“When I was 15, I went on a two week missions trip. I really liked it and thought that was what God wanted to me to do with my life - eventually," said Kelli Williford, during Pre-Field Orientation Summer 2010. John went to Haiti twice when he was a teenager. "He also really enjoyed the experience." John felt God was calling him into His work. He didn’t know if it was youth or missions or whatever. John said, “The reason I went on the two trips to Haiti was to try to hear from God, to see if He was calling me into missions.”  

John and Kelli got married and went into youth ministry and then children’s ministry. They have two pre-school children and have been ministering at their church for 6 ½ years, working with children. But the call of God for full time missions never left their hearts.

Then the Willifords started hearing about human trafficking. Kelli said that after watching the movie “Taken,” she knew she had to be involved in stopping this awful crime against young girls. The essence of the movie is that a teenage girl is kidnapped. The end of the movie shows young girls that have been abducted with men waiting to buy them at an auction. John and Kelli knew they could no longer just “care.” They had to do something. With tears in her eyes, Kelli said, “God put a face on human trafficking and we had to respond.”

The movie was like a confirmation. John had been reading books with the church staff that had stirred him to know it was time to move. And then the movie really clarified what God was speaking to them as a couple. They were stirred up with a holy anger to do something about this problem. One person can make a difference and it is worth the cost.

But the question was “how can we serve”? They started looking for an answer on GoAG.org. They looked through 21 pages of missions opportunities but nothing fit what they felt God was calling them to do. Finally, on page 21 they found an opportunity listed working with Happy Horizons, missionaries Glenn and Nancy Garrison. After meeting with the Garrisons, John and Kelli knew this was perfect. The Willifords really feel this is where God wants them. They are joining AGWM as Missionary Associates. Kelli said, “I am really excited! I know this is what God wants us to do right now. Every step is like God is confirming we are on the right track.”

Last year I spent 11 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as a MAPS volunteer. I worked in the office of King's Castle, mainly helping with accounting and small construction projects. I also went on a few ministry trips during the year, working with teenagers around the country. During the last few months of my assignment, I felt like God wanted me to go back to Argentina in 2010 and spend another year there. My area director suggested that I return as a Missionary Associate. Thus, the process of getting approvals and raising more support began. When I went to Argentina in 2009, I had originally planned on going as an MA, so I had completed a lot of the MA requirements. Due to the larger budget required and the fact that I was planning on being there for no more than a year, I had decided to go as a MAPS volunteer. So, the transition over to becoming an MA was not very difficult. Basically, I just needed to raise a larger budget. But, God is pretty amazing and when He asks us to do something, He'll do His part as long as we are doing ours! After sending out many emails, making several phone calls, speaking at my home church, and meeting one-on-one with many individuals, God has brought in all of my cash budget and most of my monthly support.

Here are some of the things that I will be involved this year in Argentina:

Church Planting:  One of our staff members talked to me a few months ago and told me that he wants to start small groups in the ghetto close to our main offices. As more and more small groups get started (through plaza ministry and evangelism) the end focus would be to start a church. He asked me if I’d be interested in helping. He’s done this kind of thing before...I haven’t, but I think it’ll be a really cool experience and I’m excited.

Kenneth & Gricelda Harrell
Missionary Associates
Honduras

Harrell Family Missions

We have so much to be thankful for! So many of you have prayed for us, sent special gifts to our family for Christmas, supported our ministry, and contacted us to let us know you care. Others have donated items on shipping containers, paid for shipping for humanitarian goods, and promised to work together with us this year to continue to minister to the people of Honduras. The gratitude we feel cannot be expressed in words.

We then joined with Project 100 and a missions team to erect the building frame and walls and to put the roof on. We are still praying for teams to come this spring to help us with pouring a concrete floor, lighting, windows and doors. We know the Lord will provide.

We truly had a wonderful time building this church in Sulaco! It was such a joy to work with the missions team. This community is really being impacted for the glory of God and we feel so privileged to be a part.

We are now looking at the island of Roaton as another possible church plant/building project.