Meet our team

It’s that time of year again: family camps are coming to a close, the weather is getting cooler, the team girls are going crazy for pumpkin spice everythings, Jimmy is pulling out his hats to keep his head warm, Lori is pulling out the grey hairs that doing team clothing gave her, and the teams are preparing to hit the road. 

There are some new things for our family this year: the ministry provided us with a new trailer, Cameron graduated and chose to travel as a team member while doing college classes online, and Bradley is a Children’s Ministry intern for Happy Heart CIty while starting his junior year and some dual enrollment classes. They both have a lot on their plates and are stepping up; we’re so proud of them! 

As you know, a big part of our lives is working with the 20+ team members God brings us each year. This year, we have 24 team members (15 ladies and 9 guys), and we wanted to introduce you to some of them with little “interviews” throughout the year. To start off, here’s a conversation with our school teacher, Anna Schaffner. 

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Lori: How long have you traveled?

Anna: This is my eighth year on the road, but I kinda came and went, so I’ve been around for 15 years. 

Lori: What did you do, and when did you become our school teacher? 

Anna: My first four years, I was a Children’s Minister–three years in Base Camp and one in Happy Heart City–and I became the school teacher in 2018 when y’all begged me to come save you. 

Lori: You’re not kidding. What’s your favorite thing about traveling? 

Anna: I used to say seeing new places. I still enjoy that, but I think my favorite now is meeting new people. I’m still awkward about it, but my favorite days are when we get to meet our new host families. I also just really love the community I have with the team; you don’t really find that anywhere else.

Lori: What’s the hardest thing about traveling? 

Anna: Last year? Masks and air mattresses. In general…probably missing the small events and daily happenings at home. Also, green beans. Everyone feeds us green beans. 

Lori: Do Jimmy and I drive you crazy?

Anna: I plead the fifth.

Lori: Why do you stick around?

Anna: That’s easy: I love what we do. It’s hard, but it’s good. I love seeing and being part of the change in people’s lives–people at the churches, and those of us on the team. 

Lori: What are two fun facts about you?

Anna: Also easy: I’m legally blind, and I’m one of 11 children. 

Lori: You always say those; give me something less known.

Anna: Okay, hmmm…I love to read, mostly reimagined fairy tales, and my favorite dessert is guacamole. (I don’t really love sweets.)

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Anna told us when she came back as the school teacher that she would stay at least until Bradley graduates, and we’re holding her to that. She says she’s content to stay as long as we keep feeding her. 

Even though we’ve had cancellations due to COVID (and other things) again, God has graciously filled our fall schedule! We have one hole at the end of October, but we are fully confident that God has a plan for that time. Starting in late September, we will be in Conover, NC; Guyton, GA; Fairhope, AL; and Holland, MI–all before Thanksgiving.  We still have openings in October but are trusting God to fill them.  

As we look to this travel year, we would really appreciate your prayers:

Jimmy: Colossians 3:13 says, “Make allowance for each other’s faults”. I want to become more understanding and less judgmental when others don’t think or act like me

Lori:  We are starting our 10th year of being back out on the road teams. I am tired. I also have no doubt that this is where we are supposed to be. Please pray that I will grow in my dependence of Him.

Cameron: I’m nervous about being on the road as a team member, staying in host homes will be a new experience for me.  

Bradley: Please pray that I would rely on God this year, and not on my own abilities. 

Thank you for praying for our family and loving us well.