Growing in faith on mission

Mike and Marge Lause decided to join Father Ray McHenry on a mission trip to South Africa. Not only did they help the poor, but they grew in their relationship with God and with a team of eight others who traveled with them.

 

"It's been a great experience," Mike said. "Our group of people grew like a family."

 

The couple split their time between St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines and St. Boniface Parish in Waukee. Mike had done local work for the needy through his many years with the Knights of Columbus. But he hadn't been on a mission trip abroad before. He marveled at the smiles of the children when giving them new shoes.

 

"They touched my arm, touched my beard, and rubbed my hair. That was a blast!"

 

Marge, who had been on two mission trips to El Salvador prior to the trip through Blessman International, said mission trips change you.

 

"You think when you go on mission of all the good you're doing for the people you're going to visit. But the payback is three times what you give. You get hugs. You get smiles. You get thank you's. You just realize they've enriched your life more than you've made a change in theirs," she said.

 

"It's the Holy Spirit working to let us know God is good and God needs to be in our lives as much as in the lives of those we minister to," Marge added. "I feel I need to go home and tell my friends about Blessman missions."