Deadly Ebola Virus in Africa May Impact Local Church Mission Team
The Ebola virus in West Africa is making national headlines. Experts say it has become the deadliest virus to date… Killing 672 people.
This virus is impacting some here in Montgomery who may have to cancel a mission trip because of this.
Charlotte Robertson, a member at Frazer United Methodist Church, is getting ready to lead a team of six on a mission trip to Kenya. They are supposed to leave in three weeks.
It will be her second time in 2 years to go to the East Africa country to minister to orphans at an orphanage there.
“We will be doing Vacation Bible School. We’ll be doing crafts. But mainly hanging out with them. This is a ministry that we support financially and trying to get to know the kids better,” said Robertson.
Robertson says there has been an outpouring of donations in supplies and clothes for the children.
But with the news this week of the Ebola virus spreading, killing more people, their trip is now in question.
“Ebola is very serious. From all of our little bit we are trying to learn about it, it’s a different level of concern,” said Robertson.
The center of the Ebola outbreak has been in West Africa, and Kenya is on the other side of the continent.
While health officials are trying to stop the spreading of the deadly disease, there is still a chance it could impact the group.
Butch McPherson, Director of Missions at Frazer, says the church has taken mission trips to the remotest parts of the world. But safety is one of the main priorities.
“When we see that it is extremely difficult for our teams, we have pulled back, we try not to, but if it’s going to put our lives in danger or others lives in danger we typically do not go,” said McPherson.
So for now, they are monitoring the situation and praying they will be able to go forward with their mission trip.
“We’re not afraid and not scared and freaking out right now. We’re just trying to be wise and keep an eye on things,” said Robertson.
