I was listening to a lady sharing with someone else about a recent mission trip she went on. She said before they left, they asked for safe traveling mercies, no bumps in the traveling schedule, beautiful weather, etc. She said when she returned God answered their prayers, everything was perfect, she got some great pictures and had a wonderful time.
When asked about what God did while they were there she said, "The children were so cute and loved everything we gave them."
I shook my head and my heart sank. Until 2010 I purposely did not want to go on short term international mission trips simply because it sounded to me like it was a great opportunity for wealthy pew sitters to go on vacation and say they did some good work for God.
I went to Poland in 2010 and God began closing my eyes to why other people went on mission trips and began opening my eyes to why HE wanted me to go on mission trips.
In October 2013, I went to Guatemala with a group from First Baptist Church Tulsa and we met some people from Mexico and Louisiana who joined us to serve. I made a concerted effort before we left to ask my life group, Luke 10 to pray for God's will to be done, to not pray for safety but to pray for salvation and for the team to stay out of God's way.
We were supposed to leave bright and early on a Monday morning but the plane to Houston was delayed by hours so we left late Monday afternoon. By the time we got to the motel it was like 3am or so. The plan was for us to package medicines for the first village on Monday afternoon but instead we were doing it early Tuesday morning.
I went to the restaurant to gather coffee for some of the preppers and ended up spilling coffee on my left forearm and stomach. I immediately had empathy for the senior who sued McDonald's over a coffee spill...if I listened closely I could hear my arm sizzling...but I praised God anyway...
We ventured high into the Guatemalan mountains in a couple of 15 passenger vans. The roads had gravel on them which offered some comfort but at times you could look out the window straight down and see what looked to be a thousand foot drop. Because of the weight of so many of us in the van...we pulled over and walked down for fear that if we drove down the van wouldn't make it back up the mountain to get us out.
We crossed an Indiana Jones bridge on foot and were greeted by policia with large knives, larger guns and uniforms. I was unsure if they were there to protect us or to protect the villagers from these radical Americans.
We brought a medical team, a construction team and a ministering team with boots and shoes and Bible stories and games. The ladies and girls of the villages wore brightly colored tops and skirts, handmade by the women. They lived in small buildings made with wood...often you could see through the slats in the walls and floors. No insulation, no TV, or Wii, no X-box or Ipod...however, we did see a cell phone hanging in a pouch outside above the hammock.
The hills were covered in corn stalks, chickens roamed freely and many of the kidlets were barefooted and maneuvering the uneven and steep terrain with ease. The women prepared lunch for us, carrots, white rice, squash, tortillas and remember those chickens? Killed, cleaned and cooked in one day; crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Delicious!
The village of St. Joseph was high in the mountains and we were told we were the first missionary team that had ever been to this village. Pastor Joseph was an amazing man of God. He and the pastors of the other villages had been preparing the villagers for our visits for months. They gathered the shoe size information so we could purchase the shoes and they shared with the villagers why we were coming...to share the love of Jesus in a tangible way.
A young child was diagnosed with pneumonia by our nurse practitioner. Our lead contact in Guatemala and our team contact made arrangements to get this child in a vehicle and take her to the hospital in Guatemala. But, the Mom said 'no.' She was afraid she'd never see her child again. Our team rallied around this family and prayed for them, asking God to give them peace and to help them to trust that the plan was in the best interest of their child. Thankfully, the Mom agreed. The child made it to the hospital and received medicine and recovered fully. Praise God!
Another child was found to have a hole in her heart. Again, the contacts from both teams worked together to get this child to the Kiros House in Guatemala, sort of a Ronald McDonald house, just a few blocks from the hospital. It is my understanding the child and her family are staying in Kiros House so the little one can receive treatment.
Think of this. A group of Americans plan a mission trip a year or more in advance. They pray and collaborate with the missionaries in Guatemala to get everything organized. The pastors of the villages prepare the villagers for the aid that is coming. But, only God knew two children were going to need the medical intervention that was available only on that Wednesday in October.
How cool is that?
The village we visited on Thursday was not far from the highway and the villagers wore clothes much like we do. They had bathrooms with toilets that thankfully for me, were only a few yards from where we were ministering.
I woke up Thursday morning feeling a bit loose, at least my bowels were. By the time we got to the village and had set up for our first group of kidlets, I had visited the toilet about 5 times. God divinely guided my stealth exits to the bathroom in-between my opportunities to teach the kidlets a few phrases in English. Eventually standing became a major effort so I encouraged and prayed for the kidlets from a chair.
