Even as we anticpate the departure of our team to Bangkok late Friday night, we're looking ahead to a summertime trip to Eastern Europe.
Several years ago Anna and Sheldon Armitage, a newly married couple at the time, came to Linwood House with Broadway Church for a retreat. Anna was from Slovakia and Sheldon from Vancouver. Immediately we had a heart connection. Soon after, Anna and Sheldon left to serve in Eastern Europe in different capacities. Through the years we have stayed in touch. I have followed their ministry in Europe and they have followed ours at Linwood House Ministries.
This past summer we reunited for three days at Linwood House with our mutual friend, Karen Reed. We loved, prayed and explored common passions together. During that time, both Anna and I believed God was prompting us to share together in a missional adventure.
Today, at the invitation of Anna and Sheldon, we have plans to take a team of women to Europe for two weeks this summer.
Dates: July 25 – August 5 (This may vary slightly depending on flights.)
Cost: Approximately $3500 per person which includes airfare, accommodation, food, and in-country transportation.
Purpose:
- To support Anna and Sheldon’s existing work with marginalized women, exchanging stories and experiences as we learn from one another. (So many of the women trafficked today come from Eastern Europe. Anna has a passion for this global issue and is working in this field.)
- To participate with various ministries both in practical work and in giving encouragement and feedback. (Several of the ministries work directly with prostitutes and pregnant women.)
- To conduct seminars on social justice and encourage the involvement of women within the church in these areas.
- To learn from the various ministries in Eastern Europe.
The Itinerary thus far (and subject to change!):
-
Berlin, Germany
- Cheb, Czech Republic
- Vienna, Austria
- Novi Sad, Serbia
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Return from Vienna
We have been asked to prepare teaching on:
- Women in Social Action
- Advocacy
- Prayer
- Radical Hospitality
As with all our missional adventures we make plans, we prepare, but mostly we allow God to use our stories, experiences, talents and gifts as He sees fit. We will learn from the people we visit as they do the same.
If you have any questions or are interested in participating in this trip, please leave a comment or email me at gwen (at) linwoodhouseministries.org. We also need people to pray for this trip, and to support the work there financially.
Gwen McVicker
