• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Villages in Partnership

Fighting Poverty in Malawi

DONATE
  • About VIP
    • Our Story
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Staff
    • Our Partners
    • 2021 Annual Report
  • VIP Voices
    • Blog & Stories
    • VIP Videos
  • Friendship Trips
    • Why We Go
    • Trip Information
    • Trip Interest Form
  • Contact Us
  • Poverty in Malawi
    • Poverty Overview
    • Our Catchment Area
    • Climate Change
  • Our
    Response
    • The Six Critical Needs of Human Development
      • Water
      • Food Security
      • Education
      • Health Care
      • Infrastructure
      • Economic Development
  • How You Can Help
    • Water Walk 2023
    • Give Today
    • ❤ Give Monthly
    • Matching Gifts
    • Fundraise
    • Become A Church Partner
    • Amazon Smile
    • Volunteer

Unbridled Joy – By Dr. Sarah Vick

July 15, 2019 by Carissa Rea Leave a Comment

This is my second trip to Malawi— the first time I came was for only 5 days in 2016 on a medical mission trip. This time, I am lucky to be able to stay for three whole weeks, participating first in a Friendship Trip and staying for the following medical trip. It’s impossible to comprehend that today is only our second full day here. A Friendship Trip is exactly that— we have gone into different villages and met villagers and helped alongside them with some of the work required of village life.

When I was trying to describe it to a friend before I came, they suggested this was really just “3rd World Tourism” and wasn’t that being incredibly condescending? I assure you nothing could be further from the truth. VIP is genuinely partners with its Villages.  Even though the participants on the Friendship trip change, we are all welcomed as part of the Village family.  Today, as we arrived, the Village we were entering had gathered early in anticipation.

As soon as they saw our trucks, they leapt in the air cheering and singing and dancing. This wasn’t some elaborate stage production waiting for its cue— it was genuine, passionate, cracked-wide-open love, and there aren’t words to describe how free and unabashed their expression was. As a doctor, I’ve been with people at the very best and very worst times in their lives, but this collective expression of unbridled joy is something I’ve never experienced.

Filed Under: Friendship and Medical Trips, Journal, news, Uncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

DONATE
Poverty in Malawi
Our Response
How You Can Help
About VIP
Blog & Stories
Friendship Trips
Contact
Privacy Policy

Villages In Partnership is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Tax ID # 45-2442802

GuideStar
Villages In Partnership Nonprofit Overview and Reviews on GreatNonprofits

Villages In Partnership supports the
United Nations'
Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

Newsletter

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2023 Villages In Partnership, Inc

  • About VIP
  • VIP Voices
  • Friendship Trips
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 · Infinity Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Your spot is saved!

Watch your email for the link to join. Use that link to join the call using Zoom just before the event begins.

See you then!

You can test your Zoom settings at any time by visiting zoom.us/test on the device you plan to use for this event.

  • Donate
  • Water Walk 2023
  • Friendship Trips
    ▼
    • Why We Go
    • Trip Info
    • Trip Interest Form
    • Pay Trip Fees
  • Poverty in Malawi
    ▼
    • Poverty Overview
    • Our Catchment Area
    • Climate Change
  • Our Response
    ▼
    • 6 Needs of Human Development
  • How You Can Help
    ▼
    • Give Today
    • ❤ Give Monthly
    • Give Supplies
    • Fundraise
    • Volunteer
    • Become A Church Partner
  • About VIP
    ▼
    • Our Story
    • Our Mission & Values
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Staff
    • Our Partners
    • 2021 Annual Report
  • VIP Voices
    ▼
    • Blog & Stories
    • VIP Videos
  • Contact Us