When we had seen all of our kidlets, the team continued to love on them while the medical team continued to see everyone who wanted to see a medical provider. I sat in a far corner, feeling the color drain from my face and wondering how in the world could anything be left inside me that wanted so desperately to come out. I stood and felt as if I just got off a roller coaster...I felt the volcano readying to erupt and my eyes were fixed on the door. I made it.
Now, I longed for the door of the bathroom and that it was available but ugh, it looked so far away...I made it about halfway and the sky tipped and down I went. It had rained earlier so I was covered in mud. I determined to rise and walk and I am certain if anyone saw me they would have assumed I had been drinking alcohol, my feet seemed detached from my legs and I was certain an alien was about to burst through my stomach. I stepped onto the concrete floor in the bathroom and the next thing I remember was the volcano erupting, I collapsed into a puddle of water, I hoped...Then I felt someone tugging at my arm and patting my head. What I heard over and over again was, "Dios, Dios, Dios."
What brought me to my senses was that the woman was praying for me. She also seemed to be screaming indiscriminately to anyone who would listen. I managed to crawl into the stall and close the door. Immediately members of our medical team were there to rescue me. However, at that moment I was exceedingly humbled and realized I had no back-up jeans for just such an occasion. Eventually I cleaned up, best that I could, and was assisted into the medical area for the doc to take a look see.
I knew I was gonna be okay, because every food particle and liquid that I had consumed for the past month was now a part of the landscape...so there could not be anything left to cause chaos. Apparently, I was pale and the doc mentioned by blood pressure was 84/60...a bit low for me. He gave me some antibiotics and strongly encouraged me to drink water. I was escorted to a truck and delivered back to the motel.
I've been told I survived the "Guac Squats," and I should be proud. Alas, it was the most humiliating experience of my life and the most amazing experience of my life. There I was thousands of miles from home and pooping all over myself and being prayed for by someone who didn't know me but knew I needed a healing hug from the Father.
How cool is that?
The last night we were in Guatemala City, our team shared God moments from the experience:
17 people came to Jesus on this trip!!! Hallelujah!!
The construction team said it was so awesome to share with the villagers what they were going to do and then the villagers jumped in to work...they were investing in their future.
Pastor Francisco from St. Joseph prayed for us before we left. His words were profound and guided by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had visited his village that day and he was thankful...and he also asked that they not be forgotten.
One of our team members pulled her hair brush out of her purse and brushed a little girl's hair and then put it in a ponytail...a line formed and this team member continued to love on these little girls by brushing and styling their hair...
Two of our team members taught the village children how to jump rope and play Duck, Duck, Goose and simple games that our kids take for granted..
Team members blew up balloons and let them fly...the villagers knocked each other over to get one...simple pleasures...
A little boy was wearing boots that had holes in them, you could see his toes sticking out. After he received his new boots, he took the old ones off and put on the new ones...the smile he shared was breathtaking!
On the van driving through Guatemala city one of the docs and our Bible teacher sang Open the Eyes of my Heart in English and Spanish...it was a blessing...a subtle reminder that we can always do more and do better....
We visited the Kiros House in Guatemala City a couple blocks from the hospital. This is an incredible, loving ministry for kids with cancer. They do not charge for their services and the whole family of each child who is being treated at the hospital can stay in the Kiros House. So many of these families are from the villages, like the ones we ministered to and cannot afford to go back and forth.
The executive director (the son of the mighty man of God who began this ministry) told us a story. He said a number of years ago there were two little boys staying in the Kiros House and got bored and decided to go AWOL and ended up at the soccer stadium down the road. They watched a professional team practicing and eventually the kidlets caught the eye of the goalie.
The goalie came over and talked with the boys...and they told him their story. His heart was touched and he went to the Kiros House and found out more about this amazing ministry. This goalie fell in love with the kidlets and families and staff of the Kiros House and became a devoted supporter.
Eventually, the goalie's team won the World Cup and the goalie played an integral part in the victory so media from all over the world wanted an interview. The goalie said, "Sure, I'll give interviews but you have to interview me at a specific location..."
He brought them all to the Kiros House and he was asked question after question about his contributions in winning the World Cup...but he kept redirecting the conversation to the ministry. He shared what a great work was taking place, how lives were being transformed, how they struggled financially and how invaluable their services are.
People responded and many folks fell in love with the Kiros House and began supporting this great work. They are now praying for a bigger location so they can minister to more people. As you can guess, the need is astronomical.
I have a scar now on my left arm where I spilled the coffee on me. Every time I look at the scar, I will think of Guatemala and Jesus. I was obedient to my Father by simply being present and He brought 17 people unto Him...and I got to be there to see Him work!
God simply asks, "Who can I send? Who will go for Me?"
Here I am Lord, send me.
deni
