Member's Mali Mission

February 27 is really right around the corner.  But the trip Wes Thorp is soon to embark upon will not be a quick, safe trip to get milk at the corner market.  Rather, he will be traveling halfway around the world to Mali in West Africa.  Wes will be near the Ivory Coast where there is a great deal of unrest (rebels, guns, fighting, etc.), as well as some natural dangers of bird flu and malaria.  Although it would seem impossible not to be nervous about this trip, by far his most prevalent attitude is thankfulness.  He’s truly thankful for the opportunity to serve Christ in this foreign land.  While in Mali he will be sharing what it means to have a “purpose driven life” in some of the small village churches, but will primarily be caring for, and sharing with, kids at Hope School, an school facility that educates pre-school children through High School age youth.  Although a distinctly Christian school, almost all the children are Muslim.  Knowing what to say and when with reference to his faith will be a challenge for him as well as for other members of the team.

What can we do to support Wes?  Prayers are of greatest importance.  Not only will Wes be kept in our daily prayers and Sunday prayers, but there is the possibility of having a prayer with Wes during the late service on Sunday March 12.  (Wes will return by March 16.)  We will be trying a live hookup that we should be able to display on the screens.  I believe that would be a fitting way to celebrate the end of Lutheran Schools Week because the kids will be present for worship … and, of course, Wes is the husband to our 3rd Grade Teacher, Mrs.Glady Thorp.  The kids in the school will all be monitoring his BLOG while he travels and while he is in Mali, and he will be in their daily school prayers too.  His BLOG, that is, his Web Log, is currently linked to our OSL Home page … Wes Thorp's upcoming mission trip to Maliblog .  It is a great way to understand what he is doing to prepare now, and what will be happening while he is traveling and in Mali.

This Sunday, February 12, and next Sunday, February 19, we will also be taking Door Offerings for Wes’s mission trip.  This will not only help offset some of the cost for him, but will especially allow us the opportunity of participating in a very tangible way in the spread of the Good News of Jesus.  Let us pray for the success of the Gospel through Wes and the other team members.