Journey to Africa passes through Ranchos

Maria and Jamie Meddles' trip to Africa begins in Carson Valley with a 20-mile journey from Holbrook Junction to the Gardnerville Ranchos early Saturday morning.

The Wellington residents are raising money to pay for a missionary trip to Kenya planned for July 27 to Aug. 13. Maria Meddles will be running and daughter Jamie will be riding a bicycle. The fundraising bike/run ends at Full Gospel Fellowship Church at the corner of Riverside and Mitch drives in the Ranchos where the church hosts a yard sale, baked goods, hot dogs and soda for sale. All proceeds go toward the Meddles' trip.

"I went to Africa two years ago and it was a really good trip," said Maria Meddles.

The Meddles are going to the Mathare Valley, the home of one of the continents' biggest slums, about three miles away from Nairobi, Kenya. They will be part of a group of eight missionaries going to Africa as part of Bridge Ministries of Hilltop Community Church in Jacks Valley.

The Meddles hope to raise money for airfare, food and lodging by having people pledge $5 or $10 per mile on Saturday's bike and ride.

"But people can pledge whatever amount they want," said Maria Meddles. "We need about $4,000 total including board and food. If we exceed what we need, we'll give it to the pastor and his wife in Mathare."

The Meddles will be staying with Pastor Daniel Ogutu and his wife Magdeline and will spend the first week teaching Bible school for children and serving in a local women's ministry.

"Daniel and Magdeline went into the slum and created a classroom," said Maria Meddles. "They have a feeding program in the slum where the kids get two meals at school, otherwise they wouldn't eat.

"Bridge Ministry wants to sponsor a whole classroom in hope that not only children will be taught, but that teachers will receive salaries."

Maria Meddles said Jamie, 18, is already a veteran of two missionary trips to Mexico but is looking forward to the trip to Africa.

"In Mexico, we camped out in tents, ate what everyone else ate - we thought we were hard-core missionaries," said Meddles. "But in Africa it's a totally different thing - from the chanting in the mosques to the mosquitoes. In Africa, the mosquitoes want to take you and carry you away to eat you."

Both women are surgical assistants at Dr. Edward Gray's dental office in Gardnerville. On previous missions, Jamie Meddles has used her experience to assist dentists cleaning children's teeth in portable dental facilities.

Maria Meddles does hospice work in Carson Valley and sees herself comforting dying people in Africa.

"What struck me in Africa is that people are literally dying on the ground and receive no medicine," she said. "When they pass on, there are 8- or 9-year-old children raising orphans.

"You can Band-Aid a lot of things, but if you can help someone when they're dying, it makes a big difference. In the future, I'd love to go on a medical mission to Sudan," said Maria Meddles. "I'm physically able to do it, so that's what I want to do."

For information on donating to the Meddles' missionary trip, contact Full Gospel Fellowship Church at 265-1953 or Shelly Sims at 315-0219. For information on Mathare Valley, go to www.matharevalley.org or Bridge Ministries at 267-3020.

Africa trip fundraiser:

-- Yard sale, baked goods, hot dogs and soda for sale at Full Gospel Fellowship Church, 921 Mitch Drive, Gardnerville Ranchos, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-- To donate, contact Shelly Sims, 315-0219 or Full Gospel, 265-1953.