Let me start by saying this blog is very overdue. I have fallen seriously behind in documenting everything that has happened on this trip, however, I am excited to share with you all today a blog written from another perspective. This blog was written by non other than my father Victor Sanchez and it chronicles his experience out on the field a few months ago when he and my mom decided to come and join me out on the field. Like I said in my previous blog it was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to do ministry alongside my parents. Without further ado, here is a blog written by my dad about his experience in Ethiopia a few months ago.
Victor Sanchez
First, let me confess that when John asked us to go on the Parent Vision Trip, in my mind, it was a hard “NO”. I had several reasons to justify my reasoning. Traveling to Ethiopia is expensive, I am afraid of flying (This is about a 16-hour flight) and this was way out of my comfort zone. My wife, Jackie was all in from the beginning. I told John that I would pray about it and that the Lord would have to provide the finances for the trip. I work as a consultant, so I go to work, when they call me. In February, I got the call that they needed me to go to Pennsylvania and work for what turned out to be twenty weeks. The Lord had provided for the Parent Vision Trip to Ethiopia. During my time in Pennsylvania, I went to several Christian concerts. At the first concert, during the intermission someone gave a presentation about Compassion International and what they were doing for children around the world. The presenter asked those that would like to sponsor a child to raise their hand. I asked the Lord at that moment, if you do want me to go to the PVT in Ethiopia, let the child they bring me be from Ethiopia. So, I raised my hand and the child I got was Miteke from Kebiremengist, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. I thought to myself, maybe God does want me to go. I immediately allowed my fears to begin to create doubt in my mind. It was probably just a coincidence was my conclusion. A couple of weeks later I went to a different concert in a different city and the same thing happened with a ministry called, Food For The Hungry. So, I put out the same fleece to God, if you want me to go to Ethiopia, let the child I get be from Ethiopia. So again, I raised my hand and they brought me a sponsorship packet. You guessed it, this time it was Mamush from Ethiopia. I say all that to tell you, I am a very selfish person and I did not want to go, but for some reason, God wanted us to go.
We are so glad that God allowed us to share in this incredible experience, which is the World Race. Jackie and I got but a small taste of what these young adults have lived and experienced for the last nine months and our hearts overflow with gratitude and admiration for John and for the racers who have been on this journey with him. I am reminded and challenged by a quote I read many years ago from the evangelist D. L. Moody that read, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him”. These young men and women have lived this out for nine months and they will never be the same because of it. They have experienced God, in ways that have marked them forever. My prayer for them is, that they would never allow themselves to be distracted by the things that don’t really matter, to the detriment of the things that do.
One of my favorite parts of the PVT was being able to get to know some of the racers on a more personal level. Hearing their testimonies and stories as well as talking to them one on one and hearing their hearts. Also, seeing the love they have for random strangers in the streets, both kids and adults. The first time we went into the village, to buy boots, I remember Shelby and Michael going across the street to random stranger’s houses and saying hello to the kids and the adults. Giving them hugs and although they could not communicate with the language, they communicated by their smiles and their actions. Meanwhile, I stayed in the van, thinking to myself, you can’t just do that, they are putting themselves in harm’s way. If you know me, you know I often operate from a vantage point of fear. Hopefully, that is one thing that has begun to change in me, because of this trip and the example of these racers. I see in my son, John a fearless disposition to anything and everything and I want that again. I know as a new believer in 1993, I had this fearlessness, but fear has slowly creeped into my life. I know the word says, that perfect love drives away fear and I have seen it lived out by these racers.
Our host for the Parent Vision trip was Hopethiopia, which is a ministry that does many things, including creating homes for orphans and homeless and abandoned elderly. The most impacting thing to us was, what Ralph, Glenda and their team have done with the children. These kids are poor and orphaned (Although, they do not see themselves as orphans), yet they are the happiest, most content kids I have ever had a chance to spend time with. I remember one night we were watching the movie, “The Lorax”. However, because we would have a worship service every night with the parents and the racers, Ralph stopped the movie halfway through. The kids live on property six to a home, with a house mother. Ralph told them that they would finish watching the movie on Monday. Those kids were so well behaved, they did not fuss, argue, cry or complain. Instead, they went around the room giving everyone a kiss and a hug, saying goodbye or good night to their new friends. I can’t but help to think of how much Ralph and Glenda have done so in both Ethiopia and Rwanda because they said yes to God’s leading.
HOPEthiopia is committed to the restoration of both the people and the land of Ethiopia. This will be accomplished by the implementation of four distinct project initiatives, each working together to produce a hopeful nation.
After spending a little time at Hopethiopia and learning a little about reforestation, I was amazed how one man could lead, influence and educate so many people to do something about our environment. Click the link for a short video of Ralph explaining what is going on in Ethiopia and the impact they hope to achieve.
Overall, I went into this PVT full of fear, from fear of flying to fear of being in danger to fear of getting sick. I realized that I don’t really trust God the way that I should. Living in the United states and having so much, I have taken so much for granted. Spending time with the racers, the parents, Ralph, Glenda, the lovely kids and all the staff at Hopethiopia has begun to change me to being a little more like Christ. I trust Him a little bit more. I love people a little bit better. I realize I don’t have to get upset when everything doesn’t go according to plan. I realize no matter what I might be going thru, God’s got me. Thank you PVT for changing my perspective, my view on many things and challenging me to be more like Christ.
