Mission Croatia 2014
Hello Friends, Family, and Strangers. (: My name is Shannon Morris. I am a sophomore Exercise Science Major (pre-med) at Florida State University. This summer I will taking a 20 day journey to Croatia to devote my time and energy to mission work.
Briefly I want to let you all know how I found out about this amazing opportunity. Some of you may have heard of the Passion Conference, where college students gather in one city to learn more about Jesus. This Janurary as I left Atlanta I asked the Lord to specifically SEND ME and use me for his glory wherever that may be. Little did I know how soon this prayer would become reality. I was informed about this mission to Croaita and as I was looking into it, the flyer had in bold red capital letters "SEND ME". I knew this was no conquincidence, so I said yes.
Most of our work will be done with Project Life International, a branch of Gospel on the Go Ministries. It is the goal of Project Life to develop a first-class model for the children in orphanages, local communities and the impoverished Romi Villages. Project Life evolved out of a desperate need to help the many children who lost their parents and extended family during the war between Croatia and Serbia. Official figures on the wartime damage specify 180,000 destroyed housing units, 25% of the Croatian economy destroyed, and $37 billion of material damage. The vision has expanded to include the local children in the surrounding communities and the children of the many poverty-stricken Romi villages.
Project Life ministers to children in the local communities, foster care homes/orphanages, and the impoverished Romi villages. Many of these children have had to endure abuse or abandonment. When these are a child's formative experiences, he or she often grows fearful, silent, and withdrawn. It should be no surprise that some of these children have forgotten how to laugh and play. After all, they know how quickly the world can change"”that their loved ones, even their homes, might not be there tomorrow.
Project Life has been helping children like these in Croatia since 2008. And in the time they have spent with the many children, they have seen miracles. Many of these children have begun to lose their fear and open up their hearts. I look forward to spending my summer loving on and restoring hope and peace into these children's lives.
This will be my first time working in Croatia and I could not be more thrilled and blessed to have this oppurtinty that I have been praying for years now. As I prepare to embark on this adventure, I ask for your help. First and foremost I ask that you keep the entire team and myself in your prayers as we get ready to do God's work in Croatia. In addition I ask that you pray for for the children and families that our team will be in contact with. I also ask that you help pray for the financial needs of our team. Each student needs to raise $2,300 to attend this trip, which is a large sum for us college students! FInally, I ask that if able, you help support me financially. Whatever you feel led to contribute I am more than grateful!
I look forward to this opportunity of loving these children and families along with showing them truth and hope.Be on the lookout for updates and stories during my trip!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Shannon Morris
If you would like more information on Gospel on the Go Ministries or Project Life International please check out their websites!
http://www.gospelonthego.net
http://www.projectlifeintl.org
Finally, check out the video my friend Savannah Strayer, who will be in Croatia her entire summer, made to promote this trip.
http://youtu.be/zY48quSkijk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY48quSkijk#action=share
