We're off to Africa

2009-07-02T18:11:00.001-07:00

Today this is just a photograph. A photograph of orphaned children in one of the worlds most impoverished countries.

But on Sunday this picture will have so much more relevance. These faces will have names. These smiles will make sounds of laughter. These hands will offer a tender touch. It will be real. More real than I can imagine even on the eve of my departure.
On Saturday I leave with a group from Flint, Michigan, on a two-week humanitarian trip to a small Malawian village in Chirimba Township, just outside Blantyre, Africa.

There we’ll meet some of the 94 school-aged children being cared for by Noah’s Ark Orphan Care center, which provides meals, education and medical help to these children, most orphaned after their parents died of AIDS.

There are 10 of us traveling together. Some – including myself – have never done humanitarian work. Many of us are meeting one another for the first time.

But for myself and good friends Tammy Webber and Maggie Jaruzel, this is just another journey is our long friendship. A journey we’ve daydreamed making together for several years. A journey that will change us in ways we cannot even realize.

Among our group is a robotics engineer, a teacher, accountant, school counselor, pastors and journalists. We’ll share our skills and knowledge with the children, hoping that it will help them someday become self sufficient. More importantly, we’ll share our love.

Over the next two weeks, our group will share our journey through photos, video and words. We’ll introduce you to the volunteers, the children and life there at Noah’s Ark. We’ll introduce you to Flint Township Pastor Nancy Sisco, who at 76 is running the orphanage and sharing her love in unprecedented and inspiring ways. We hope to have the children share their personal experiences as well, making our journey a little more real for those reading our blog.

Chyembekezo (hope) Africa

We're off to Africa