Recently I journeyed to Jalapa, Guatemala with a group from my local church for my first mission trip. This mission trip was divided into two groups. One would do ministry work such as Vacation Bible School, and provide medical services to the local population and the second group would aid a local church with construction projects. Even though I have trouble assembling toys on Christmas morning, I signed up for the construction team. I did my best to keep my mind clear of preconceived notions of what I would encounter, and arrived open mined to experience whatever God would present to me on this mission trip. I came away with three distinct lessons and hope by sharing them I can positively impact others to take that first step, encourage those who go on a regular basis and give people a glimpse of God's work in Jalapa.
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| Home in the Japala Dump |
First, God revealed to me I had no idea what I was praying about. I like many, thanked God for my abundance. I thanked Him for my food, conveniences, a great home and safe place to live. After all, I knew how others lived. I saw poverty and violence on television, read about it in the paper, heard others talk about it after their mission trips to Africa. Yes, I was thankful, because I knew what doing without was like. Wrong! Until you actually see with your own eyes, families living in a dump, knowing their children have to go out when the trucks arrive to scavenge for food or anything else of value, I promise you do not know poverty. It slapped me in the face and was a real spiritual awakening. It was if all my words before were just meaningless ramblings meant to make me feel better, look at me God, I'm thankful. Now I better understand what I am praying about and my prayers of thanksgiving carry much more meaning.
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| Children of Jalapa, smiles of hope |
Secondly, despite the despair of families living in the dump or on the outskirts in makeshift homes with meager belongings their is hope. Yes God is everywhere, but we have to call on him through
our words and actions and in any situation we put God in there is hope. I did not feel overwhelmed or that our work was pointless. I felt his presence, and could see the hope in the eyes of the people we were serving. This trip taught me no matter the circumstances, forget how bleak things are, do not focus on the size of the challenge, just bring God into the situation, where there is God there is hope!
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| I'm on the right, Hector in the middle mixing concrete |
Finally, be open to experience what God wants you to, not what you think you should experience. Well that's confusing, so I'll try to explain. As I mentioned earlier, I went on this trip with what I thought was an open mind, but I was working construction so my "God moment" of the trip would be construction related, right? Nope, the last night we were there, our praise minister Matt O'Rear asked me to give my testimony on tape. I was going to tell him of this great feat and God sized task we had accomplished on the job site. As he was setting up the camera and sound equipment, I was casually chatting with one of the local men (Hector) who helped us pour a concrete floor. I asked him if he was staying for the church service we were about to have after I gave my awesome testimony. Hector said yes, it was very important for him to praise God and proceeded to tell me his story. Even tough he was a skilled construction worker, he had been unemployed for an extended period. In fact, his own family had even turned and started calling him lazy. He cried out to God the Saturday we arrived and said lord I want to work, please help me find a job! On Monday morning he went out looking for work and saw our vans pull up to the construction site. He asked the local foreman if he needed help and the reply was no. The church only had money to pay two locals to help us and those positions were taken. Hector could speak a little English and as he walked away, he said "have a nice day" to one of our team members. The team member talked to Hector and found out he had extensive experience with concrete and since we were putting in a slab floor agreed to pay Hector out of his own pocket. Hector turned out to be one of our best workers and his contribution to our project cannot be overstated. He was also able to network with other locals and had a painting job lined up when we left and probably more construction work with the church. His eyes were full of pride as he talked about how God had answered his pleas. He had money in his pocket, had paid back a small loan to his uncle and was able to take care of his daughter. Matt came over and said he was ready to tape, I said forget me, you have to tape Hector's story. You see it really wasn't about me and my "God moment" of the trip was another man's testimony.
These few insights only scratch the surface of what I leaned on this trip. It was a life changing experience and I encourage those that go on mission trips on a regular basis to continue going and share you experiences and for those that have never been on a mission trip, what are you waiting for? Not only will you make a difference and bring positive change to a place outside your normal environment, it will positively change you, that I can promise!
Link to Faces of Jalapa video:
Faces of Jalapa
