Facebook, Mission Trips, and Other Pearls of Wisdom

There is a blog called “Stuff Christians Like” Jon Acuff, the author of the blog writes tongue in cheek and gives us the opportunity to chuckle at ourselves. I am sharing his comments on Facebook postings after a mission trip…

No matter where you go, mission trips are transforming experiences. Outlooks on wealth are transformed. Views on how God works are transformed. Prayer requests are transformed. Profiles are transformed. Of course by profiles, I am referring to social networking sites . It makes sense that when someone comes back different the way that they present themselves to the world via Facebook should also change. I will delve into the difference categories that encompass this mountaintop-upload.

Profile Picture
OK, this is the most visible and important change. Of course a picture alone means nothing. Who is in your picture is very important, so you must crop wisely. Kids are a must. You can do the one kid “building strong, personal relationships” look, the multiple kids “this is my posse that I am discipling” look, or the tons of kids “look at the impact I am making” look. Make sure to at least be hugging a few of the kids.

Facebook albums
If you thought the power of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming, just wait for the tag-fest of candid photo moments that happen on a mission trip. Most pictures are of the group all staring at something unseen, but some may be people speaking, their living situations, local delicacies, host families, and lots of cute kids.

Friends
While I hypothesize that there are only five or six high schoolers across the country that are not already friends on Facebook, you must friend everyone immediately after waking up from your 12 hours of sleep that you got on your first night back.

Groups
If you don’t have a group called “First Baptist Goes to Guam” on Facebook, I’m not really even sure you went on the trip (Note: Our trip was documented on Blogspot – much more sophisticated Jon)

While Jon's blog is written to give us a laugh at ourselves, there is an underlying truth to his words and why is that? For many of us we post on Facebook, send emails to our team members, and stop strangers at Publix to talk about our trip because it is a mountaintop experience and we want the world to know How Great is Our God and as for the Facebook postings... it sure beats playing Farmville! RS

Mission blog 10/21/2010

Our morning devotion today was centered on a theme based on a quote from Mother Theresa, who once said, “Greet everyone you meet with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Peace begins with a smile.” This week, we have had so many opportunities to share God’s love through smiles. Each day our group has become closer and stronger in fellowship.

Our mission clinic today was a short drive away in San Pedro in a local church. Along the route, the children (and I) got a kick out of seeing a desiccated cow head hanging from a tree outside a local market. Beautiful weather, exotic plants, and curious people met us on arrival. Our team started off with some challenges, with some cases of gastroenteritis and down one clinician. We were assisted by Pastor Henry, a missionary from Haiti who traveled 11 hours by bus to meet for the day. The progressive heat was another significant challenge for Americans accustomed to air conditioning. But the challenges were easily forgotten as the people came to be seen. We have encountered a lot of good people with some routine medical problems (at least routine for the US) and many with problems unique to poverty in a tropical climate. Many men and women here work outdoors in the heat, subjective themselves to dehydration presenting with headaches and “mareo,” which generally refers to dizziness or malaise. One ebullient, middle-aged woman with these symptoms happily and proudly told me that she had been on hypertension medications until last year, when she had been cured by God in response to her prayers. She now visits neighbors who need cures for their maladies. Most of the people have been kind and grateful for the opportunity to see a medical professional, be fed nourishing food, and hear the Word of God.

After a brief lunchtime lull, the pace picked up again. Our team was stressed as the red line on the thermometer climbed (Do they even make those thermometers anymore?). We discovered, too, that we would attempt to see about 50% more patients in the afternoon in order to avoid turning anyone away. And it got BUSY!. Despite that, there remained opportunities for humor. I spoke with the young mother of a 1 month old boy; as she rubbed his abdomen in a circular motion, she said, “He cries whenever I do this.” My reply: “Well, then don’t do that!” Similarly, a 15 year old girl with an itchy leg rash said, “It hurts whenever I do this” as she scratched the itchy area. You can guess my reply. In each instance, I received a happy laugh. Then five hours after the afternoon session started, we wrapped it up. As we headed for the bus, several team members were surrounded by excited, laughing, beautiful children wanting to have their photo taken with us. It was a great way to leave. As I write this, a boisterous game of dominoes keeps me entertained as the players loudly taunt each other. We anticipate a trip tomorrow to a local market and an orphanage. Until then…or, “Hasta mañana.”

-Juan Dumois

Day 3 of Clinic

Just as I am, Amazing Grace, Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus, those are fantastic songs, but yet so applicable to this mission trip. The Lord uses us just as I am or just as you are. God’s amazing grace has been abundant on this trip. Refreshing us daily with the sweetness to trust in the Lord.

Not all mission trips are the same for everyone – just to help those in a foreign country. This trip has for me, been one of working through some difficult situations which have been in my path. God planted each team member on this trip for a divine purpose. Healing within me, things that I have shelved because I didn’t have the time to deal with them.

For one example, going through the grieving process of the loss of my Father (Earl) in February of this year, who was part of this team in past years. You see, I made a promise to him, hours before he passed away, that if he was not able to go on this trip that I would go in his place. I have fulfilled my promise and I was also afforded the opportunity to un-shelf things I could not process at one time or another, because of different circumstances.

