August 16, 2003

WorldService Corps Volunteers
Complete Two Years of Service

During their two years as WorldService Corps volunteers in Malawi, beginning in September 2001, Chris and Matt Davisdon made visits to nearly all of the congregations in the country. Chris said, “In a little over a year’s time, we visited 26 congregations.” Many of these visits required travel to remote villages where congregations had never had the opportunity to host guest ministers from outside the country. “As we have traveled, we continually share the message that we are all one body in Jesus Christ and that as children of God we are all equal in the eyes of God,” she said.

During their second year of service, the Davisdons focused on working with two congregations outside of their home congregation in Mzimba. Chris said, “We have implemented Outreach International’s Participatory Human Development Process with those congregations, helping them identify their problems and work to solve them.” This has included home visits to all members and planning and facilitating group lessons and discussions. They report that these congregations are now healthier and growing.

Beyond their work with congregations and church leaders, the Davisdons have found many other avenues of ministry that involve them with their community. They have worked with Sinkhani, a group of church volunteers that provides clinics for children under age five in various villages to provide education, immunizations, and address basic health issues. Matt has trained local Outreach International staff on computer skills. Together, Chris and Matt have taught classes in English, cooking, and home economics. “Various families wanted to know how Matt and I manage our finances,” explained Chris, “so we held classes-mostly on communication-but also on how to make a budget for a family. They told us it has brought real change to their families.”

Matt said, “Our English classes continue to amaze and surprise me.” Even people who do not attend classes request homework as an opportunity to practice the language. With an abundant garden at their home, Matt and Chris have given cucumbers and lettuce as prizes for turning in homework. “It has been a wonderful time for veggies for us,” he said.

Chris and Matt have become part of these communities and congregations and proudly acknowledge that there is no one project that can be pointed to as “this is what Chris and Matt accomplished.” Chris said, “It has been very important to us to continually support and empower the Malawians to provide the leadership and actually do the work. We serve more as advisors, encouragers, and teachers.”

To learn more about the variety of short- and long-term WorldService Corps volunteer opportunities, visit www.CofChrist.org/WorldService or call 1-800-825-2806, ext. 2224.

-Kendra Friend reporting