God’s Call of Local Girl to Missions in Africa

Only 20 years-old and already a visitor to Africa three times, Kelsey Duvall is anxiously awaiting the chance to return a fourth time.  She will be answering God’s call to mission work in Africa through a trip with the First Baptist Church of May, Texas  July 30-August 14, 2010.  She is currently working on raising the funds for the cost of the trip ($2500) along with needed supplies, which are due by the end of this month.

Kelsey Duvall is a typical energetic, beautiful, outgoing college student at Howard Payne, but what makes her special is the desire found in her heart to love all of God’s people and through this experience the unconditional amazing love of Jesus Christ.  She grew up in a Christian home in Brown County, attended May High School, but had always dreamed of going to Africa or South America, having no idea what God had in store for her life.

Upon learning about the Invisible Children (click here for info), during the middle of her senior year of high school, Duvall got inspired and developed a passion for the children in the northern part of Uganda that is war torn.  She then learned of a trip to Kampala Uganda that was being organized through the Early First Baptist Church.  The trip cost was $3000.  Excitement of the trip enveloped Duvall, but the reality of not being able to afford it hit her hard.  Trusting God, she raised enough funds to pay for two trips.

Pictured above is a favorite friend that Kelsey met during her first trip, she hopes to see her again one day.

Through her trips to Africa, Duvall has seen the horribly impoverished people, living in filth and battling diseases.  Visiting an orphanage and being entertained by the children who danced and sang for their visitors, the “Mzungus” (white people/strangers) touched her heart and was everything she had imagined.  Just playing games and making faces with the children brought happiness to not only the children there, but also the mission group. (Pictured to the right and baby below:  The Acholi people and victims of the LRA (the Rebels) army.)

One trip brought the group to a town, Nateete (Na-tee-tay) which was a slum.  This is located in the lowest point of Kampala.  All runoff water tends to flow toward this area.  In the rainy seasons, as much as 3 feet of standing water is typical inside the homes of the area.  The people who live in Nateete are so poor that they cannot leave, they have to stack mattresses and wait for the water to dry up.  Pictured below is a scene from Nateete with children wading through the water with jugs to fill for drinking water.  Although in terrible conditions, the children are amazing with incredibly joy filled hearts.  These children were the vision that Duvall had and why she yearned to visit and get to know and eventually truly love the people of Africa.  (Bottom right:  Child standing on burn pile in Nateete)

There are two very special friends that Duvall met during her trips to Africa, Benon (her interpreter) and Derek (a friend she met the first trip three years ago, whom she also considers one of her best friends).

Benon was another that touched her heart.  During one visit to Nateete, Duvall stepped in some mud, which is not just mud, but filth and germs.  Benon told her they needed to wash her feet before going to the next destination.   He walked with her to a well where another woman was getting water.  They asked if Duvall could wash her feet and the woman agreed.  It was then that Benon took Duvall’s feet and washed them, she thought of stories in the Bible about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.  Duvall was deeply touched, feeling as though Christ himself had washed her feet.

Benon looked up at her and said, “Wash your feet like you are a disciple.”  “Yes Benon, you are like Jesus,“  replied Duvall.

This year’s trip will be different from those of years past as the group will be staying in the village, housed in tents.  They will also stay with the same group of people the entire time, giving the mission workers a chance to build stronger trusting relationships.  They will minister to the people by digging a well and teaching the Bible, in ways similar to Vacation Bible Schools.

Duvall stated that although the money for the trip is due this Sunday, she knows that God will provide.  There is also a need for supplies such as soccer balls, crayons, plain white t-shirts, markers, jump ropes, hard candy and bubbles.   You can also support the group through prayer.

If you would like to give a donation to support this mission work, please send any donations to:

May First Baptist Church

Mozambique Mission Trip:  Kelsey Duvall

18955 Cunningham Street, May, TX 76857

“Webale Nyo!” or Thank you very much as they say in Uganda…