Engage the Crisis – Sicily Mission Trip

Hello!

As many of you know, on the 8th June I am heading out to Sicily with Engage the Crisis. This is a mission trip aiming to love and serve those affected through the refugee crisis. This is just a page in which you can find out a bit more about the trip, what it actually is and how you can get involved!

Laura

What is Engage the Crisis?

Engage The Crisis is a global relief effort of the Antioch Movement which was created to meet the needs of the large number of refugees currently entering Europe.

Engage the Crisis is mobilizing dozens people across the world to go to Europe for two or three weeks with one of our Antioch network churches in the summer of 2016. Once there, the team will receive training in Amsterdam before heading to a base location to care for refugees and share the message of Jesus in a personal way. The strategy applied by Engage the Crisis is to go into the camps and love. Nothing more, nothing less. Just love.

When?

8th-22nd June 2016

Where?

Sicily

What will I be doing?

I will be heading out with a team from Antioch Sheffield within Engage the Crisis to work alongside Ministry Agape. Ministry agape is a local organisation who have been working within the refugee crisis to help provide for the homeless, the poor and the refugees. They do this through listening to their stories, helping those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and working towards a prostitute ministry.

When there we will be working hand-in-hand with Ministry Agape, getting heavily involved in the work that they are currently doing.

Why am I going?

As most close friends and family know, I have a passion for social justice. I have been blessed with a heart for those who are suffering and as such an ability to empathise and feel the pain they experience. Long term I plan on working in Anti-Human Trafficking and International Relief work, and whilst I have experience working in anti-trafficking, this is the first opportunity I have to serve through relief work.

In October '15 I was due to head to Hungary to work within a refugee camp on the Hungarian/Serbian boarder. I was all packed and ready to go for Monday morning, however on Saturday the tragic events of the Paris shootings occurred and so naturally all countries locked down, resulting in the trip having to be cancelled. Whilst I was sad that I couldn't jet off to help, I was devastated for all those affected by the attacks in Paris and if anything it actually fuelled my desired and need to serve in these fields.

I feel that it is important and essential to serve those who need the support, I know if I was in the same situation that they are I would appreciate practical support, prayer and ultimately someone to talk to. To be reminded that life can be good. That there is joy, and laughter, and most importantly, hope.

What you can do to help..

1) Pray - My team and I would really appreciate prayer over the course of the build up to the trip and particularly whilst we are there. Prayer that we can truly impact those we meet, that we go with open ears and hearts and that those people we encounter are equally as open in their response, that we make sound and wise decisions and that we can truly encourage people and remind them that life will get better. Prayer for safe travel and as plans get cemented as the trip draws closer, everything falls into place. Prayer for finances to come through for each member of the trip, so that we can fully absorb ourselves into serving without a fear of a lack of finance.

2) Give - This trip is self funded and so we am appealing to close friends and family to help sponsor this trip. As a team we are currently finding ways to raise funds but I would definitely appreciate any donations to go along side that. .

Please note: If you would like to donate through this website, please note that 4% of that donation will go to the site directly.

How much money do I need?

The cost for this mission trip is estimated between £800-1000 - this amount of money will cover:

- All transport (Flights from UK-Amsterdam, Amsterdam- Sicily and vise versa, alongside transport inside the countries.)

- All meals

- All accommodation

Additional Information

If you want to do a bit more research about the Engage the Crisis movement, the official website can be found here http://antiochcc.com/engage-the-crisis/

Also, if you have any questions or comments about anything at all, feel free to let me know and I'll make sure I get back to you as soon as possible.

You can also watch a video of exactly why we are motivated to do this work just here

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