By Peggy Stickney
Several friends and I sew dresses out of donated pillowcases. We are always looking for a missionary to take them over to Africa.
A friend gave me the information for African Missions For Christ.
The missionary who I was in contact with was Linda Long. She brought more than 50 pillowcase dresses to Africa and sent before and after pictures.
What a blessing that we have those who sew for this project.
I went to meet Linda, as well as Theresa and Reverend Russell McElroy at their home in Deltona, which also serves as their headquarters.
We brought them a suitcase full of little dresses for Africa.
I was so impressed with their mission that I decided to go with them as one of the "short term missionaries" in July. I had the support of my church and friends in order to be gone for 3 weeks.
We were also there for the dedication of a new well near one of the churches we have planted. I was surprised when we got there to see that the well was paid for by Father’s Table in Sanford.
African Missions For Christ was started by the McElroys in 2008 with 2 suitcases. Theresa McElroy is a retired nurse and he is a retired pastor who still does prison ministry in Daytona. No training needed, just a willingness to go as they preach the gospel and do humanitarian relief work. The McElroys go to their now established mission house in Malawi several times a year and continue helping the people of Malawi.
I have gone on another mission trip to Costa Rica but this trip to Malawi was interacting more with the people, bringing them food, clothing, eyeglasses. The people there were so warm and joyful which made the trip worthwhile. It helps to see where donated money goes and how it is put to use in other parts of the world. I am a retired nurse so for me to see diseases that are preventable and treatable (HIV, TB, Malaria) still being the main causes of death is disturbing. My philosophy has been "be the church" so I do volunteer for several other organizations locally.
The girls are on the front porch of the mission house eating the food we serve them every day at 4 p.m.
