I love that I serve a God who is constantly challenging me and drawing me closer to him – through His word, through my experiences, through my interactions with others, and through His creation. In June, I embarked on a mission trip oblivious to the countless ways God was planning to reveal himself that week, the things He would teach me, and the life changing experiences I would have. Our team of thirteen left to minister to the people of Asunción Mita, Guatemala and Chalchuapa, El Salvador, never imagining we would be ministered to, changed, and challenged in the ways we were.
Some of my favorite moments of the trip took place in the beautiful city of Asunción Mita. Nestled in the mountains of Guatemala, the people of this city hold a special place in the hearts of the thirteen of us who evangelized in the streets, were invited into homes to share the gospel, played soccer with ten-year old’s who were better than us, threw a frisbee in the street, and so much more.
My favorite moment happened during a free medical clinic we held at the church in Guatemala. People from the church and community were invited to come and Jasmine, the doctor who was working with us that week, would see each person that came and would write their prescription on a small piece of paper. Jackie and I would then gather their medications and using the little Spanish we knew, explain what the medication was, what it was for, and how to take it. It wasn’t until about half way through the medical clinic that first day we were in Guatemala that I truly understood the impact of what we were doing. You see, we were not handing out a lot of medication. Each person received a parasite pill, 15 Ibuprofen, 20 vitamins, and maybe an antibiotic. In my mind that was not a lot considering most of us have a bottle of ibuprofen in our homes, take a vitamin every day, and have easy access to antibiotics when we need them. For me, I wasn’t sure what impact those 15 Ibuprofen were having.
After each person received their medications, another woman on our team, Amy, would pray for them before they left. As she was praying, it was common for them to pray out loud with her. Amy did not know Spanish so she was praying in English and the other person in Spanish. Neither knew what the other was saying, but there was something truly beautiful about those moments knowing that despite the language barrier, God was listening to and interceding for each prayer. As Amy was praying from one woman in particular, the limited view I held of what we were doing changed in an instant. This woman began praying out loud with Amy and began to weep. Through the tears and muffled words, she began thanking God for answering her prayers and providing the medications she so desperately needed. She had no idea where she was going to get the medications she needed or when, but she trusted that God would provide for her. Jackie and I stood in the back of the room crying too. It was an incredibly humbling experience. This woman chose to trust that God would provide for her every need, even down to what were, in my opinion, only a few pills. And she was quick to recognize God’s provision and faithfulness in the small things, to which her only response was thanksgiving and praise to a God who knows our needs before we do and is faithful to meet each and every one of them.
There are so many more things I could share about this trip – the people we met, experiences I had, and lessons learned. God’s was working in and through us every moment we were there. I was challenged and blessed and encouraged and drawn closer to the God I serve. The one thought that persistently ran through my mind that week and still does is that I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in Peru!