Dear Friends and Family,

I am thankful to share that I have been given the amazing opportunity to serve on a mission trip in Kenya, Africa for my school’s Winterim program, from January 2nd-11th. During this mission trip to Kenya, we will be visiting and serving with several ministries. The first ministry we will be involved with is Untold. Untold partners with local bible-believing, evangelical churches throughout Kenya to minister to people stigmatized by HIV/AIDS, a modern-day version of leprosy. My team will get to know Kenyan staff and Untold clients, along with having the opportunity to attend church and participate in VBS-style activities for children who attend church. The second ministry we will visit is the Corine Fountain Academy. The school is less than a year old but is experiencing significant growth because of the limited educational opportunities available in rural areas. The school currently educates and feeds 118 students in grades K-4. I will have the opportunity to meet with younger children to help teach them English and Bible stories, and play with them in their soccer league! Our final ministry, BlueSky Kenya, is a Christian-based camp for expatriate families, kids, or teens, and my team and I will have the opportunity to tour the campus and meet with staff to learn how they minister to fellow Christians through fun, team-building experiences. This mission trip will be full of loving on the people in Kenya along with ministering to them and getting to know our brothers and sisters in Christ. Mission trips are not only impactful for the people receiving help and love, but also impactful for the ones going to serve. And because of how amazing these trips can be, a lot of spiritual warfare takes place during them and before while we are preparing to go. So I ask for your prayerful support over my trip because prayer is powerful and the Lord can use your prayer in many ways!

I went on my first mission trip last year to Jamaica which was incredible in so many ways. I was able to serve in their poor-conditioned community, and connect with some of my brothers and sisters in Christ living in Jamaica. It was an eye-opening trip. We mixed concrete to make a sidewalk, painted an old Rasta’s house, packaged food and sang worship music with the disabled and elderly. Traveling to this part of Jamaica, where people have so little, gave me great appreciation for all that I have back at home. Throughout this experience, my love of serving grew immensely and my relationship with the Lord and others deepened. I knew God would continue to use me in many more ways in the future, and I know He will do amazing things through our team in Kenya. I have hope in the Lord that He will bring the provision and funding for me to serve in Africa. If you feel led to support my trip financially, then please do so!

The total cost of my trip is $3,600, and my goal is to raise this amount by December 1st. $2000 of my trip is tax deductible and can be given through the Untold link. The remaining $1,600 I am raising directly. Again, prayers are greatly appreciated over my trip, the team, and our time serving as well! I am very thankful for everyone reading this letter, that the Lord has placed you in my life, and I thank you for your support whether financially or through prayer. I look forward to sharing with you about this incredible opportunity that the Lord has given me!

With love,

Sydney Burkhalter