“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
Throughout the past few years, the Lord has been trying to get our attention to the meaning of this verse. He has given us many opportunities in our own backyard and around the world to meet and serve His “least of these.” As we meditate on and wrestle with how in the world to live out this verse, a common theme arises: Christ has a special place in His heart for the orphan, the widow, and the suffering; and regardless if we are in the jungles of Peru or teaching at Mountain Brook High School, our calling as Christians, whatever our vocation, is first and foremost to love those He loves and do what we can to help them.
We recently began asking the Lord for our particular call as a married couple. We do not know the full answer to this question, but feel the Lord guiding us one step closer. For the past 3 years, Whitney has been working for Make Way Partners (MWP). MWP is a Birmingham based non-profit that prevents and combats human trafficking. Make Way Partners’ passion is to go where children are at most risk and with the fewest resources. This has led them straight to the heart of war, civil conflict, extreme poverty and lawless lands such as Sudan, Peru, Romania and Congo.
This June, David will resign from his position at Mountain Brook High School and is joining Make Way Partners. In the summer of 2012, we are moving to the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, to serve alongside a faithful Catholic Sister who cares for the least of these in Congo.
In 2007, Alvera asked her convent if she could remain a member, but move out from their midst, and into the impoverished streets of Goma. She wanted to live among the poor, oppressed, raped, angry, sick, and hungry. Though the convent had no means to support her, they allowed her to go on her own.
Sister Alvera has left everything behind, including the safe cloister of her convent to serve the most desperate of the least of these. She rents a small home, but it is far too small to accommodate all of the women and children she cares for. Sister Alvera has had to rely upon a tarp-covered hovel to provide for 35 children that were considered “throw-a-ways”: the orphans, handicapped, and rape-survivors. She also protects many widows and adult rape survivors who are now outcasts due to their oppression.
She calls her ministry “Flamme d'Amour” (Flame of Love.) Through Flame of Love, Alvera cares for children like Hortense Shakulu and Tumusifu Clementine. Hortense was gang raped by soldiers when she was six. Tumusifu is four years; Tumu was raped last year, when she was three.Although both little girls have a long way to go, Sister Alvera prays with and over them every single day. She lives her life as a prayer for these children, and the healing love of Christ is apparent in them.
Sister Alvera is in desperate need for extra hands to help. We want to join sister Alvera and give her and the children the support they need. But we need your help. As missionaries, we need to raise our own support. Each year we need to raise $125,000 to cover our salary, travel, and ministry expenses.
In preparation to serve as missionaries in Goma, we will undergo intense training through Make Way Partners. This will include multiple training and observation trips to Congo and other MWP orphanages. MWP was founded with the mission to protect those at highest risk to human trafficking. We go to locations where no other help is available because it is considered either "too" dangerous, "too" expensive or "too" remote for most people to go. Since these locations are so remote, transport in and out requires costly, independent charter planes.
There are three powerful ways we ask you to partner with us in our missionary journey:
PRAY – Sometimes we overlook prayer as a given, but we know we cannot do this alone. We need the prayers of our family, friends, church, and community. We believe that God desires to build His kingdom through all of us. Your prayers are like invisible swords fighting the unseen war.
SHARE – Please spread the word about us and Make Way Partners! Word of mouth is the best vehicle to increase awareness. We will be speaking to churches and various groups, and we welcome any invitation to share our story with anyone who will listen. If you know of an audience with whom we can share in any capacity, please let us know!
Email us at: Whitneym@makewaypartners.org and Davidm@makewaypartners.org
GIVE – As we step out in faith, all of our livelihood will come from monthly support pledged by friends and family. Please consider a one-time gift to build our foundation and a monthly pledge to support us.
To Give Online: www.makewaypartners.org; designation: Whitney and David to Congo, or mail your checks to the address on this stationary.
Thank you for your partnership, for being part of our life. We thank God that He gives us opportunities to partner together in His kingdom work that makes a difference in our world.
In Christ’s Name,
David and Whitney Milton
Sister Alvera is in desperate need for extra hands to help. We want to join sister Alvera and give her and the children the support they need. But we need your help. As missionaries, we need to raise our own support. Each year we need to raise $125,000 to cover our salary, travel, and ministry expenses.
In preparation to serve as missionaries in Goma, we will undergo intense training through Make Way Partners. This will include multiple training and observation trips to Congo and other MWP orphanages. MWP was founded with the mission to protect those at highest risk to human trafficking. We go to locations where no other help is available because it is considered either "too" dangerous, "too" expensive or "too" remote for most people to go. Since these locations are so remote, transport in and out requires costly, independent charter planes.
There are three powerful ways we ask you to partner with us in our missionary journey:
PRAY – Sometimes we overlook prayer as a given, but we know we cannot do this alone. We need the prayers of our family, friends, church, and community. We believe that God desires to build His kingdom through all of us. Your prayers are like invisible swords fighting the unseen war.
SHARE – Please spread the word about us and Make Way Partners! Word of mouth is the best vehicle to increase awareness. We will be speaking to churches and various groups, and we welcome any invitation to share our story with anyone who will listen. If you know of an audience with whom we can share in any capacity, please let us know!
Email us at: Whitneym@makewaypartners.org and Davidm@makewaypartners.org
GIVE – As we step out in faith, all of our livelihood will come from monthly support pledged by friends and family. Please consider a one-time gift to build our foundation and a monthly pledge to support us.
To Give Online: www.makewaypartners.org; designation: Whitney and David to Congo, or mail your checks to the address on this stationary.
Thank you for your partnership, for being part of our life. We thank God that He gives us opportunities to partner together in His kingdom work that makes a difference in our world.
In Christ’s Name,
David and Whitney Milton