God is amazing and His grace is sufficient.

Once I was able to process this “stuff” I am now able to be more active as a participant and to have some very great moments to see God’s hand work in team members, as well as the lives of those who God has taken us to, here in the DR.

Sure we are out of our comfort zone. The heat is incredible – even to this Florida gal, but NOTHING is too difficult for my God. We are all willing vessels to be used this week – in a mighty way, to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Kim Newberry

Day 2 of Clinic

The day began with devotions and a well-inspired reminder that our God is an awesome God of mercy and forgiveness. We travelled to a small village of Hota Vieja, a very poor village about 45 minutes outside of Juan Dolio. The countryside was very serene, full of God’s wonder. We passed sugarcane fields and small houses. All of the children dressed in school uniforms of light blue shirts and khaki pants or skirts joyfully headed off to school. I have come to realize that most of the Major League Baseball teams have huge, magnificent sports compounds in the Dominican Republic. Today, we passed the Phillies, the Mets, and the Marlins. When we arrived to the small school which was to be our clinic for the day, there was already a line of over 100 people. Again, in a matter of minutes, the supplies were unloaded and before us stood a fully functional first care clinic. The team joined the community to hear the Good News that Kenneth was bringing to the people with his unique combination of witnessing and painting. The morning proved challenging for some of the team members, myself especially. By the time I saw my last patient at lunchtime, I felt as though I had seen 1000. During lunch, I took time to reflect and try to identify exactly what it was about the morning that was so hard. I sat in a small chair staring through the doorway and watching the crowd of people who remained, ages ranging from 18 days to eighty years…people who have been waiting for us to see them since early morning: In the sun, in the heat, without water or food, children without toys or games, no chairs, no TV, only the Word of God to nourish them throughout the morning until our daily feeding of rice with hot dogs and salad. I recalled the first five patients that I had seen this morning…stomachache, headache, and dizziness. So I asked about their food and water. “How much do you drink each day?” “When was your last meal?” The answers were surreal, like something from a TV program on PBS…they each answered their last meal was two or more days ago and they have no water to drink because the water is dirty and makes them ill. Many of them said that the only fluid they drink is the juice from lemons and oranges that they pick from the trees. Wait a minute…Isn’t this the 21^st century? How is this possible? In the weeks leading up to this trip, many friends who have served on mission trips around the world gave me advice on how to prepare my heart and soul and what things I would see, but I never imagined that it would be like this…people starving right in front of me…and I am helpless to help them in the long run. I asked the Lord to give me strength to face the remainder of the day. We prayed together and asked for strength for ourselves and the people we were about to care for. The good Lord gives what we need in his time, as I looked around again, I noticed that though the children hadn’t eaten in days and had no toys to play with, they were smiling and laughing, now playing with a hackiesack ball made from a piece of ripped t-shirt and some pebbles. There was a great sense of community among the people. God gave me peace in my heart so that I could shower people with His love and truth. Eventually the day ended with a musical meditation and worship. Our God truly is an AWESOME God. “The rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2.

S.H.

10/19/10

You are Faithful

“You are faithful. You are faithful. Your joy is our strength”. The words seemed a bit fuzzy before 6:00 AM (3:00 AM California time) this morning when we pulled ourselves out of bed. Our first day of medical clinics here in the Dominican Republic this year – the first anywhere for many of us -and we faced the day with a certain amount of trepidation.

After breakfast we boarded the bus and settled in for the hour-long ride to Bayaguana. The countryside was lush and beautiful. We passed through several villages and even spotted a few of Major League Baseball’s training camps on the way.

In Bayaguana we pulled into a schoolyard and unloaded the truck and set up the facility. In less than half an hour two class rooms had been transformed into a well-stocked clinic tethered by the unflappable Ruby Sugar and supported by William, Jessica, Kim, and Ellen. Judi oversaw the non-medically trained support with invaluable pharmacological wisdom. She answered so many questions with such patience!

In the “caretakers’” room we had six medical stations, each staffed with a medical professional and translator. Josh, Suzanne, Juan, Jess, Vicki and Todd were teamed up with Benjamin and Michael (translators) . It was utterly amazing to see the classroom functioning as a mini General Hospital (without all the drama). Christian kept traffic moving through the different stations and out to the pharmacy.

The morning for the patients began with a gospel lesson by Kenneth. He used art and illustrations to explain the Good News and promises of our Lord. After the message people were distributed numbers and given forms to take to the triage area where they would be “processed” before they saw a doctor. Passing out the numbers had to be the “hot seat” of the process! Brent and David kept good order. I don’t think I would have the nerves to handle that job! Margaret and I had a great time greeting each patient and collecting necessary information including weights, names, symptoms, age. Margaret was a master with the blood-pressure cuff. I can’t imagine how she could hear anything over the noise.

All of this structure was held together by Sebastion and John who hung tarps, organized rooms and pretty much helped anyone with any kind of help they needed.

