The Parlees with children in Malawi
Sarah Parlee has been a missionary in Malawi since 2010, working hand-in-hand with village churches by discipling and equipping Christians to do ministry in their communities. She runs a variety of programs in several villages and assists visiting short-term teams. One such team included her brother, Andrew Parlee, and his wife, Charissa. Andrew and Charissa recently shared some thoughts about their time in Malawi:
“We can’t thank God enough for how He used our time in Malawi to teach, nurture, and humble us. Studying God’s Word is one thing, but actually putting it into practice is a whole different ball game. The challenges we faced spiritually, emotionally, and physically helped us grow in Christ.
“As soon as we arrived, we were hit with the reality of how harsh life is in Africa, but we also saw hope in Jesus. For the unsaved, life is one unfortunate event after another, but the pure joy of Jesus in a Christian’s life was undeniable. There was something very precious about praising and worshiping God in a mud-thatched church with only straw mats to sit on. The joy on the worshipers’ faces showed us the goodness and faithfulness of Christ.
“The Lord provided opportunities for us to touch many lives. We were able to visit and encourage local pastors, churches, blind children, prisoners, widows and the elderly, children at feeding centers, and local missionaries. We gained much more than we expected, spiritually, through visiting them because of Jesus Christ.
“Whether it is a calling to foreign missions or a chance to evangelize near your home, we encourage you to listen to what God is saying to you. Peel away the layers of distractions, read His Word, and He will show you how He wants you to serve.”
