Benefit Auction For Mission Trip Planned

With its beautiful cities, rich culture, incredible history, fascinating museums, and spectacular food, Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world. After spending the first eight years of his life in Rome and serving as a chaplain at the Casa Materna orphanage in Naples for about four years after completing seminary, Robert "Bob" Bronkema realized how valuable it is to visit the country. Before becoming a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg in 2011, Bronkema was the senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Palatka, Fla., from 1998 to 2006, and then moved to Russia, where he was the pastor at the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy. At each church he has served, Bronkema has planned mission trips for high school students to travel to Naples.

2022 marks Bronkema's eighth time leading a mission trip to Naples and third time planning a trip with the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg. Nine youths, along with Bronkema, will leave on Wednesday, June 15, and return on Saturday, June 25. While abroad, the group will conduct a Bible school for the children of Imparare Giocondo, which is run by executive director Rosaria Vincenzi. Bronkema connected with Vincenzi during his time at the Casa Materna, where Vincenzi served as a secretary and then as a director. The youths will divide into four designated groups to teach Bible stories, recreation, crafts, and music to the children. Bronkema noted that they are expecting to serve anywhere from 60 to 100 kids.

To help fund the trip, the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg will host a benefit auction on Saturday, Feb. 19, in the church's fellowship hall, 101 S. Decatur St., Strasburg. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the auction will begin at 6:15 p.m., with Don Welk Sr. serving as the auctioneer.

"I feel like the auction will be a big community moment because everyone is invited to attend, even those who don't go to church here," stated Alicia Eltman, Gap resident and social worker at the church. Eltman will serve as a chaperone on the mission trip.

Almost all of the items that will be auctioned off have been donated from church members, and 100% of the proceeds will go toward the mission trip. Attendees will have the opportunity to bid on a 2009 Cadillac STS in burgundy with 62,000 miles; a road trip to a Penn State football game with lodging and food; an NFL football autographed by Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Matt Feiler, a Lampeter-Strasburg alumnus; a one-week stay at a two-bedroom oceanfront condo in Bethany Beach, Del.; and more. Those interested in donating an item for the auction can contact Bronkema at 717-799-0777.

Most of the individuals who will go on the mission trip have never left the country. Lauren Thurber and Danny Miller are among them.

"I'm looking forward to working with kids and get a better understanding of Italian culture," said Thurber, a Hempfield-area resident and junior at Lancaster Mennonite High School.

"I'm excited to see how different the culture is," commented Miller, a West Grove resident and the youth director at the church.

Those interested in participating in the 2026 mission trip can contact Bronkema at the aforementioned phone number. At the time of the trip, participants must be a high school student in Lancaster County. For more information, visit http://www.straspres.org/ud-2022-auction-1-29-22 or search for "Mission Auction 2022" on Facebook.