Introducing the Maranatha team...

The Team has arrived and work has begun!

We are in awe watching how God cares for his people, his projects and his work around the globe. Through all your generous donations and fund raising efforts, Malamulo is currently receiving help with re-roofing homes and patching others that are leaky.
A massive thank you to Maranatha for partnering with the hospital in this effort!

Over the next few days I want to introduce to you the Maranatha team who answered our call for help from around the world! What a blessing they are here in Malawi. SO many people thankful for their gifts of time, skills, resources and energy!

Kristen McGuire

Name: Kristen McGuire 

Age: 35

Home: Ringarooma, Tasmania (Australia)

Occupation: Sawmiller

# of Maranatha trips: 1

Kristen found this project by looking on the Maranatha website. He has roofing experience and is a hands on guy who thought something like this might suit his skill set.

Kristen's dad helped his efforts to participate in the trip by selling vegetables from his garden to help contribute to Kristen's flight and trip. Other ways Kristen and his community fund raised to enable him to participate in this trip was through concerts, woodcutting, women of prayer dinners, bonfire nights and making firewood to sell. 

Kristen always hoped to be involved in mission work and feels like this opportunity is a dream coming to life.

Before coming to Malawi, the longest flight Kristen had been on was from Launceston, Tasmania to Melbourne (mainland Australia)

 Kristen is a hard worker, does an excellent job and is always smiling. Such a pleasure to have him volunteering on this project at Malamulo! Thank you Kristen!

Barbara Mayes

Name: Barbara Mayes 

Age: 59

Home: Nashville, Tennessee (USA)

Occupation: Registered Nurse

# of Maranatha trips: 2

Barbara found out about this project through Jason Blanchard who attends the same church in TN. She had previously been to Malawi in 2012 with Creative Global Relief doing irrigation projects. This is her 3rd trip to Africa and second this year, as she was in Zimbabwe in April.

Barbara is comfortable with construction and assisted her family with building homes.

She relies on God to give her the spiritual and physical strength to do the jobs he puts before her and God has been good sustaining her on projects like this one.

Barbara has a Nashville twang and I love to hear her speak! She is a delight to be around and a hard worker on site. Thank you Barbara for coming to help Malamulo. 

Rocky Parker

Name: Rocky Parker

Age: 58

Home: Tacoma, Washington (USA)

Occupation: Construction

# of Maranatha trips: 2

This is Rocky's second trip to Malawi and he was impressed to join this team so he could be helpful. Rocky has seen that God's timing is impeccable as he saw how God provided the funds for this trip. He knew that if God wanted him on this project he would have to provide the money and God came through! Rocky is looking forward to the sports program the team will run so he can help to teach God's love to the children through sports and stories.

Rocky is searching for peace and God's calling in his life. He has a heart for missions and those serving oversees. Thank you Rocky for your commitment to helping Malamulo!

Faye McColpin

Name: Faye McColpin

Age: 86

Home: Apison, Tennessee (USA)

Occupation: Retired Registered Nurse

# of Maranatha trips: "so many I lost count!!"

Faye began doing mission trips in 1980 and went on at least 1-2 every year until 1988. She assisted the development of literature evangelism buildings throughout Rwanda, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Mozambique to name just a few.

Malawi was interesting to Faye so she thought she would volunteer for this project. At the job site, Faye is keeping all the batteries charged up and rolling tapes, tapping nails, doing whatever she is asked and able to do.

She stated, "Jesus went around helping people less fortunate and that's what I figure I will do too." 

Faye uses her savings to volunteer on her mission trips and she said, "As long as the Lord gives me strength and the money to do it, I'll just keep on serving like this."

Thank you Faye for volunteering at Malamulo. Your commitment to the job and your willingness to help wherever needed is appreciated. I hope I can hike the mountain and serve God around the world at 86. What an inspiration you are!!

Stephanie Holtry

Name: Stephanie Holtry

Age: 36

Home: Atlanta, GA - moving soon to Orlando, Florida (USA)

Occupation: Accountant

# of Maranatha trips: 2

Stephanie has just accepted a new job with a big move to a new city and a new state. She knew she needed to re-focus her life for God before his move. Volunteering with Maranatha would be a great way to let God lead and serve others, and God provided her with the answers and funding to become a part of this team at Malamulo. 

She is enjoying doing something physical even in the rain and mud! She stated, "the more mud the merrier" as volunteers battled with unusual Chiperoni rains in July to re-roof the first two homes.

Stephanie is looking forward to returning home to set people on fire for God and connecting with the reality of the blessing at home that we often take for granted.

Stephanie has a peaceful way about her. She is pleasant and warm and working hard as a team player. Thank you Stephanie for letting Jesus shine through you. We are so grateful for your work here! 

Mary Johnson

Name: Mary Johnson

Age: 37

Home: Antioch, California (USA)

Occupation: High School Spanish Teacher

# of Maranatha trips: 4

Mary checks the Maranatha website regularly to see what trips are coming up and what opportunities there are for volunteering. When she saw the Malamulo roofing project she thought,

"a) It's not in Summertime

b) I might have to sleep on the floor

c) There's no VBS which is my talent

d) It's a roofing project!"

But then she was reading in Paul's writings and God reversed her thinking. She signed up to participate in the roofing project self funding her way and remembering the slogan she heard on the radio, "If it's God's will, it's God's bill."

Thank you Mary for your hard work and dedication to this project at Malamulo. We are grateful for your service here!

Gary Blanchard

Name: Gary Blanchard

Age: 64

Home: New Gloucester, Maine (USA)

Occupation: High School Guidance Counselor 

# of Maranatha trips: 3

Gary, his wife Karen and their children lived at Matandani Mission in Malawi during the mid to late 1970's. During that time Gary was teaching and starting an agricultural program on the mission. This is his first trip back to Malawi since leaving 30 + years ago. Gary said that his son Jason's enthusiasm for this project motivated him to join the team and volunteer for the roofing project. Gary plans to visit Matandani mission while in Malawi once the roofing project is completed. 

Thank you Gary for volunteering to help Malamulo with the roofing project. Thank you for your hard work and service. 

There are 16 volunteers on this project.

More introductions over the next few days. 

These are the people who answered the call for help. They have partnered with all your donations to make this project a reality.