news.zionbuffalo.org

Kelsey has had the opportunity to join in a couple of cultural trips a little further from the area where she is staying.

In May, she was able to join a group of other YAGM volunteers in a trip up Mt. Kinabalu. She made it to the 11,000 foot point before altitude sickness got the better of her, and she was unable to make the final leg.

She also made a trip to Singapore where they visited a jazz club, an arts show, and the Singapore Zoo. “It is a very large zoo with so many different animals to see and shows to catch. We were able to watch a water show and the elephant show! Something unique to this zoo is that many of the cages are open. At some parts you needed to watch your head because there could be a monkey or two hanging above you!”

She has shared several photos from both trips on her blog at http://kelsey-malaysia.blogspot.com/.

Kelsey returns home in July.

Kelsey Mackereth is a member of Zion who is spending a year volunteering in Malaysia with the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program.

Dear Zion Family~

Thank you all so much for your support in my mission to Malaysia. The outpouring of encouragement is overwhelming and for that I know I am blessed to be a part of your church family.

As I continue in this mission I promise to represent our church family to my best capability in all that I do. I also promise to send updates as often as possible. Hopefully along with these updates there will be a few pictures to give you a visual with the verbal.

Thank you all very much and I will see you in a year with plenty to share about our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world. This wouldn’t be possible without you and your generous donations through prayers, letters, and donations. Thank you!

Peace,

Kelsey Mackereth

Young Adults in Global Missions – Malaysia

www.facebook.com/Kelsey.Malaysia

Kelsey Mackereth, daughter of Laurie and Joel Mackereth, has been doing work at a Bible camp for a few years and has now been accepted into the ELCA Global Mission program and will leaving for a mission year in Malaysia in August. On Sunday, July 19, Kelsey will be at Zion to help with worship and explain a little about her upcoming year.

The ELCA sponsors these missions but also asks each person or their home congregation to also help with the financial needs. That means Kelsey needs about $4000 of sponsorship from Zion’s Global Mission committee, family, friends, etc. To help Kelsey with sponsorship, Zion’s Global Missions Committee will be sponsoring a cookie fundraiser (also on July 19).  The Mackereths are organizing the fundraiser (contact Laurie if you want to help), and funds will be matched by Thrivent; so stop by on Sunday and throw in $1 or $100 for a great chocolate chip or turtle cookie. Any checks written to support Kelsey’s mission should be written out to “Zion Lutheran Church” (put Kelsey’s name in the memo, or bring them to the cookie fundraiser) and we will send one check on to the ELCA.

Kelsey is also working with the church office to find ways of keeping the congregation up-to-date on the details of ministry while overseas.

In Sherilyn Burgdorf’s words “Kelsey was a great help with so many things here at Zion while she was a “youngster” here in Buffalo. She did lots of things through her high school years and this is a great way to help her as she grows in her vocation of God’s mission and care for people around the world.”