May 18, 2013
QUITO, ECUADOR
Dear friends and family,
We
want to share with you an exciting and challenging ministry opportunity God has
presented to us. During the week of June 9-15, we will be going to Quito, Ecuador
with a team from the Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) at the University of
Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). This is the “same” trip that Kent went
on last summer, and Kelly is thrilled to be joining him and the team this year!
Our
short-term mission project joins a long-term effort headed by the organization
SIFAT (Servants In Faith And Technology- sifat.org)
that is working to help break the cycle of spiritual and physical poverty that
reigns in the area of Quito, Ecuador.
The purpose of our trip is as follows:
- First, we desire to live out the Great Commission as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20, and this trip is a wonderful way for us to reach a small part of “the ends of the earth”! We are honored to join in where God is already at work around the world.
- Second, we will be sharing God’s love to the people of Ecuador through a free dental and eye glass clinic. Last year, the sweet patients in Ecuador survived Kent’s first “hands on” experiences in dentistry; while this year, Kent hopes to help lead other younger dental students as they treat their first patients along with using his own skills to meet individuals’ dental needs. Kelly looks forward to doing whatever is needed around the clinic (assist the dentists, sterilize instruments, help with the eye glass clinic, play with kids, take pictures, etc.). Kent may even let Kelly pull a (loose) tooth! J
- Third, we will work with and encourage local churches in Quito to help further the development of a Christ-centered community.
We’re
excited about the opportunity and experiences that lie ahead...in the near future! As you can imagine, a trip
like this requires both prayer support as well as financial support from a
number of people. We need to raise a total of $3,800 by June 9th.
God has already blessed us abundantly with $2,370.00 towards our trip from
various sources (maybe some of you!), leaving us with only $1,430.00 left to raise. We hope that you will prayerfully consider
partnering with us on this trip through prayer and/or financial support. If you
can support us in a financial way, we would be very grateful; most importantly,
however, we need your prayer support. If you would like to be part of
this mission through your financial support, please send a check to us (Kent or
Kelly Griffin) at: 1207 Vera Cruz St., Memphis, TN 38117.
While
your financial support is extremely important, it doesn’t compare to our need
for your prayer support. We encourage you to pray boldly, trusting “Him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that
is at work within us…”- Ephesians 3:20.
Here is a picture of our team and areas in which you can
pray for us:
·
Pray
for the people of Ecuador: that God would open hearts to hear and accept the
message about the hope we have in Jesus
·
Pray
for our team: that we would be unified and centered on Christ and His will for
us
·
Pray
for our safety as we travel and as we minister in Ecuador
·
Pray for
us: that our financial needs will be met for this trip and that we would
continue to seek His face above all else
·
Pray
for the BCM and the impact it is having and will continue to have on the
students at UTHSC
Thank
you for your love and support. We look forward to sharing all about what God is
doing in us and in Ecuador when we return! While we’re gone, you can follow our
mission trip blog at http://utscrubs.blogspot.com.
For His glory,
Kent & Kelly Griffin
P.S. Here are more pictures of Quito...
