Looking back on the short years of my
life, I have been noticing that at significant moments in my life, the lesson I
learned was one of trust, learning to be completely dependent on God. Right now I’m at another one of those
moments. The sensible thing for me to do
this summer from a human perspective is to find a really good summer job and
make money so I can pay for school.
However, another opportunity has landed in my lap, and instead of going
the logical route, I am going, Lord willing, on a seven-week mission trip with
my family—my mom, dad and two older brothers.
(I am being partly sensible and taking a semester off in the fall to
work.)
Since October of last year, my mom has
been looking for opportunities where we could serve as a family before us kids
fly the nest. She contacted several
mission organizations, but the one with the most enthusiastic response, saying,
“Yes! We need your help!” was Greater Europe Mission (GEM). Already I can hear the skepticism forming in
your mind—“Europe! Aren’t there other places in the world more open to the
gospel? Is this really a mission trip or
just a thinly-veiled vacation?” Your
skepticism is justified, because we asked those same questions before we
decided that we should go. However, God
has been showing us that there is a deep spiritual need in Europe and that we
shouldn’t limit His work to the places where it’s relatively easy and church
growth is exponential.
As for vacation, let me tell you what we’ll
be doing. For the first two weeks of the
trip, we’ll be in Kandern, Germany at the GEM headquarters doing a much-needed
remodeling project which the workers there cannot afford to take the time to
do. There is also a back-log of office
work which my mom and I may do while the guys are doing the heavy lifting of
tearing down and putting up walls.
From there we’ll be heading to
Guebwiller, France to a Christian school called College Daniel. (A college in
France is our equivalent of a middle school.)
There is a profound need in France for an alternative to the public
educational system, which uses shame as its motivation for learning. The school is located on the grounds of a
former camp, so we will be outfitting cabins to become classrooms. For the three weeks we are there, we will be
staying in the home of missionaries who work at the school while they are in
London, which cuts down on our costs considerably, as we will only have to pay
for utilities.
For the final two weeks, we will be
outside of a small town, Le Bourg-d’Oisans, at a camp, which hosts camps for
missionaries as well as English camps for missionaries as well as English camps
for young adults. The young adults of
the family will be basically just talking and trying to use our lives as a
model of Christ to these youth, while my parents will be working behind the
scenes cleaning toilets, washing dishes and so forth. French labor laws dictate that in order for
us to be volunteers and not working in exchange for something, we have to pay
the camp for our room and board.
I am really excited to see how God will
work this summer! Would you consider
supporting me, prayerfully or financially, as I take this step of faith with my
family? It doesn’t have to be much—every little bit helps. Even if you can’t give, would you please pray
for me? Pray that I would have perfect
peace as I do what is humanly illogical, that all of our support would be
raised so we can actually make this trip, that God would give our family
beautiful harmony as we work together, and that He would prepare the hearts of
the people we meet to be ready to hear the gospel.
Breakdown of my approximate costs:
Airfare
and Ground Transportation:
|
~$1600
|
Food
and Lodging:
|
~$1000
|
Supervisor
Costs:
|
~$75
|
Total
Costs:
|
~$2675
|
In Christ and for His Glory,
Melody Grace
Online donations can be made at gemeuroteam.org/donate. Designate it to 52201 and also in the comments state explicitly that it is for the Hanna Family.
Or, you can send a check with a note designating it to EuroTeam 52201 and mention that it is for the Hanna Family.
Greater Europe Mission
P.O. Box 1669
Monument, CO 80132-1669
P.O. Box 1669
Monument, CO 80132-1669
