Sarah said she is particularly excited about the trip to Serbia because she will be staying with a Serbian host family; in China they stayed in hotels.

“I truly think this will be an amazing opportunity to give out the shoe boxes I have packed my whole life and get to tell children the Christmas story for them to hear it for the first time,” said Sarah.

This will be the 12th time Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh has traveled to Backi Petrovac, Serbia. While the volunteers are there they will come into contact with anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 children. For eight days the Phipps will hand out shoeboxes filled with items like small toys, crayons, stuffed animals and candy. They will also have the chance to share the gospel of Christ, according to Brittany. The Phipps will travel with a team of 15 people from Providence church.

The Phipps will depart from Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Dec. 12 and return on Dec. 21.

Funding is needed to send the sisters to Serbia by the beginning of December.

Anyone who wants to contribute to the trip is urged to send funds to Providence Baptist Church, 6339 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC  27612 with “Serbia 635 Trip” and Brittany and Sarah Phipps on the memo line. Checks made to Providence Baptist Church are tax-deductible.

Brittany and Sarah are the daughters of David and Genie Phipps of Sunny View.