Trips 2022

We have loved being able to ‘go’ again this year, and travel globally after a long time of being so restricted. Here is a summary of some of our trips this year.

USA in the UK‍

For the first time since 2020, our Links UK and Links USA teams were able to spend time together. The heartbeat of Links is that relationships are everything, and while we correspond regularly, it was a special time of being in the same place, dreaming about the future, and praying for each other and all of our partners. It is truly good to be together!‍

Adding to all of this, we were able to celebrate the legacy of our founding Links matriarch, Grace Barnes. Through Norman, we’ve heard stories of the origins of Links and stories from key leaders and advocates along the way. In October, we were privileged to meet some of those people we had only previously heard about when we all came together at Grace’s celebration of life. This celebration provided our Links Family a way for a large portion of us to be in the same place, at the same time, maybe for the first time. 

We stand on the shoulders of many faithful servants that we continue to learn from and draw inspiration from every day. It was so good to be together again, and we look forward to this increasing as we move ahead on mission.

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El Salvador‍

After three long years of not being able to travel to El Salvador, by the grace of God, we were able to pick up right where we left off. Our team consisted of Jason, Holly and Jacob Bollinger, Kati Ortiz, David Cuchillas (our El Salvador Country Director), his wife Rebe, and quite often by their sweet girls Grace and Cami. 

Over the course of 6 days, we trained over 50 leaders and ministered to more than 200 people. Pastors, Youth Leaders, Ministry Leaders, Healthcare Leaders, Compassion International Leaders, Business Leaders, School Leaders, and Children's Home Leaders were among those impacted. 

We trained in practical tools designed for Kingdom-focused leaders to increase their capacity for the good work they do every day for people in desperate need. The feedback was overwhelming. We now have more invitations to return and to build on the foundation we poured on this trip. So many things felt like dreams come true. Conversations we started 6 years ago turned into real transformational help for those we were able to serve. 

On top of that, we provided Special Needs training for orphanage caregivers, we distributed 40 water filter kits for families in a very humble area, and we ministered with our friends Damian and Rosita at their church in Corinto.

Our #LinksFamily in El Salvador is rapidly growing, and we can’t wait to return soon and see where our GOOD NEWS opportunities take us. Please keep praying for this beautiful country and these amazing people. God is at work!

Jason Bollinger
CEO, Links USA

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Uganda & Kenya

‍Joe flew out to meet Sam and the two of them had the opportunity to visit some of our African partners in Uganda. They were able to see the development of the Wellspring Medical Centre which was exciting to see! It was great to catch up with our partners there, as well as visiting our partners Legacy Trust and seeing the various empowerment projects that they are running. They then visited partners Uganda Women’s Concern and led some Micro-Enterprise business training with the staff team. Sam stayed on to deliver more training and then went on to Kenya to visit Love Your Neighbour, Peacemakers, Afrilift, NewCommunity Kibera and Joy Counselling.

This was the first trip in a long time and it was so great to get back to what we love doing and seeing so many of our partners face to face, being able to connect with them once again.

Sam has since been back to Kenya to visit and catch up with our partners there. It’s so great having Sam out on the ground - easily accessible to build and grow such strong relationships.
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‍This year it was great to be with Love Your Neighbour (LYN) in east Kenya exploring options for MED. After carrying out a consulting visit back in March, it was decided that a community scheme, that would assist vulnerable women and other disadvantaged households in their area access capital, would be liberating. Therefore, after two initial online training sessions with committee members, they planned out a full initial training of Links ’Micro-Enterprise Development scheme in person in September.

This new committee will serve their local community of Chasimba and focus on women who have already been empowered by LYN through vocational training courses. Many of the women have skills now in a specific trade area but lack both access to financial capital and the business skills to thrive with their skills. This new 6 strong committee is excited not only to give out loans but also coach the borrowers through their first steps in their businesses as they become fully independent and self-sustaining. Links continues to follow up such MED schemes around the world to promote financial justice.

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‍Malawi

‍Ann, Paula and Mandy from our UK team had the opportunity to go to Malawi, 'The Warm Heart of Africa' to visit Sam and our partners out there.

‘The Malawi trip was an awesome restart of CHC training, face-to-face. We met two CHC teams, one having been established for 10 years or so and the other a newly formed team. It was great to connect with them and hear their stories. To be welcomed so warmly into their villages with singing, dancing and such joy! To stand back while they found their own ways forward, in the challenges they face.  

We also met many partners during the Africa Summit. The theme, ‘Wider and Deeper’ seemed entirely apt for a conference located on the edge of the great Lake Malawi. It was humbling to hear how in different ways, God was leading each one to ‘walk on water’. The song ‘Oceans’ was a constant refrain in my mind over the 12 days.'

‍Ann Edmunds, Community Healthcare Manager


‍‍'The trip to Malawi was amazing. Malawi is a beautiful country with beautiful, inspirational people. We were made to feel so welcome. I was sad to leave, but a piece of Malawi is now lodged in my heart. It’s an impossible place to forget.’

Mandy Dukes, Accounts Manager


‘Participating in a Links trip has been a huge privilege. Malawi is a beautiful country and home to such joyous & vibrant communities’.

‍Paula Orr, Office Manager 
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This year for our Annual African Partners Summit we decided to let one of our Malawian partners host. Hope Missions Ministries, who are based in the capital of Malawi, opened up their newer community site along the lakeshore of Lake Malawi for Links staff and six other Malawi and Zambia partner organisations to meet, share and learn together for three days.

The theme was based around "Throwing our nets deep and wide", looking at how to effectively use what resources we already have available and how we can create and expand potential assets. We had US and UK Links' staff, Joe, Jason and Amy, join us online to give the partners sessions on leadership and creating a better online presence. Then Ann, Mandy, Paula, and Sam, bought discussions and teaching sessions on asset management, community need assessment, and financial sustainability.

All the partners shared projects they are currently working on, and it was beautiful to see the crossover of knowledge and encouragement between these visionary leaders. Growing together is now such a huge strength for these African organisations! We love to see this happening!

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Sri Lanka

It was so great for our CEO Joe to be able to join with Links partners United Christian Fellowship of Sri Lanka recently.

Joe had a very busy but fruitful time as he visited many church plants and communities. It was great to be a part of such powerful church meetings, where healings were seen and many lives were touched. Hundreds of emergency relief packages were given out and these were received with deep gratitude and often tears of thankfulness.

He was able to spend time with the organisation, looking into strategic development and potential projects to carry the work forward. Lots of discussions were had with regard to implementing training, and this is something we are planning to move forward with as there is such a need for this in the communities visited.

Joe was completely moved and impressed by all that our partners at UCFSL are doing, and we look forward to working with them further to provide change.

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Please keep all our amazing partners, and all the countries we work with, in your prayers.

We are so excited for more trips in 2023!