Following his calling

Local man lends his skills to African mission

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

Sometimes, you just feel the need to make a change in your life.

That’s what’s happened with 29-year-old Mike Skiles. A graduate of Madison Media Institute with a degree in digital art and animation, Skiles worked for five years as a graphic web designer.

“I was just looking for something else,” said Skiles. “I didn’t like being in the office.”

So, back in 2011, Skiles got a job with KS Energy, and started laying pipe. In doing that job, he found himself operating machinery.

And operating machinery is what takes him now overseas. Skiles left Wednesday to join Jon and Carrie Bratz in Swaziland, working with Heart for Africa and Project Canaan – a project that is helping AIDS victims and orphans with a clinic, a children’s home and farming.

The goal of the project is to provide quality care, shelter, food, water, clothing, health care and education to orphaned children in the country. The two Bratzes – along with their sons James and Job – left for Africa on Dec. 31.

Skiles said that, while the change in jobs had made him happier, he was still looking for more. His mother, Linda, saw that the Bratzes were looking for help in Szaziland, and Mike just happened to have those skills.

“They ended up calling me right away, and it just kind of snowballed from there,” said Skiles, who applied Feb. 19 and got his application fast-tracked because of the need for help.

He plans on being in the country for at least a year.

“I’ll be considered a long-term missionary over there,” said Skiles. “I’ll be living on the farm, and they want me to run a bulldozer and clear land for agriculture.”

He’s hoping to keep a running blog at swazisurvival.tumblr.com, but acknowledged that slow internet and frequent electrical outages could slow things down.

That said, he’s ready for a change – and a challenge.

“I feel if you’re unhappy, you should do everything you can to change because it’s not just going to change for you,” he said.

Judy Bratz, the mother of Jon, said things are going well for the couple and their sons.

Skiles will be taking over a few treats for the two boys, though – and their mother.

“Legos for the boys, and some kites,” said Judy Bratz. “And some brown sugar and chocolate chips for Carrie. Baking supplies are not cheap over there.”

To follow the couple’s work in Swaziland, search for Ag4Hope on Facebook.