Who goes to Zambia? Profile #4

We have such limited time and space to talk about our mission teams. God always puts together an amazing team. As I thought about each person who goes and what a diverse group that we have, I thought I would share more of the story.

To avoid showing preference to anyone, it's in alphabetical order!

Brian and Chris Matlock
The way our teams come together is so interesting. Music is essential to doing CAMP WISDOM. The African kids love to sing; it's part of their culture. They can sing anything - even if they don't understand the English words.

We have been fortunate enough to have Mary Kay McCormick to go for each of our first four camps. She was great with the kids and laid a strong foundation. But she couldn't go in 2016 .... something about her first grandson graduating from high school in Texas.

In God's providence, a donor came forth and offered to send someone to do the music. We prayed and God led us to Brian Matlock and his son, Chris.

Brian is an engineer by vocation (yes, we had a multitude of engineers), but has an extensive background in ministry - music ministry, teaching, preaching. He has gone on several foreign mission trips.

Brian not only lead the music, but he also shared the gospel with the children at CAMP WISDOM and shared with the community on Saturday. He preached at Wisdom Church on our first Sunday and led a worship service for our team at our place of lodging (one of the highlights of our trip!), when our schedule didn't permit us to attend on our second Sunday.

When he wasn't leading music at CAMP WISDOM, he was helping with the lessons, crafts, or games. He was busy! We are thankful for God's provision.

Brian's 16-year-old son, Chris, was eager to go on the mission to Zambia - even though he had never been on an airplane. He did great - never complained or got sick! After 10 flights that covered 20,000 miles, he is a seasoned traveler.

Along with his dad, Chris played the guitar and led music for CAMP WISDOM. His real gift was playing with the kids at the end of the day, after we finish CAMP WISDOM.

Chris was always willing to do whatever we asked, including washing the women's toilet seat (we use latrines with a hole in the ground while at WCS; we have a toilet seat lid designed for putting on a bucket when camping).






See also: Profile #1 Sherry and Charlie Beair
               Profile #2 John and Darla Holinsworth
               Profile #3 Brianna and Travis Lake

Who goes to Zambia? Profile #3

We have such limited time and space to talk about our mission teams. God always puts together an amazing team. As I thought about each person who goes and what a diverse group that we have, I thought I would share more of the story.

To avoid showing preference to anyone, it's in alphabetical order!

Brianna Lake and Travis Lake
Unlike our first two profiles, this is not a married couple but a father and daughter couple.

Their story and ours are very long - almost 20 years long. Travis and his wife, Mandy, came to the Bible study class we teach shortly after they got married. We have seen them grow and mature and have a family. Which brings us to part 2 of the story. Their oldest daughter, Brianna, is now 14 and about to start high school. She has been wanting to go to Zambia as long as we have been serving at WCS, but she was too young ...... until now. We don't let young people go with us until they finish the 8th grade and their parent has to come with them. [see more about their story here]

Brianna loves sports and has served at our church in the puppet ministry. She used her talents and leadership skills to minister to the kids at WCS and honor the Lord in her service.

Without any other team members, she worked with the kids who did the puppet show and did a great job!

She loved playing with the kids and holding the little ones. They adored the attention!

Travis is an engineer by vocation and is always examining the best way to "get it done." We asked Travis to be in charge of the games. Having watched his three girls play millions of games, he easily took it on with great planning.

Travis is known for having a servant's heart. We knew we could count on him to do whatever needed to be done. He spent one afternoon (after the Camp Wisdom time finished) working with the WCS 7th grade teacher on computer skills.

Travis and Chris loading a counter top in the team bus.

With his GoPro and camera, he captured hundreds of memories at WCS!

















See also: Profile #1 Sherry and Charlie Beair
               Profile #2 John and Darla Holinsworth


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