Bucket List

Greetings from Robin,

 A "Bucket List" is made up of things to do, places to go, and people to meet before you...eh...kick the bucket. I have been keeping my list for about 15 years now. Each item on my list has been thought about, dreamed about, searched about and planned for. I have had some crazy adventures and have met some wonderful people along the way.

THIS adventure started with 3 separate entries on my list.
Travel to Africa
Meet my World Vision Sponser Child
Participate in a Mission Trip

 I first learned about Kissy Clinic in Freetown, Sierre Leone, when Hebron United Methodist Church started financially supporting the clinic. I was very interested in learning how my church could help something so far away. I have been following the progress the clinic has made in the lives of the people in that area of Africa for a long while. That spurred my interest in getting involved in a mission trip. Not sure about the whens or wheres this mission trip would take me I started saving my loose change and also started listening for God's voice.

 I started attending Valparaiso, First United Methodist Church and found that Bob and Carol Stoner led a trip to Kissy in Sierre Leone every November and decided that was my chance to see first hand the work being done there.  My intentions were to go in November of 2011. I gave myself 2 years to earn enough money for the trip. I set up a cart at work selling wholesome goodies to my fellow workers and my bank account grew. I made arrangements to go ahead with my plans  but in May 2011 my life was turned upsidedown in a plane crash that broke my back. Even after many months of physical therapy,  I wasn't fully mended in time so my plans were postponed to this year. I am praying my back will stay strong throughout the trip.

I have been sponsering children though World Vision since 1994. I am hoping to meet five year old Marian Vandy and her family on a side trip to her village. The Vandy's are farmers in SW. Sierre Leone. Marian lives with her father, mother, and brother in a mud hut with a grass roof. More on that later.

 I have no idea what to expect during the next few weeks but a friend of mine told me to be prepared to be brought to my knees by this experience. I do know that whatever happens God will be with us every step of the way.




To find out more about Kissy Clinic  go to:
 www.gbgm-umc.org/.../Kissy_Clinic/kissy_clinic.html 


  
To see how you can sponser a child go to:
www.worldvision.org/