We recently sat down with Dana, a young woman who traveled with us to Malawi last summer, and was forever changed because of it. At just 20 years old, she has witnessed the hardships that are faced around the world, but in particular, Malawi. She has also experienced true and pure joy by forming relationships with the people of Malawi. These things have shaped who she is and who she is becoming and we’re so excited to have her as one of our youth trip leaders this summer.
Why are you going back to Malawi?
I came to realize, on the last trip, that missions trips don’t always have to be about the number of houses you can build or how many Bibles you can hand out. Those things are great, and are a huge blessing, but for me the most important aspect of missions trips is the relationships you begin to form. The people there are beyond grateful that you made the journey across the world to spend time and pray with them, that you are there, being the hands and feet of Christ and sharing God’s love. I’m going back to share love and experience a kind of love that I never had before.
How has your life been different since going to Malawi?
The biggest thing for me was starting to realize how the problems I thought were a big deal, paled in comparison to the people I met who were dealing with loss of family members, fear of Malaria and the issue of witchcraft that is so prominent in the area. This isn’t to say our concerns aren’t important or that God only cares about the big issues in life, but it started to put things in perspective and allowed me to trust in God more because he is always in control. Secondly, it has made me more conscious of the excess we have here. I’m so thankful for the things I have, but I don’t need ‘things’ to make me happy. It’s about relationships and that’s something that’s so evident in a country where the people literally have nothing.
Finally, why is it important for you to lead this youth trip? Why do you want to see young people travel to Malawi?
On the trip I went on, we had a number of young people but also a large range of ages, from 15 to over 50. It was a great experience, but the adults who were there maintained their parental roles as usual. However, when asked, the young people did step up. I want to see a whole group of young adults given the opportunity to be pushed as leaders in every area while on this trip. We are the future trip leaders, worship pastors, youth leaders, etc. and we need to start taking ownership and learning how to be leaders. It is also a great opportunity to experience things now, while still at a young age that will literally change the way you look at the world for the rest of your life.
