In March, Emma (pictured above with some of the others on her mission team) started to attend LCPC while studying for a diploma in tropical nursing. Having completed that course, she is now studying Theology for Crossing Cultures at Oak Hill College and is currently doing her student placement with us. Over the summer, she spent some time overseas working with refugees. Here she shares a little about what she was involved in:
Earlier this year I went on a short term mission trip to the Mediterranean which had a focus on reaching African migrants and refugees with the gospel. I was part of a team of seven and before going we had a three day induction at a church in Spain which is actively involved in helping refugees. We were thrilled to attend a wonderful baptism service for 36 new believers at the beach on the day we arrived.
On the trip, we heard stories from people who had risked crossing the Mediterranean in search of a better life and had spent time in Calais or were hoping to make their way across Europe. An example of this was a lady from Ghana who was sleeping in a shelter with over 40 men because she couldn’t afford accommodation while she looked for work. We were able to share the bible in her own language and pray with her. Each day we walked around the cities looking for opportunities to have conversations. There were two refugee camps nearby, and although we didn’t go into these, we met many Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians who came into the city or were living nearby.
Other highlights included being invited for a Kenyan meal, having a surprise Ethiopian breakfast and snorkelling around the coast. Please pray that the conversation we had about Christ would remain in people’s minds and that many would come to know Him.