First Presbyterian Church in Buchanan commissioned member Dru Wrasse for a month and a half-mission trip to Malawi, Africa to train a core group of Malawians in HIV and AIDS prevention through hands-on education utilizing the arts and culture of the Malawian people.
The trip is sponsored by the South Bend group Malawi Matters, which has its roots in the Malawi community in South Bend.
“I knew I had to do something to help stop this crisis,” Wrasse said. “Did you know there are an estimated 560,000 orphans in Malawi due directly to AIDS deaths? It’s an epidemic we can help stop.
“Our Lord commands us to love one another and love is a giving, active thing,” she said. “You can’t just sit on the sidelines as a person of faith. God commands us to take care of one another.”
First Presbyterian has a long history of supporting the people of Malawi and is active in a variety of missions both in its local community and throughout the world.
For more information on Malawi Matters Inc., contact its office at (574) 255-3570.