Cary Mom Organizes Benefit Concert for Mission Trip

Carolyn Harrelson, owner of the The Clean Team in Cary, is coordinating a benefit concert for her daughter Elisa’s mission trip to Romania. The event will feature The Mississippi Stranglers, a local blues/garage/rock band, as well as food and raffles.

The Mississippi Stranglers are performing free of charge.

All proceeds from the benefit will go toward Elisa Harrelson’s mission trip to Romania. Any extra donations will go to Elisa’s companions on the trip.

The concert will take place Saturday, May 14 from 4-8 p.m. at the Lions Park Band Shelter.

This will be Elisa’s first mission trip. She is going to Romania in partnership with Life Changers International Church. While there, she will visit orphanages and participate in dramas as part of an evangelism ministry.

Elisa will also partake in benevolence ministry to gypsy villages.

“The gypsy population in Romania is hated and forced to live in slums,” she said.

“We’re going to bring them necessities and evangelize.”

Elisa says that she is excited to minister the love of God to those in Romania.

“I’m excited to go to a place where Jesus isn’t necessarily everywhere, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus in that place.”

When Elisa first heard about the benefit concert, “I thought it was going to be too big.” She said.

“Now I realize that I am so blessed to have a mother who works so hard to organize something like this.”

Elisa and her family do not know what kind of turnout to expect.

“We’re trusting God,” she said.

This is the first time Carolyn Harrelson has organized this type of a benefit.

“I wish I had 3 months to organize it.” She said.

She also noted that local businesses have been especially generous in their donation of gift cards and gift baskets.