MOST Ministries trip to Latvia, June 29- July 9, 2012, has openings for more volunteers. Currently, 8 people from Trinity Sheboygan are scheduled for the trip. Five adults and three teens - six of these have never been on a short term mission trip before. There is room for 4 or 5 more volunteers.
Jeff Kelm, member of the group and experienced MOST Ministries traveler, has been to Latvia seven times, Poland twice and Nicaragua once. Kelm said, “Latvia was my first mission trip in 2001. I've really developed a relationship with many of the Latvians, and it'd been a real treat to see them grow in their faith, and watch the Lutheran church grow in the country.”
This will be an English camp, where English will be taught through Bible stories. Half of the class deals with Bible Stories; example - English lesson on FOOD, Bible story on JESUS FEEDS THE 5000. MOST will supply all of the materials to put together lesson plans. You don't need to be a teacher to do this and other volunteers are needed to be teacher’s assistants, craft leaders, and lead recreation, drama and music.
It will be a 24-hour camp. The entire week will be spent in camp, with the Latvians, which gives a great chance to get to know and relate to the people in camp. It is a truly special experience.
Kelm also stated, “This is a rich mission field. Historically, Latvia was a Lutheran country before the communists took over in 1940. Since Latvia was freed in 1990, the Latvian Lutheran church has struggled to regain its people. Over 500,000 in this small country list themselves as Lutheran but less than 50,000 attend church. The Latvian Lutheran Church is working hard to reunite with those former Lutheran families that have not returned to church. Plus, many of the young people in Latvia are looking to find God. In America, youth rebel against their parents by turning to many destructive activities. In Latvia, the parents of many of these youth are former communists, therefore they are atheists. The youth rebel against their parents by looking to find God. When we return to Latvia, it's not uncommon to have a former student come up to us and say something like, 'The most wonderful thing happened last Christmas, my mother became a Christian!' We are reaching many teens and young adults, changing their lives through the Holy Spirit, bringing God's love into their lives, and they are then bringing that love into their parents' lives.”
Kelm is also available to give Powerpoint presentations about these MOST English camps to any interested organizations. Current cost for the trip is around $3,000 which includes international airfare, ground transporation, meals and housing and medical support on the trip. Any financial support would be greatly appreciated. Several people that are planning on going on this trip have put the financial support in God's hands through prayer.
If you cannot go on the trip, please keep this mission trip in your prayers. Prayer support while they are in the mission field is especially needed. Also pray that the trip will touch the lives of those people that the Holy Spirit has brought to us in a God-pleasing way and pray for safe travel home.
Contact Jeff Kelm - kelm@att.net or Debby Suchyta - dsuchyta@mostministries.org for more information or MOST Ministries website Latvia trip 2012. http://www.mostministries.org/1217_latvia