Two Albert Lea High School graduates are preparing to put their talents to work in Africa.

Nicole and Josh Wilke hope to leave in March for a mission trip to Rehoboth, Namibia.

The two are participating through Africa Inland Missions. “We did some research and prayed about it,” said Nicole. “We like the work they do. They try to preserve the dignity of the people there.”

Churches also work together there for the good of the people and operate a joint soup kitchen, Josh said.

In addition, the people running the projects are all locals.

“We wanted an organization committed to sharing the Gospel, but we want to love them in Christ’s name. Converting them is not our job,” Nicole said.

As high school and college students, both Josh and Nicole took part in mission work. Nicole traveled to China and Mexico. Josh went to Brazil, Israel and Europe. Both went to places in the United States.

“Once we were married, we felt the next trip would be several years in the future,” Nicole said. “But with God opening some doors and shutting others, we decided to go earlier.”

Josh is an electrician by trade. He attended Riverland Community College. He will help with remodeling a building donated to a church in Rehoboth into a home for the physically handicapped.

Nicole, who has a degree in psychology and family studies from St. Olaf College, will work with children and youths. “I love children. It is as if I have a burden on my heart to work with kids,” she said.

In some areas of Namibia, 40 percent of the orphans are orphans because of AIDS, she said. In addition, there are cases of 12-year-olds caring for several siblings in the country.

How long the couple will stay in Africa depends on how much money they raise.

“With the travel costs and one-time fees, they’d like to keep us there for a while,” Nicole said. Their goal is to stay for a year.

They have sent letters seeking support from people who have helped them in the past, as well as to churches in Albert Lea. They need to have their money raised by Feb. 13.

Anyone who would like to help them can send a check in their name to the City and County Employees Federal Credit Union, 1719 W. Main St., Albert Lea, with Africa Inland Missions in the memo line. People can also donate online by going to the Africa Inland Missions Web site, www.aimint.org/usa. Select the tab for giving, then online giving, give now, select one and scroll down to find their names.

Both are excited about what lies ahead. “We’re going to try not to have preconceptions,” Nicole said. “We know we will learn from them.”

Josh is the son of Ken and Lori Wilke and Nicole is the daughter of Mike and Maureen Gilbertson, all of Albert Lea.