Melissa was 18 years old when she had the opportunity to live in El Salvador for six months as a short-term missionary. Working with an orphanage called Amilat, she collaborated in the coordination of mission teams and care for children, as well as completing other administrative tasks. This time profoundly changed her heart and impacted her life, revealing the face of poverty in El Salvador that she had not known.
Her experiences brought her back to El Salvador for two other short trips that deepened her passion for the country and its people. After spending much time seeking God’s guidance through prayer, she felt the call to seek opportunities to return and serve.
In April of this year, Willow Creek Community Church hosted a Celebration of Hope event in which members of the congregation, like Melissa, were given the opportunity to better understand how to pray, give, and get involved with the ministries they support around the world. When Melissa heard about the transformation her church was supporting in El Salvador through ENLACE, she felt confirmation to return.
Melissa Mefford, now 24 years old, has a degree in psychology and has lived in Chicago for the past four years. She arrived in El Salvador in late October and will serve as a missionary volunteer with ENLACE for the next year. She firmly believes that Christians are not only called to share the message of salvation but also to care for the oppressed and fight against injustices, serving as a voice for the voiceless in communities and throughout the world.
According to Melissa, “God uses me as a vehicle to bring his kingdom to the earth. I can’t do this on my own. My power is not strong enough. My brain is not intelligent enough. My heart is not big enough. The only way for me to make an impact is to allow God to do the work.”
Welcome to ENLACE, Melissa!
