Lake Malawi and at the beautiful Antelope Park in Gweru, Zimbabwe at the end of the trip.

For more information on ACTS, go to http://www.actsoverland.com

In addition to their "intentional" hut to hut witnessing, the students shared the love of Jesus in ways they had not anticipated: mending little ragged dresses and shorts, sharing bandaidsand medicine with sick people, sharing their vitamins with expectant moms, giving piggy-back rides to kids, etc. They prayed over a snakebite victim, and saw sick people miraculously healed by the power of God. They saw a demoniac woman delivered and saved, and saw the village bully eventually pray to receive Christ as her Lord. They led many to Christ and spent hours each afternoon answering Bible questions and starting the discipleship process.

The human needs portion of this team's job request included building a small dam using only local tools, to store water against the annual drought season. The dam will also be used to farm fish, a good source of protein in an area where malnutrition is real. Work on the dam was tougher than many expected, but everyone kept a positive attitude. By the end of the project, the dam was mostly completed and left in the hands of the villagers (who have since completed work in time for the dam to completely fill during the next rainy season).

Safari Team Participant Comments:

"I just want to know when this new project is going to be! (And if there's going to be another one like it when I'm out of classes, lol)"
     - Ashley Butler, University of Alabama

"The trip this summer really did change my life. The Lord shaped and molded my call to oversees missions and confirmed His will for my life at every turn. I began the trip with the idea that we would do something great and change the lives of many in Africa. What the Lord showed me is that nothing on this trip had anything to do with us. He was already at work in Foti and the lives of the people there changed me instead of the other way around."
    - Hannah Shebek

"The Lord used countless things and people in Malawi but Timothy sticks out the most in my mind. As a one-legged and mostly blind elderly man, Timothy crawled to hear about the one true God. Trembling with fear and reverence of God, he prayed to receive Christ. The tears in his eyes followed with a bounce in his body. Timothy and I are saving a dance in heaven for one another."
    - Katy Myers, Auburn University

Future Opportunities for Service!

The Lomwe Team will offer future opportunities like Summer Safari, especially through a new initiative called "Hands On Africa." Through carefully planned human needs ministry and intentional evangelism, 18 to 29 year olds will have a chance to get really involved in the lives of Africans. Jobs are 5 +/- months, offer some financial assistance, and are available in two sessions per year (January-June and July-December in both 2008 and 2009).

For more information, go to http://www.hands-on-africa.com/ and watch this space for LomweLand "Hands On" jobs for January and July 2009!