Rays of Hope « UrbanPromise International

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Janelle’s first blog…

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Janelle Billig, former UrbanPromise Intern is now in Malawi beginning 2 months of volunteering with Rise Malawi. These are her reflections as she prepared for her trip…

Friends reunite at a prayer commissioning before 5 of our leaders headed back to Malawi. Janelle is second from the right.

It is truly amazing to reflect on how much can happen in 3 years. In June, 2007 I began a one-year internship with UrbanPromise Ministries in Camden, New Jersey expecting to be challenged and grow in my involvement with urban youth. Little did I know that I would also have the opportunity to live alongside peers from the country of Malawi! It was an amazing year that opened my eyes to the perspectives of diverse people around the world. Getting to know the UrbanPromise International Fellows, Tinashe, Gibozi, and Sullivan, also profoundly touched our whole intern class. One of the most joyful parts of this spring has been having our Malawian friends return to visit. Ive had the pleasure of seeing our intern teams reunite to reminisce about the past, celebrate the present, and show our support for the future of their ministry endeavors. It is encouraging to see how our own individual journeys have unfolded in the time since we interned together. The Malawi crew certainly continues to inspire us with their passion, dedication, and boldness in taking steps to impact the lives of children in their home communities.

If you had asked me 3 years ago, I also never would have guessed that in 2010 I would have the chance to spend the summer in the Warm Heart of Africa! I have a passion for eliminating health disparities in our world and lifting the disease burden that prevents individuals and communities from achieving their God-given potential in life. During my summer break from medical school, I have been provided with an opportunity to serve alongside my former roommate Tinashe in her home country for the next 9 weeks! I am looking forward to living and volunteering with RiseMalawi Ministries and various health clinics to learn about the gifts and challenges that are present there. I hope to share with you what I learn through this blog regularly, so stay tuned and keep us in your prayers!

~Janelle

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Despite Heavy Down Pour, Young Girl Insists on Attending Camp

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

A message from Mwai Kamwendo a leader of Rays Of Hope - Malawi

It started as a beautiful day. The sky was clear and the sun brightly shining. But as the day continued to unfold, dark clouds appeared from nowhere and engulfed the once bright and blue sky. In no time, it was raining heavily.

At the same time, the AfterSchool Program was about to start. Ida Mofolo, a camp kid, had no umbrella to shield herself from the big rain drops. It was a big test for her. Since the program started, Ida has never been absent from the program. So she couldn’t let the rains to be a stumbling block to stop her from coming to camp.

Bravely, she put her note books in a plastic bag, slipped her feet into her flip-flops and started off for camp. She arrived at the camp soaked. Her feet and skirt were muddled with mud. But this wasn’t a big deal to her as evidenced by the joy on her face that she made it to the program. She spent the whole afternoon in wet clothes.

This is just one example that demonstrates how enthusiastic kids in Chilomoni are about AfterSchool Program. They are eager to learn and do not take this privilege for granted. They are utilizing every opportunity that has been given to them to grow academically and spiritually.

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