Before coming on this trip of 11 months in 11 different countries, I asked myself, is it worth it? Not that mission trips of any length are bad but I wondered if I would actually be able to make a difference. While in high school I had the opportunity to visit a small orphanage in Andahuaylas, Peru. During our time partnering with the orphanage we built roofs, bunk beds, helped prep the land for a garden, built cages for rabbits and guinea pigs that would be used to feed the children, and led vacation bible school for the community. We helped wash clothes, wipe tears, we shared laughter and pain and left a piece of our hearts when we left. However, prior to leaving home in December I found out the orphanage no longer existed. A divorce between the couple who ran the orphanage led to the children being relocated to Cusco. That location subsequently flooded and the children were moved to an orphanage in Lima but dispersed due to being so far from family. With that in mind I dreaded this month in the Dominican Republic because upon arrival in the town of Lajas we found out our teams would be doing a different ministry every day. English, ground work, work duty, prayer walking in Lajas, prayer walking in Santiago, and the children’s center all made the list. My team specifically would teach English in Lajas the 1st day and then not again for the rest of the month. All my questions and doubts came rushing back. If an orphanage in Andahuaylas, Peru could fall apart after years of mission teams, what impact would we have in only 1 month, not even doing the same ministry? As this month draws to a close after only 21 days of actually being at our ministry site I am here to tell you, it all matters.
1. From our 1 day of English a local girl connected with Ana and has remembered Ana’s name and now runs to greet her with hugs and kisses.
2. From our numerous trips to the local fruit stand Ana and I have connected with the fruit stand owner. We have been invited twice to hang out on her patio where she has shared homemade bread, cut up pineapples, mangos and we get to share life with her.
3. Without even meaning to we have been able to teach English to and share God’s word with Jose and Blanco, both recent staff additions for Ruben and Vicky as they work alongside us.
4. God has also used this “All Squad Month” where all 47 of us are sleeping in tents, using 1 bathroom, and using a waterfall to shower and to wash our clothes in. He has used it to heal relationships, build community, and show all of us love in different ways.
Even the small things that seem inconsequential like saying hello at breakfast or being one of the many to help dig a trench matter. It doesn’t always have to be something big and noticeable. What’s something small that you can do to further God’s kingdom? This next month we head to Bolivia and my team will be in a city called El Alto, right outside the capital La Paz. There are six ministries amongst 7 teams so my team will be working alongside team Alegria in 3 different drug and alcohol abuse rehabilitation centers. Please be praying for us as we travel, unity between the two teams as we work together, and wisdom and grace for the men, women, and couples we will be getting to shine Christ’s light and love to.
