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Success Stories - Melissa Clymer '99

Joanna Everitt

 

 

Life on a Mission

Home: Hawaii
Job: Teaching/Missions
College: Northland Baptist Bible College
Major: Elementary Education

Almost exactly 7 years ago, I was a 17 year old girl who was about to embark upon one of the most life-changing experiences of my life - a mission's trip! Flying to Kenya was a first for many things: my first time out of America, first time on a plane, and my first time to be immersed in a different culture. Two and one-half weeks later, I left my heart in Kenya. I am so thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to be able to come back to Africa once again to work with the Kenyan people. These past 7 weeks have flown by. Carla and I have been given the privilege to serve with the Weavers at Emmanuel Baptist Church and Camp Lukenya. We have also worked with the ministries of Christian Mission Aid and Kids Alive orphanages. We have been teaching Sunday School and Junior Church, singing in the church choir, setting up a 3-year curriculum for the two Junior churches and participating in a Single's Retreat at Camp Lukenya. We have been teaching various school subjects in two slum schools, a street boy's home, Maasai schools, and orphanages.

After teaching middle-schoolers in Hawaii, it was fascinating for me to be involved in another country's education system. The Lord has truly blessed our time here and enabled us to see, hear, and even smell things that are vital to experience in order to truly grasp the Weaver's ministry here to the Kenyans. The Lord has burdened my heart for the children and has created a desire to open an orphanage and Christian school here to to help share the love of Christ to the abandoned Kenyan children. Kenya is one of the highest HIV/AIDS areas in the world. I cannot overemphasize the importance of taking a mission's trip. It is so important for us to broaden our horizons and catch the vision to minister to other people who need Christ. It is important to see where our missionaries minister and to experience their daily struggles so that we can know how to pray for them. God may not call you personally to mission work, but after a visit overseas you will have a more personal and lasting understanding and appreciation for the Great Commission.