Well, I told you that this blog would be reserved for future missions opportunities and the next one has presented itself!
Since finishing my stint with Word Made Flesh in Sierra Leone, I have joined a Masters program back at Taylor University where I am studying Higher Education and Student Development. In this role, I work as faculty with the Campus Pastor and have a chance to take advantage of other faculty opportunities, including leading a short term missions trip with students! Taylor has a philanthropic arm known as Taylor World Outreach (TWO) that provides opportunities for students to engage in service and ministry in the community and around the world. One of the major ways they do this is providing Spring Break missions trips to various locations throughout the US and the world. In 2007, I participated in one of these to the Dominican Republic and one of my college roommates was once a student leader for it, so I know it's a great way to be involved in missions.
This year, I applied to co-lead a trip because of my passion for missions and my knowledge of the work TWO does in inspiring students to missions and ministry. I found out months later that I had been selected to lead the trip to Vladimir, Russia. This is a trip that TWO has sponsored for years (I remember it happening in 2006, but I'm sure it goes back further) so I appreciate that while the trip is short-term, the relationship between the school, our host organization, and the locals is long-term. We work in tandem with the Boaz Project which has close connections through Taylor alumni and has worked with this trip before. My co-leaders are Jim and April Jurgenson, Directors of Operations and Programs for the Boaz Project and also TU alumni. With their organization, we will be conducting vacation bible school and building relationships with orphans through music, games, and stories. The trip is over Taylor's Spring Break which is March 19-27, 2011.
That's most of what I know for now. We're still picking our student team and the process is still confidential. I wanted to let you, my supporters, know that this was coming up and give you an opportunity to get involved again. I know you'll be interested to hear about my team and what we'll be planning, and I will be very appreciative of your prayers once again.
