Have you ever wondered how many miles missionaries travel when they return after years abroad? If not, you are probably not alone. However—quite possibly because of all the driving that we have done the last few months—I (Amanda) was wondering this very thing last night. I’ll tell you about the results of my search after a brief family update.
We have had quite the busy spring and, as hinted above, done a lot of driving. Thankfully, the Lord has provided us with a very reliable vehicle that is also very comfortable for long trips! Since March we have had the blessing of sharing our ministry goals with many wonderful individuals and churches from California to Colorado, in Texas and Arkansas, and all across Oklahoma. We’ve even had a couple “virtual” trips as we were able to meet via zoom with friends and family in Florida, and Maine.
Our hearts are always encouraged as we meet with old friends and make new friends on our journey to find the partners that will enable us to enter full-time ministry. When will that be? Our goal is the end of summer and as we near 70% of our monthly budget pledges, we trust that our goal is attainable!
So about missionaries and all that driving….After a bit of searching and a lot of interesting rabbit trails on missionary blogs, I realized that maybe it’s not something most people wonder about…because I found zero guesses, estimates, or averages. But if you know any missionaries, you know that travel is one thing that missionaries do oodles of. (And if you find an average somewhere, please let me know!)
Why am I bringing this up? If you’re reading this we think you have a heart for The Great Commission. The two most well-known ways to participate in the Great Commission work of full-time missionaries are to support them financially and through prayer. But there are actually many more ways that you can use your time, talents, and resources in the service of spreading the Gospel. For the rest of 2025, we hope to focus each of our newsletters on one unusual way that you can help missionaries. Up first: Cars.
While on home assignments, furlough, or whatever their organization calls the time missionaries spend back in their home country, missionaries travel to see friends, family and mission partners. They travel to catch up on medical and dental appointments. Often, they travel to government agencies for passport and visa paperwork. And since they don’t generally bring a car with them on the airplane, figuring out transportation for all that travel can be difficult.
So here are two easy ways you can help a missionary with transportation needs.(I’m also including one crazy complicated third one that I would LOVE to see happen…Who has a business mind that loves challenges?)
Loan them a car:
Do you have an extra car sitting around that doesn’t get used much? Sometimes missionaries are in town for just a couple weeks or months. The use of your car could be a huge blessing to them. If you hear about a mission partner coming to town, you can reach out and see if the use of a car might bless them.
Donate an old car:
There are many organizations that will allow you to donate an old car and claim your donation as a tax write-off. Did you know there are also organizations that will let you donate your car specifically to help missionaries? Some will take well-maintained cars and add them to their fleet of cars that they then rent (at greatly reduced prices) to missionaries. Others will take the donated car and sell it, using the proceeds to maintain their existing fleet of missionary rentals. I have no affiliation with these organizations, so do your due diligence, but here are three organizations that I found that will accept donated cars. https://righteousrides.org/missionary-vehicles/ , https://mcftx.org/donate-your-vehicle/ ,https://techteam.org/donate-a-vehicle/
Start an Airbnb, but for cars…for missionaries:
How would this work? I have no idea. There are peer-to-peer car rental apps out there though that allow you to rent from a person, not a rental company. So, this thing would be like that, but for missionaries. If you do this, please tell me!
So what’s next for the Ernst clan? How can you be praying for us?
Lots more travel: Please pray for safety and logistics as we plan visits to Southern California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Alabama and Texas in the next two months.
Meetings: Please pray with us as we meet with people to share our ministry and seek those called to link arms with us, fulfilling the great commission through their prayers and finances. (Want to meet with us about joining our team or introduce us to someone who might be interested in this mission? Click here.)
Transitions: Somehow we now have two graduates on our hands. Johnathan (20yrs) graduated last year and is currently working full time and building a cabin, which means he plans to move out in the next couple months. Josef (18yrs) graduated this year and is currently finishing up certifications in computer programming and hunting for a job. Please pray that their transitions to adulthood go smoothly and that in all things we honor the Lord and encourage each other.
Do you have questions or prayer requests? We love to hear from you! Email us at dave (dot) ernst (at) worldteam.org or amanda (dot) ernst (at) worldteam.org
Want to meet with us in person or know someone who might want to hear about the Kwakum ministry? Click here!
