Houlton Wesleyan Church plans missionary trip to Czech Republic

HOULTON, Maine — Several members of the Houlton Wesleyan Church are currently raising money for a missionary trip to Czechoslovakia.
The Czech Mission Team, featuring nine members of the local church, will depart for a 10-day excursion June 17-27. Its purpose is to help build relationships with others on a spiritual level and also help with construction projects.
    Wayne Robertson, pastor of Houlton’s Wesleyan Church, said his church is trying to raise community awareness for the group’s trip.
“Our church has had some connection with the Czech Republic,” said. “This will be the second time we have sent a team to this particular site. I’d say our church has somewhat of a kinship with the area.”
Participating in the trip are Robertson, his daughter Alicia, Mark Morin, Tina Jay and her 10-year-old son Ethan, Ed Rand, Donna Shannon, Sam Hiscoe and Scott Richardson. Robertson’s daughter spent six months in the republic for an internship in mission studies.
The local group is in the process of raising money to help fund the trip, which costs $1,400 per person for plane fare alone. Their goal is to raise $24,000. A supper is planned for Saturday, April 9 at the church. Candle sales, car washes and other fundraisers are also in the works.
The group will fly into the city of Prague before taking a bus to Brno, the second largest city in Czechoslovakia.
While in Brno, the group will work on construction projects that include repairing cinderblock walls, classroom repairs and other general carpentry projects around the city.
“The area is still coming out of communism and part of what we want to do is encourage the local missionaries who are there full-time,” Robertson said.
Scott Richardson, who has been to Brno twice for missionary work, said his reasons for partaking in missionary work is to increase his worldly views.
“For me, you get a better perspective of the world and what is going on,” Richardson said. “Many of the people grew up atheists and are still struggling with coming out of that lifestyle. The younger people are very open, but are questioning and skeptical of spiritual things.”
Richardson said in many parts of Europe, Americans are viewed negatively, but that is not the case in Czechoslovakia.
“The Czech people really love Americans,” he said. “They are very inquisitive about our culture and who we are. If we can help them out in any way, I think it helps them with their ministry.”
Individuals interested in helping, should contact Robertson at 532-9056.