Tearfund Reference Number: 3297845
Name of Trip: Malawi 2018 - 6 months
Fund Code: 1617

Dear friends and family.. 

Thank you so much for giving some of your time to look at my JustGiving page.... I hope that below I have been able to succinctly give you an overview of a great new adventure ahead of me! 

On the 1st February 2018 a gorgeously fab team of girlies (see photos) and I will be heading out to Malawi in Africa to volunteer with TearFund and one of their partners Scripture Union for six months. TearFund is an incredible Christian charity which aims to 'follow Jesus where the need is greatest, working through local churches and with partners across the world to unlock people’s potential and helping them to discover that the answer to poverty is within themselves’.

As many of you are aware I lived in Blantyre in southern Malawi from just a few weeks old until I was about 18 months old. This was whilst my Dad was undertaking a contract managing an architectural office there. Understandably I remember very little, however the photos I have as memories and family friends we still keep in contact with have always given me a real hunger to go back.

In 2016 I graduated from The University of Salford which is what lead to me now living and working in Nottingham as a Junior Orthotist. Despite my current situation, this new opportunity with Tearfund has recently been brought to my attention and I feel that it is right, at this time, to pursue this and to both fulfil my wish to return to Malawi and undertake some valuable Christian work in the community. The timing is right not only due to me currently having limited ties (i.e. mortgage, car, dependancies etc) but also due to other personal challenges that I have faced over recent months.

To say I am excited about how God is going to use me through this trip to support and work with the community in Malawi would be an understatement, but I am also very aware of the challenges and situations that I may encounter. Nevertheless I trust that this will help me to grow as a person and in my faith in ways I currently cannot see or anticipate.

With the help of Scripture Union I will be working and helping with the following:
• Encouraging bible-reading through the production of bible reading aids and the distribution of Christian literature
• Leading youth and bible clubs and study groups
• Providing training for school-leavers
• Working in the prevention of AIDS and education programmes
• Youth camps and family ministries

The total cost of my six month mission to Malawi (including flights, vaccinations and visas which are not included in my JustGiving target) will be approximately £5,000. This cost is and needs to be completely self-funded by myself. To that end I will be saving as much of my monthly earnings up until Christmas as I possibly can and I am planning to hold bake sales and taking part in other fundraising events such as the ‘mean bean challenge’ (more information to follow).

I am not sure however, at the present time, how close these efforts will get me to my target but even with my best endeavours I think there will be a gap. The work I will be undertaking in Malawi will be a great encouragement to others and sharing Jesus’ love with these young people, many of whom have so little yet are so keen to learn, has to be a real blessing and opportunity.
Therefore I wish to respectfully ask if you would be able to consider supporting my mission in any way you feel able and to say that not only would I be so grateful, but I know that many others will benefit so greatly from your kind generosity too.

Whilst I will be very keen to keep you posted on the work in Malawi as it unfolds, I would be equally respectful if you wished to remain anonymous. Your support in any way and in prayer will and is so appreciated …

Lots of love and prayers,

Esmé

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