Here's the remaining Marantha volunteers that are here from abroad working on this project.
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| Jason Blanchard (TEAM LEADER)
Name: Jason Blanchard
Age: 40
Home: Portland, Tennessee (USA)
Occupation: Business Developer
# of Maranatha trips: 2
It's been great to re-connect with Jason who came to Australia in 1993 as a student missionary with our church. Jason is now leading this Maranatha team on the roofing project and is doing an excellent job motivating the group and getting the job done. Jason grew up in Malawi at Matandani Mission in the mid to late 1970's. You may recognize that his dad, Gary was profiled in the first post and is also in Malawi working on this project. Jason recalls the Malamulo hospital entrance with trepidation, as a small boy going in to surgery for a tonsillectomy! Fortunately the only trip to the theatre on this trip was to have a 'tour'.
Jason talks about the unique elements to this project in that they are using the one day church structure but having to adapt it to make trusses and roof lines where nothing is the same from home to home. The team is enjoying the challenge of having to think through the problems and create solutions on the ground.
He notes that the spiritual tone for the team is encouraging and that worshiping together brings God into their work and affects a good dynamic.
Jason, thank you for your 'captain goes down with the ship' leadership style and for the work you are doing on the roofing project.
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| Cody Johnson
Name: Cody Johnson
Age: 18
Home: Ringarooma, Tasmania (Australia)
Occupation: Dairy Farmer
# of Maranatha trips: 1
Cody joins his friend Kristen and his brother River for the Maranatha roofing project. Kristen asked Cody to support this effort and Cody said he would just 'think about it'. Just thinking about it was all God needed and through the fund raising events coordinated by Kristen's father and their church enough money was soon raised that opened the door for not only Cody to join Kristen on this project but for River to come as well. Cody has a peaceful presence about him, and speaks humbly about his experience in Malawi so far, about how poor the people are, how little they live with, about lack of opportunity and about how he doesn't feel like he wants to complain about anything in Australia anymore knowing others are living like they do here.
Being a fair dink-um Aussie bloke Cody has a true blue Aussie accent, and is sometimes hard to understand if you're a yank. But this hasn't kept them all from becoming friends and appreciating each other.
Thank you Cody for scaling up on the roofs, pitching in the help where needed and doing whatever you can to get the job done.
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| Huddy with Kelly Paul |
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| Hudson and Kelly, Benson with Marquelle. Lucky boys. |
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| Michael Brandt
Name: Michael Brandt
Age: 37
Home: Hagerstown, Maryland (USA)
Occupation: Computer Programmer
# of Maranatha trips:1
Michael discovered this project while perusing the Maranatha website and yet while the interest was present the circumstances just were not looking favorable for Michael to sign up for this trip. His 101 yr old Grandma was not doing well, and even after booking the ticket to join the roofing project Michael was feeling like he might not be able to come. When his grandmas died shortly before the start date, Michael felt like this trip would be in honor of his Grandma. His grandma was born in the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and on his arrival flight from Ethiopia to Malawi they saw Mt Kilimanjaro from the plane and he thought of her.
He credits Jason and Luther for their leadership on this project and he enjoys working with the Malawi Maranatha team, learning from each other, cultures and sharing stories.
Thank you Michael for helping Malamulo with this project. We are glad you are here.
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| Althea Morris
Name: Althea Morris (most people call her simply 'Morris')
Home: Long Island, New York (USA) (originally from Jamaica)
Occupation: Elementary school teacher
# of Maranatha trips:2
Morris always wanted to come and serve in Africa. With this project coming over the school holidays the timing worked out great. She is enjoying getting to know the people, language, and the friendly locals. When asked about the manual labor on the construction site, she chuckles slightly and says, "they can just work me like a man!" Morris is in there drilling, carrying, up on the roofs and wherever she is needed. She is enjoying the physical labor and getting a break from the usual teacher life.
Thank you Morris for all you are doing here in Malawi.
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| The Maranatha team invited us for dinner tonight. Haystacks! |
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| At the end of another long work day |
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| Anthony Paul
Name: Anthony Paul
Age: 19
Home: Nelspruit, South Africa (currently living in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe)
Occupation: 11th grade High School (plans to study civil engineering)
# of Maranatha trips: countless!
Anthony's dad began working for Maranatha in 2007 when he moved their family to Mozambique to follow the calling to serve God in practical ways. Anthony has developed a passion for work in the bush, and last year took a position with Maranatha to build 225 churches in the bush. He drove over 56,000 kilometers in 8 months! Anthony decided to come back to Malawi to volunteer on the roofing project because he wanted to work with the Malawian Maranatha crew again and he felt like this project was worthwhile.
He was touched by a moment of prayer shared with a Jamaican-America, an Australian, an American and a South African. He realized that we are all united in Christ and discovered the sense of camaraderie that ensues when we worship together.
He stated, "i would have driven 1200 kilometers just to hear Luther's testimony, there was not a dry eye in the room."
The team has been challenged, improvising on the job, creating new ways to get things done, and learning from each other. The goal: working smarter, not harder!
Anthony, thank you for coming back to Malawi for this effort. You are welcome anytime!
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