Elysia's Going On A Mission Trip!

For the first time in my life, I am going to go on a "short-term" mission trip this winter. This is a new experience for me, since in the past I have always gone as a "long-term" worker. This will be a wonderful trip where each of the team members will be using their varying gifts to serve in Chad, Africa. My husband is very supportive of my going, even though it will mean having Mommy away from home for over a week. I better get busy making some freezer meals for the family before I head out on the airplane!

I would like to share with you a bit about what I will be doing, in case anyone is curious, and would like to be involved in helping me to go. For obvious privacy reasons, I will not go into detail on this blog about where we will be and the organizations we will be working with. If you are interested in becoming a part of the prayer team that prays during our trip, or if you are interested in making a donation towards the cost of this trip, please contact me directly by email or postal service.

I have been invited to serve women in ministry at a retreat by leading the music worship and during the trip to help develop a library at a Christian retreat center in Chad. This African sub-Saharan country is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has a very small number of Christian missionaries serving there in part because of its difficult environment for survival and the harsh spiritual climate. Those who do serve in this country have endured great hardships in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to more than 140 people groups amongst their 11.5 million people living in the country. The goal of the mission team members is to serve the women who have sacrificed so much for Jesus’ sake there in Chad, as well as to bless their children and families.

The women on our short-term team with be working together to serve those who are bringing the Gospel to Chad. Half of the team will be traveling from my area and half from other countries and areas. Part of the team will be serving the children during the retreat with a VBS Bible program, while the other half of the team will be ministering to the women at the retreat. I will be leading the music worship for the women who will attend the retreat.

During our trip, we will work to finish the library project for a retreat center that serves Christians in Chad through meetings, retreats, and family vacations. This center is the only facility in that area that hosts Chadians and foreigners alike from many different Christian denominations. These books will bless all the guests at the center as they find resources to refresh them spiritually. I am thrilled to serve the Lord in this way.

Please pray as we prepare for this service opportunity coming up this winter.