Bridging the Gap: Arizona to Malawi

Have you ever found yourself saying, “Someday, I will _____”? For me, my “someday” was the summer of 2022. I jumped on a plane with my wife and kids, headed to Malawi. We were traveling to African Bible College with a team of sixty people to partner with Live Love Malawi, a team of Malawians who serve in the surrounding villages. Our role was simple- to help!

But even with a simple mission, I was uneasy leading up to the trip. I was afraid of leaving my business and clients behind for a month. Plus, I was concerned that our brief time in Africa wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Even during the first week of the trip, I still had doubts about leaving my company to come all the way to Africa. Others around me seemed to have a skill to provide or role for which they were well-equipped. But while we were there, I had the privilege of hearing the wisdom of Dr. Paul Chinchen. He spoke about taking a leap of faith and trusting that God would honor that we are acting in work He has called us to do. I took the leap and now I was waiting for God’s direction.

Halfway through our time in Malawi, I received a call to come look at a damaged bridge. The bridge provided a lifeline for goods and services. For many villages, it was the only access for miles and the current damage limited access to foot traffic and small vehicles. The 10-year-old bridge was on a fast-track to becoming completely unusable. I immediately found myself in my element! If there’s anything I know about, it’s a damaged bridge.

At this point, I only had a few more days that I would be able to be on site, so time was of the essence. I connected with a local Malawian contractor named Mr. White and together we came up with a plan. As he and I discussed the project, it became clear to me that he was the man for the job. He proved capable and knowledgeable in the construction he was about to take on. With every question about concrete mix, foundation and wall sizes, materials, concrete slab thickness and reinforcing, Mr. White had all the right answers before I could even formulate the questions or recommendations. Confident that the project was in the hands of a capable contractor, SEE Inc. sponsored the project, and released the team to move forward. Within two days we had a plan for what needed to happen and in two more days they had sourced all the materials. So, in four days from our initial site visit, construction was underway. And boy do we know that a timeline like that never happens! Over the next three weeks, with nothing more than hand tools, this team dug the trenches, stacked the rock, mixed the concrete, and executed the construction of this final bridge. All the while, I was standing by via technology to see photos, videos, ask questions, and comment on the process as construction moved forward.

To say that I was impressed was an understatement. Coming from America, sometimes we think we have all the answers and that we need to swoop in and save the day. But in my travels around the world, I’ve found that people often just need a little encouragement and sometimes the financial resources to empower them to complete the work they are already capable of doing.