Make a Lasting Impact: Join the 2025 Vacation Bible School Trip to Malawi!
Have you ever considered joining a trip to Malawi to teach Bible stories to the children at our centres? Did you know that the children in Malawi have 6 weeks of summer vacation, but unlike our children in North America, they are not super excited about such a vacation? Let’s explore how your desire to serve Malawi may greatly impact the children on their long school break…
Schools break in Malawi for six weeks over July-September but the children do not have exciting things to look forward to during this break. There are no holidays, no day trips, no car rides, no activities – for them it means sitting at home with little to do. Their care takers are often working, attempting to make a little extra for their next meal.
What does Timotheos do during this break? At the centre the program children still receive a daily meal but no instruction as the teachers are given a break. The days are long for these children, so we decided to offer one week of Vacation Bible School at each centre! It is a highlight, a highly anticipated week for all our students and YOU can play a role in it… we are still looking for more applicants to join this year’s Vacation Bible school trip!
Here are some things that last year’s volunteers shared with us at the end of their experience:
Very rewarding experience, seeing how much the children and staff appreciate the VBS week
Heartwarming and humbling to see the work Timotheos is doing
My favorite part was working with and teaching the children every day. It made my day to see their happy faces and hear their excited voices when we arrived at the centers each morning.
My favorite part was interacting with children and building connections with everyone of the 9 girls, and I also liked the Malawian food.
The highlight for me was seeing the little boy who’s container broke walking around with a new container as well as the kids faces when we actually played with them.
My favorite part of the trip was seeing how excited the children and staff were to see us everyday! It was so neat to see how intently and quietly the children listened during the Bible stories.
The most important part of the trip was of course the whole reason I went, to share the Word of God with the young children there, and try to point them to the Lord Who alone can help them. This was the most fulfilling part of the time there, especially seeing the children drink up the Bible histories told by all of us.
Absolutely loved the minibus rides, so entertaining and crazy.
Arriving at the centers every morning with the hundreds of children chanting and holding on to us.
Seeing how the children listened so well to the Bible stories and were able to answer questions appropriately – especially older children.
We have some of the costs associated with a trip listed on our website. When we asked the volunteers if it was worth their investment, these were the replies we received:
100% worth the investment.
This was SO very worth all the time and investment of finances that went into it. I truly don’t know how to describe how rewarding each day was from hearing “You are special and welcome” from the children every morning to seeing their eagerness to answer questions from the Bible stories. It was also so heartwarming to see these children play so nicely with each other and all of us. They were all so respectful not only to us and the staff but also to each other in the love, respect and empathy that I could see each child showing to one another. I would certainly do this trip again in a heartbeat.
Absolutely! Definitely going to consider going again next year if at all possible. I could tell many of the children, and one in particular was very grateful for the histories told to them, and that makes it worth every minute of my time and every penny of the finances.
Yes it was an unforgettable experience. I have gained valuable information about a culture and stepped out of my comfort zone.
Yes, seeing the reaction of the students & teachers & hearing how much they appreciated us coming was very heartwarming. Hopefully the work done throughout these past weeks may be blessed to the eternal welfare of others there.
Yes very much so. Our money for flights and accommodations seemed very reasonable and I am very happy to donate my money and time to Timotheos especially after seeing the work and the difference that it makes in the eyes of those who are supported by Timotheos.
As much as you will benefit the children in Malawi by applying to join this trip, we can’t help but emphasize that you also will be changed! Malawi leaves an impact on everyone’s heart and we hope it will on yours as well! Some comments from last year’s volunteers:
It was an unforgettable experience
This trip has been an eye-opening experience for me. It touched me how grateful all of these children and other Malawians are while they have so little material goods, while we are so quick to envy others even though we have such an abundance ourselves. I was also so impressed by the advanced Bible knowledge that some of these children have. When they were taught about the widow of Nain and asked what the lesson in the story was, I expected them to answer that maybe “God can comfort those who are sad”. A little boy, about 8 years old, raised his hand, stood up, and replied “God makes a way where there is no way.” It amazed me that an 8-year-old was able to make this application from the story.
After teaching Vacation Bible School for two weeks the group is sent on a trip to Lake Malawi and a night at a safari. As one volunteer shared in their debrief form, “the trip to the lake and safari is so necessary to unwind and analyze our trip experience.” It also gives you an opportunity to explore the beautiful creation in Malawi.
We have a lot of information on our website to answer some of your questions but if you’re interested we would love to have you join our zoom evening on March 12, (5pm PST, 6pm MST, 7pm CST, 8pm EST). Email volunteer@timotheos.org and we will send you all the information you need!
Applications for the 2025 VBS trip are due March 15, 2025.