And the patients came. And they came. And they came. Grandmas and children and moms and fathers. They all were looking for physical healing. We were hoping to offer physical relief as well as spiritual hope and solace. Beautiful smiles. Grimaces of pain. Some fear in the children. It was such a blessing to feel we had both Good News and medicine to help those in need.

At lunch Kenneth brought in huge pots of food to feed all of the patients and some other people who were in the area. The pots that seemed to keep on giving! We almost felt as if we were experiencing the fishes and loaves. There was plenty of food for those who needed it.

We spent the afternoon seeing more patients and began packing up just as the rain began to break.

The ride home in the air-conditioned van was a wonderful respite.

God, You are faithful, You are faithful. You are our strength.

-Nancy

A Day to Pray

A Day to Pray

Today marked the team’s second day here in the Dominican Republic. We started the morning by going to a church in the city of Santo Domingo. Church services here are an event often lasting three hours or more.

After lunch we had another planning meeting to specifically set out how clinic would operate over the coming days. It was a rather long two-hour meeting, but it was necessary to make sure we are well organized on the field. The meeting ended by us going to the clinic (here at the SCORE facility) to get scrubs for the next four days of clinic.

The spiritual theme of the day has certainly been prayer. From our time at church this morning until our devotion this evening- prayer has permeated our time here. Scripture encourages us to “pray without ceasing.” This week will have many challenges in store for our team. Some we have experienced in the past, (we have prepared for those challenges.) Others we will not experience until this week.

Brent, who is the team leader, did a great devotion this evening about prayer. He quoted a passage from Oswald Chambers. To roughly paraphrase it, “the work is not the greater work, rather prayer is the greater work.” Often we become so consumed with our plans we forget that prayer is the greatest work.

Tomorrow lies before us. It is laced with challenges and joys, which we will inevitably experience. We will endure heat, chaos, difficult personalities, and other physical discomforts. Do not feel bad for us, because tomorrow also contains opportunities for immeasurable feelings of joy. Tomorrow brings the possibility that we get to actually live out the teachings of Christ. In a very real sense, tomorrow is where “the rubber meets the road.” Tomorrow gives us an opportunity to radically live out the Great Commission, and literally become the hands and feet of Christ on earth.

In our hope for tomorrow, let us not forget our joy from today. Today was indeed a day to pray. It is my prayer that we all make every day, yet another day to pray.

-Josh

“What does God expect of us?”

“What does God expect of us?” If anyone has asked that question -- and listened and searched their Bible for the answer, then you know where I'm going with this post. But, if you've asked and not gotten an answer or didn't like the answer, this is for you (and maybe everyone else to affirm what you already know).

“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…” James 2 : 14–2 6

To serve God is to serve others and is the greatest form of charity. When we serve others on a mission trip or showing kindness to our neighbor across the street we are demonstrating the pure love of Christ. Christ said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 13:34

In his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns challenges us to:

This week, look for ways to put your faith into action. Every day there are thousands of opportunities to reflect God’s love. Maybe you offer to watch your neighbor’s children for the afternoon, volunteer at a local shelter, call someone you know who needs a friend, advocate for a child in need, or donate money to an organization that cares for the poor. The goal is to become transformed people whose actions are a result of faith rather than trying to prove something to God or to the world. It is normal to feel outside your comfort zone in your acts of compassion, but as you spend time with God and trust in His love, action will begin to naturally flow out of your faith.

How will you put your faith in action this week?

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln

Has it really been 10 month since the last post? Ten months? Sadly yes. Somewhere between welcoming in the New Year and preparing for another mission trip, someone must have hit the fast-forward button. Time may march, or ebb, or sift, or creep, but now in October, it feels as if time has bolted like an angry dinner guest, leaving conversations unfinished, resolutions undone, sorrow lingering but lessened with the joys of birth, farewells to old friends and greetings of welcome to new.

The loved ones we lost this year have left some of us with a profound feeling of emptiness. An empty place in your heart that you think will never be filled. Eventually, though, your heart is healed, and the sadness and mourning are replaced with acceptance and even the ability to smile and laugh about memories when you think of them. It is such a cliché when people say, "It gets better with time." But it’s true. You never become completely accustomed to being without your loved one, but it does get better, more bearable with each passing day.

This year has also brought blessings – three babies: Caleb, Lucy and Justice. Three beautiful, healthy babies to love, to hold, to whisper sweetly in their ear, or nuzzle gently in those soft, folds beneath their chins. It’s almost magical watching them grow from one Thursday to the next – mastering new skills and developing their personalities.

We’ve said goodbye to members who, for life reasons, had to leave the group. But saying goodbye did not mean the end. The friendships made will endure and paths will cross again. We’ve bid a warm welcome to new members. And, we’ve continued to development relationships with God and with each other.

Yes, time over the last 10 months may feel as though it has bolted but it has not --each hour, each day, each pasing month has moved at the pace God intended and we have been blessed.

“Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure Remember; you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted you cannot get it back.” Author Unknown