Nineteen members of Central United Methodist Church in Radford leave July 1 for a mission trip to El Salvador, Central America, for help with everything from medical aide to building churches. It is the sixth year of the now annual trip, which began under then Pastor Mike Carter.
The group will assist with construction of a church facility, aid with Bible classes, take needed items such as eyeglasses, bedding, medications, Bibles and various supplies. A major trip factor each time is passing through Customs, according to CUMC Pastor Dale Gilbert.
“We will be hosting Bible school classes and helping to strengthen the work of the Methodist church in EL Salvador, while cementing relationships that show the Salvadorian people that we are not going to abandon them,” said Gilbert.
The group includes three physicians who will set up temporary clinics to aid local citizens and children with medical problems and services. They are Dr. Charles Judy and Dr. Scott Kincaid, general practitioners, and Dr. Amanda Preedom, Pediatrician. Preedom is the team leader for this trip.
The Mission volunteers stay in a “mission house” at the site. Besides the work of the trip, the members face heat and weather, as well as insects native to the area. But all insist it is worth all the challenges to see the results of the work.
A sponsoring prayer “commissioning” was held during the CUMC service last Sunday in preparation for the venture. The group will leave early in the morning from Roanoke Sunday, July 1, leaving Radford at 4:30 a.m.
— Bob Thomas
