the november 2019 team!

We are always excited to introduce the first Journey 28:19 Impact team traveling to Ethiopia from November 15 - November 27. Another great crew of people who love Jesus and want to love and serve others!

First up:

MIRRIAM BAWDEN

My name is Miriam Bawden. I've been married to my husband, Nate, for 31 years. We have 4 kids...Brittany, 29, who is married to Seth. Alyssa, age 25, Alex who is 23 and married to Abbi and our baby, Josiah, age 21. We have a grand-puppy and grand-kitty but no grand-babies... yet. I am an LPN at a local group home. I enjoy getting together with family, cooking, reading, gardening, and singing. I teach grades K-3 Sunday School. I have never been on a mission trip so I am excited to go to Ethiopia.

JOYCE KEHL

My name is Joyce Kehl and I live with my husband Greg in Denison Iowa. We have three grown children , three in-law children, and 7 grandchildren, and one grandchild-in-law. I love spending time with my family and enjoying my grandkids. I have been “retired” since 2002 when we sold our drug store. This has given me lots of opportunities to play with grandkids and travel. I love teaching at our church on Wednesday nights and Sunday. I am an organizer and costume maker for our Easter and Christmas productions at the church. In my spare time I love quilting, sewing, gardening, reading, and music. My favorite ministry is my cookie ministry. This will be my fourth trip to Ethiopia, and I am excited to see the school and it’s changes and the kiddos and staff. I was on the very first trip and is only fitting I am on the first trip with Journey 28:19. Can’t wait to spend time with this group of travelers!

JOHANNA BROTEN

I was born in Minnesota and lived there for my first 15 years. Now I live in Missouri and am going into my Junior year of high school. Some of the things I enjoy most are skiing, camping, exploring nature, traveling, Spanish, and time with friends and family. I also treasure time back in Minnesota to visit close friends. I have been on two previous mission trips to the Robin’s Nest in Jamaica and absolutely fell in love with the sweet kids there! I am super excited for this new opportunity to experience Ethiopia for the first time and to share God’s love with the people of Sendafa!

AMY LARSON

God has blessed me in so many ways throughout my life! I’ve lived in 6 different states (3 of them starting with the letter M) and love living in Minnesota. I am a nurse and have worked as a nurse practitioner in a neurology clinic since 1998 when I moved to Minnesota. I enjoy knitting, baking, reading and playing my flute in time away from work (and rooting for the Spartans and Wolverines!). I have great joy in being part of the Oak Hill Campus family and love helping people find the right spot for serving. I’m excited about traveling to Africa for the third time and getting to share God’s love and peace with all the people God places in my path!

REGINA KEHL

I want to live in a world filled with people who know and love Jesus and each other, where chocolate and Cheetos can be eaten with no repercussions, and at the snap of my fingers, our home would be spotless. Last year, our family along with our nonprofit board, Journey 28:19, decided to partner directly with Ekklesia Academy in Sendafa, Ethiopia. Although running a nonprofit is a new and exciting and challenging endeavor, I am thankful for the people who stop and remind me, it’s okay… God’s got this. Whether I am at home in Minnesota or at home in Ethiopia, I love being with the people God has surrounded me with!

BRAD MILLER

First and foremost, I am child of God! I'm the grateful husband of Sandi and Dad of Sarah and Hannah (and dad-in-law of Josh). I've been marked by Jesus and I'm learning to follow him, and be on mission with him, and have the privilege of helping others do that as well. I love the prairies (yup, grew up in North Dakota) Ecuador, Canada, culture, coffee, being in, on or next to water, quiet and the Packers. Pretty excited to join God in what he's doing in Ethiopia.

KAREN MIELKE

I am surrounded by great blessings, most of which began as challenges. God has given me purpose in digging deep at the roadblocks with unwavering faith that, in doing so, unexpected rewards will follow. I won the husband lottery with my partner of 31 years, Cary. We have raised two bright and hardworking sons together and recently answered the call to serve the community of Shreveport, LA. Putting together my gifts for creating and teaching, I am teaching sewing to the most eager and grateful students, who are putting their new skills to good use by volunteering with our new Days for Girls Team, sewing and assembling reusable menstrual kits for worldwide distribution. This will be my first visit to Ethiopia and I look forward to learning how God will work in the hearts of our team, the people we meet, my prayer partners, and me. I don’t have all the answers, but I am ready and willing to be an instrument of Gods grace.