Cathy Benson | The Botetourt View

Taylen McEntire is seeking donations for her mission trip to Uganda.

Recent Lord Botetourt grad Taylen McEntire is asking for help for what she calls, "a worthy, God-inspired mission trip." She is 18 years old and attends college in Roanoke.

Since she was 9 years old, she has been a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church in Daleville.

She began mission work and programs through the church youth program at St. Mark's. Taylen has attended two mission trips previously.

First she traveled with the church youth group to Cairo, Ill., where they worked with inner city children and secondly to an Indian reservation in Heart Butte, Mont., repairing homes.

She said, "I absolutely fell in love with mission work; I have a passion for sharing the fortunes I have been blessed."

She volunteered to travel to the country of Uganda located in Africa as part of a missionary team and will spend almost two weeks in Uganda.

Taylen said, "I am following my heart and doing what I love the most, helping out others and giving back my blessings. The cost of the trip is $3,300. The cost does not include my expenses for a passport, medical immunizations required to travel to Uganda, or other travel costs. My best guess of an estimate of the total amount of expenses I will incur for the mission project is around $4,000."

The church has an established an account for her and thus the contributions made will be tax deductible. The trip begins in late June.

She provided this information about Uganda:

"Uganda is a misunderstood country located in Africa. Genocide, AIDS/HIV, malaria, and fear are what most people usually associate with Africa.

"The economic conditions in Uganda cause many parents to abandon their children. With so many abandoned children coupled with the large number of impoverished adults medical care is neglected.

"Many Ugandan children miss the love and attention of an adult. I cannot wait to get there and wrap my arms around some kids. To laugh, play, and offer love to those kids will make me smile and fill me with joy and through your support of my vision; it will do the same for you."

She will travel with a mission team of approximately 40 people from various churches and denominations on a medical mission to Uganda.

The team consists of members from Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, and others states.

To help Taylen, she may be reached at 597-5501 or contact the church.