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Harrisburg family dedicated to serving those less fortunate
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Published: April 29, 2009
It has been said that the family that prays together, stays together.
One Harrisburg family has taken that sentiment to new levels, traveling the globe ministering to and working for those less fortunate.
The adventures started when husband and wife Larry and Michelle Ziner spent a week in Romania in 2002. While there, they visited an orphanage, an experience that changed their lives forever.
"It felt so hopeless for those kids," Michelle said. "It really moved us, more than we ever thought it would."
It was that trip that led the Ziners to begin welcoming foster children into their Harrisburg home. Over the next several years, the couple, who have four biological children, adopted three of their foster children.
"When our children were younger, our minister felt like our family would all be in ministry together," Michelle said. "I was thinking, 'How is that possible?'"
In the years since, she's realized that the same mission work that led she and her husband to Romania would unite the larger family in years to come.
This summer, Ziner, her husband and their four oldest children will take their third mission trip together in as many years.
After spending the last two trips in Guatemala, the family has decided to work in earthquake-ravaged areas of Costa Rica this summer.
"We're going to provide some basic needs," Michelle said. "If there's a place, we're going to set up a classroom. Our plan is to go and build relationships so when we leave, it's not just that we were there for a week and then gone."
The Ziners' oldest daughter, Alisha, 19, is a student at UNC Charlotte, and, largely as a result of her experiences on mission trips with her family, is planning to pursue a degree in Latin American studies.
While she has enjoyed her previous trips, Alisha said she's looking forward to the Costa Rican adventure because she says she feels more comfortable with her Spanish, and is looking forward to using it to connect with the people.
"This past summer, I really didn't get a chance to use my Spanish much," she said. "Now that I have taken two courses in college, I'm looking forward to speaking more."
And, there's always the sense of self that accompanies such trips.
"They definitely give me a perspective on what I have versus what others have," she said. "I'm very blessed and I'm very lucky to live where I live and have what I have. I've learned (through mission work) to help people more and not always expect things in return, because I know people don't always have something to give back."
In preparing for the event, the family has already received a great deal of community support, including the Spanish Club at UNCC, which is collecting socks, toothpaste and kitchen supplies to send with the family.
As they have in years past, the family will once again look to the community to help fund the nearly $6,500 cost of the mission trip.
To help raise the money, the Ziners are organizing a silent auction May 2 at Texas Land & Cattle on Bruton Smith Boulevard in Concord. The public is invited to bid on a variety of items, ranging from private Latin dance lessons to sports paraphernalia signed by Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith or NASCAR legend Richard Petty. There are Kannapolis Intimidators tickets, jewelry, art and gift cards.
The Bead Lady, a local business owner specializing in homemade jewelry, not only donated to the cause, but offered more.
"We had a discussion about connecting with someone in Costa Rica that she could purchase beads from on an ongoing basis so we can support someone there on an ongoing basis," Michelle said. "This year has been particularly hard (on donations) because of the economy. But those who can give have been generous."
• Contact managing editor Jonathan E. Coleman: 704-789-9105
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