When Michelle Tom first traveled to Africa in May 2013 for a short mission’s trip to Malawi, she hoped to respond to the Biblical calling to serve the most vulnerable, but was overwhelmed by the love for God she witnessed in the most desolate African villages, and the community she observed among the people she met which was also warmly extended to her and her teammates.
This powerful experience inspired Michelle to remain connected to the Hands’ family upon her return to San Francisco, where she volunteered within her church, Christ Church, to advocate for the orphans and the vulnerable, and with the Hands at Work US Management Team, always finding ways to serve in any way she could.
In January 2015, Michelle returned to Africa to serve as a long-term volunteer. A few months later, she moved to Zambia to help provide regional support to the multitude of communities in which Hands at Work is serving the orphaned and vulnerable in and around Kitwe, Luanshya, and Kabwe.
Throughout her time in Africa, Michelle has often stood in awe of how God has allowed her to be a part of this work. She is grateful for how God continues to reveal more of Himself as she learns to surrender each day. Time and time again, God speaks to Michelle through 2 Corinthians 12:9:
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
As Michelle put it, “I often feel like I am not capable and that I don’t know what I’m doing. I think, ‘how did I get here?’ What I realize is, that’s ok. I know that it’s only by God’s grace, that he has called me to serve in this way, to be in Africa at this time serving with Hands at Work. It is such a blessing to know that, and to be in God’s will, that in my weakness, God is made strong. That I can’t rely on myself and what I can control, but that I need to surrender and rely on God. There’s such beauty in that because that’s when God reveals more and more of himself, and how awesome and magnificent he is.”
We invite you to join us in praying for Michelle and the numerous other International and African volunteers serving the poor and vulnerable with Hands at Work!
Read more about Michelle’s transformative first mission trip to Malawi here.
Learn about volunteer opportunities with Hands at Work in the US and in Africa.