Bingo will fund African ministry

A fund-raiser bingo night will be held Saturday, July 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Sisters Middle School. It will help pay travel expenses for Sisters area residents Thornton and Terri Brown to spend three weeks in Mozambique helping children in need.

There will be a prize for each game and then a cakewalk will be held between games, Terri Brown explained.

“Players may purchase one or more bingo cards and play that card all evening,” she said. “We also hope to have a silent auction.”

The Browns are sponsoring the event themselves and are still seeking contributions from local businesses and individuals for the trip to the nation in eastern Africa.

“I was at a conference earlier this year and met a lady who was talking about her experiences in Africa helping children in an impoverished nation and I got excited,” Terri Brown explained. “I always wanted to go to Africa and here was an opportunity for a short-term mission.”

She called her husband who agreed to consider it when she returned home. Terri researched the Internet for Iris Ministries, coordinators of the private aid program, and they made their application.

“We applied as individuals to help in their work with children, many orphaned by civil war, in poor health and surviving after sex slavery,” Terri said. “After an extensive review of our application and a recommendation from our local pastor at Three Sisters Fellowship, we were accepted.”

The Browns will be spending the three weeks at the children’s center in Pemba. They may be doing construction work, office duties, teaching and playing with children, as well as participating in religious activities.

While the country has experienced years of unrest, the government is fairly stable now and the Browns have no concerns for their safety.

“I have no hesitation on this, but the Iris Ministries has stated that they cannot guarantee our safety,” Terri said.

Other fund-raising events have helped contribute to the estimated $8,000 that the trip will cost, including $5,000 for air travel.

“We have already had sponsors contribute through our church and we held three huge garage sales to raise funds,” Terri said.

Thornton Brown is a captain with the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District and Terri works at Sisters Middle School.