This
was my first experience for an international mission trip. It was also my first
experience for a mission trip as an adult. I had gone on several as a middle
school/high school student in the U.S and Canada, but never on one to a third
world country. I knew that there would be kids to play with, buildings to
build, labor to be done. It felt good to do the labor, to be part of a bigger
story, but that is not the lasting impression that I took from the trip. It had
nothing to do with the millions of nails hit, (more bent or busted than
actually into the wood), or the games that were played with kids while they
waited their turn for the medical clinic. The lasting impression came from the
community, in the heart breaking stories that the people have.
The
people of Cienfuegos have endured more than imaginable in their lifetimes. They
are forced to do labor that we would never imagine doing just to survive. They
have to rummage through garbage to find recyclables just to make a wage we
would laugh at. I knew they had to do this going into the trip, but seeing it
happen is a completely different experience. It is an experience that makes
your heart break for them.
We
were able to tour the community and see the entrance to the trash dump. The
entrance is a dirt hill that you climb/slide down until you get to a creek.
This creek is lovingly coined “Hepatitis Creek”, looking like you could
definitely catch that or worse in it. Some of the trash gets lost in the creek
when they exit the dump. People have lost shoes in the muck. The locals just
wade through; through all the trash and water run-off. The dirt hill is tricky
to navigate on your own with my shoes with grips. There were many times that I
would slide some of the way, catching myself before I lost my balance. Again,
the locals are able to scale it with ease.
The
school area is a beacon of hope for the children in the community. It is a way
out of the life that has become the norm for their families. Pastor Pablo runs
a program there called “Kids with a Hope”. This program allows students to
receive additional support in their education, 2 warm meals a day, and some
basic medical care. They have taken kids who were malnourished and turned them
into healthy adolescents. As a teacher, I understand the importance of a full
belly when learning. If the students did not have basic needs met, they would
not be able to successfully attend school. This program services a couple
hundred kids in the community. As a Christian, Educator, Female, or just a
person, I view this program as a win. An opportunity for the community to have
a safe haven that will hopefully better the lives of the citizens it serves.
On
the school’s campus is a church, where some of the students and families are
able to worship on Sunday mornings. We were able to join them in worship the
Sunday we were there. Most of the service was in Spanish, and my Spanish is
non-existent. I grew in my faith during this service more than I ever remember
growing before. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SAYING! The church had white
plastic chairs. There was no air-conditioning, no fancy lights, stage, or
media. The building was open air. There was a drum set that was patched up, an
acoustic guitar that accompanied some songs. They had a sound system with two
microphones that intermittently worked. Yet, here we all were, worshiping Jesus
together. It was again, at this service, that it was apparent that Jesus is
enough. As much as I enjoy the hoopla that goes on at our American churches, it
was glaringly obvious that we don’t need it. All we need is Jesus, His story,
and each other.
I
spent a lot of the week wondering what made me so special. The only difference
between my life and the life the locals lead is that I was lucky enough to be
born to parents that lived in the United States. That’s it! If my parents had
lived in Cienfuegos when I was born, it would be me looking for recyclables on
the dump. It is obvious through the families that are involved with the school
that they are no different than the American parents. Their ultimate goal is to
give their kids an opportunity at a life that is better than theirs. Isn’t that
all parents really want for their kids? Pastor Pablo gave these parents an
opportunity to better the lives of their kids. I hope through the continued
efforts of Pastor Pablo that the kids achieve this goal.
J.J,
a pastor at RidgePoint, talked one night after dinner about what happens after
the trip. We are all willing to give up our time to help people for a week, but
what happens when we get home? How do I continue to spread Jesus’ love even
though I am back to my comfortable life? I don’t know what this means for me
right now. But I think about his statement a lot. Where in my life can I
continue to be a part of something bigger?
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