Malawi (MNN) — While Malawi is fighting flooding and HIV, a team from the United States is heading to that African nation to help not only physically, but spiritually.
MNN affiliate station WLJN is taking a team of volunteers. WLJN's Pete Lathrop says, "We're heading over the Malawi, Africa, and we're taking a team of medical professionals over there to do three clinics in the bush."
Lathrop has been asked to preach as the team handles various health issues. He says HIV is a major concern. "One out of every five people there have HIV, so death is a common sight and a common reality." Children are also affected.
Lathrop describes the purpose of their trip. "We're going to be setting up a clinic in three different villages, and we'll be spending two days in each of the villages. We are anticipating 500-700 people each day at the village clinics."
The WLJN team will be working through Finish Line Ministries International. Lathrop says, "This will be Finish Line's first attempt to oversee a medical missions trip, so this is cutting some new ground for them and for us as well."
Finish Line Ministries International Africa is a church planting/leadership development ministry. Today there are more than 80,000 men and women attending 565 Finish Line Ministries Africa churches in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
As an MNN affiliate, WLJN places a high priority on outreach. "WLJN, or Good News Media Incorporated, has really taken on being an example for our listeners to answer the call of missions — short-term or long-term — wherever the Lord leads."
As they are overseas, Lathrop will be reporting back to the radio station to keep their listeners up-to-date on what they're doing in Malawi and encourage listeners to pray actively for the team.
Lathrop says WLJN wants to be an arm of the church, helping not only overseas but at home in northern Michigan.
Pray that the team will be safe as they travel, that the team will be able to meet physical needs, and that many will hear the Gospel as it's preached at the clinics.
