Emily Ammeter is counting down the days to her departure for Auckland, New Zealand, where she will co-lead a mission team for 10 weeks from March to June.
Ammeter, a 20-year-old Sylvan Lake native, is a Discipleship Training School (DTS) staff member, and will take the team of 13 young adults through the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) organization.
Her team will be one of about 40 others traveling to New Zealand to help support YWAM missionaries already working with youth groups in different churches.
Ammeter said the trip will foster YWAM’s purpose and help it achieve its long-term goals.
“Sending a short-term team like this is helping to set up long-term initiatives in New Zealand,” Ammeter said. “It's helping establish what's already going on there and to encourage them in order to keep doing it.”
Ammeter said her passion for helping others grew as she progressed through the DTS program about two-and-a-half years ago. That experience, she said, completely changed her life.
Now a DTS staff member, she relishes being able to witness the same change in other students.
“The most rewarding thing about this is seeing these students coming with us and seeing them completely changed by the end,” she said. “It's awesome to travel and see New Zealand, but at the end of the day people’s lives are being completely changed. Not just changed for a few months, but being completely changed for their life.”
The trip will cost Ammeter $3,100, which will cover the cost of her flight, housing, food and transportation.
In fundraising for the trip, Ammeter has requested money from churches, family and friends. But she still needs $2,000 by March 30.
Those wishing to help her in her fundraising efforts are asked to contact her at emilyisivy@gmail.com.