Sometimes I get caught up in an idealized view of missions. I have an expectation or desire to make radical changes in people’s lives, to give them a new hope, or see people first grasp God’s grace for themselves. I want to do big things and, honestly, I often selfishly want the glory for myself. I desire our World Race ministries to be a certain way and I want the glitz and glamour that comes with the title of “missionary”.
This month, missions were definitely not glamorous. We honestly didn’t do anything extremely special. Lives weren’t radically changed as a result of our stay at “El Puente.” We don’t really have incredible stories to share of what work God accomplished through us this month. We stood in long assembly lines passing rocks from the river, we laid rocks somewhat evenly to make a path, and we sat in sand, poking it into the cracks between the laid rocks. There is nothing special about us that allowed us to do that. No job description for missionary states “able to carry heavy and awkwardly shaped objects long enough to hand them off to the next person”, “good with a machete”, or “experience picking sticks suitable for shoving sand between rocks.” We were, however, willing and available. We were willing to be used in any way necessary and willing to dive into the task at hand. And we desired as a squad to represent Christ the best we could.
We won’t ever see campers stomp along the completed paths. And those stone paths probably won’t be a selling point for the campers. However, Hermano (brother) Lucho dreams of seeing this camp flourish, of making it more beautiful and more enjoyable, and of it continuing to be a place where the truth of the Gospel is spoken. And we were able to play a small role in that. And all we can ever do is play a small role in God’s grand plan, just as vessels for His work.
The timing of our arrival is a huge testament to God’s power and His desire to provide for our needs. Hermano Lucho told us on Sunday that, a couple months ago, he and his assistant Theo were talking about camp improvements that could be made and about how awesome it would be to have stone paths from the entrance to the various buildings. They were praying that it would somehow happen, but were discouraged by how much work it would be for the two of them and how little money they could spend on getting it done. Shortly after, Phil, a World Race liaison for Bolivia, called Hermano Lucho to ask him if there were any projects around camp that a group of 40 young adults from America could help him with in October. Lucho couldn’t believe it and he expressed to Phil his desire to have the stone paths, but humbly cautioned him on how much manual labor it would be. God’s timing was impeccable and we then, as God’s answer to a prayer, became the first World Race squad to work at El Puente camp.
What sometimes seemed like tedious or unimportant work, was part of our all-knowing God’s plan and His desire to answer Lucho’s prayer. We didn’t impact the lives of many, but we were given the opportunity to encourage and bless one man. And for one, it was worth it. If we tried to do our own work with our own strength, we were reminded in our long assembly lines how much we can’t do alone, yet how much we were each needed at our spot in line. When we were trying to glorify ourselves, only God deserved the glory.
Because afterall, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are simple jars of clay with the purpose of showing off the treasure inside of us, Jesus. Like a flower pot holds flowers on display, making them look more beautiful and enabling them to grow, we are to display God’s love and power, to glorify Him and not ourselves, to make Him look more attractive, and to bring the attention to God and his all-surpassing power and not to ourselves.
Update: We left Campamento El Puente on Monday afternoon (10/27) and stayed the night in La Paz at Hermano Lucho’s home church. Early Tuesday morning we started our 30 hour bus ride to Lima, Peru. We spent two nights in Lima and had one day of “Leadership Development” (short talks by our squad leaders and various squad-mates). On Friday, all teams split up to head to our various ministry sites around Peru. After another 19 hour bus ride of winding through the mountains, passing both snow and palm trees, and feeling like we were going to crash 100 times, Team Deep Pursuit is in Pucallpa, Peru!!! We are working with a church in various ways this month and living with the pastor and his lovely family. We are so blessed! More details to come on what month 3 looks like for TDP.
