Are you sure it's nicer to give, than to receive?
As parents we dreamt of a having a mission trip one day for our teen children. An internet hunt indicated that needy kids in Mexico sleep on the wet ground at night and get supervised by their older brother/sister who is7 to 10 years old while the day while the parents go to work in the fields all day. Miniature to no food is left in the small shacks made of plastic and sticks to hold up the structure. Some kids were too small to go covering and got locked-up in their shacks daily. Some shacks caught fire and the kids burnt to death.
A group of immature kids (our children and friends ages 12 to 17) totalling Nine kids plus the four parents made a decision to riposte to this great need to help and enlarge on a Day-Care premise in Manadearo, Mexico while the school spring break in March 2010.
The idea started in November-09 with a fundraiser drive; our kids were excited at first until the hard labor part was discussed to originate funds for a two-week trip. The goal was to make it self-funding. Finally, it was decided on recycling bottles/tins/plastic collection while and after Christmas parties in prime suburban areas of Langley near Vancouver.
One person's scrap becomes an additional one person's rescue.
The value of empty box waste among the privileged became the sparkle in the eyes of the needy in Mexico. The bottle drive was a humongous success, plus a free-will gift turkey dinner that was served by our teens after church services, it gave the green light to the project. Expenses were covered.
The trip was well planned by members in our church. Nothing was overlooked like passports, visas, lawyer letters, Bibles, notebook journals, devotion materials, tips on "How Not to disrupt a trip", hotel bookings, visit to old time church friends along the way, food, drinks, stop-over places, sight scenes, maps and destination details. We were very thankful for a good employer in-charge of this Mexican Mission trip. Most if not all of the important data was obtained from the Internet. The computer is a great source of data and it is there for the convenience of everyone to use.
Contact was made in Mexico with a kind husband & wife house who are complicated in a Day-Care facility, but they need funding and hands-on help. As a house we responded. The whole trip with schedules, hotels and entertainment was all pre-booked via the Internet. How convenient is this tool. If a business or an convention is not found on the computer today, it will not survive. Every item was in place and the day has arrived, we did not know what to expect as this was our first-time venture for all of us, adults and teens.
Time for a blast-off, three days drive to Mexico.
It is Saturday 4.30 am, it is time to start with devotion and prayer for a safe and thriving trip for the first leg of 10 hours. The kids were excited but soon fell asleep after the border crossing into Usa.
We passed Seattle early morning, then Oregon State. The Oregon landscape changed into huge pine forests plus sheep farming. The early morning sun reflected on the lush and green fields and spring flowering trees everywhere. The charm of creation all the time impresses me. I was one of the two mini-van drivers. The walkie-talkies in the middle of the two drivers helped tremendously to make sure we stay together and stay awake. It is an reasonable and handy tool to have. It is very recommended for touring in manifold vehicles and stay connected. The first leg of 10 hours was behind us and it was time to have Devotion to say thank you.
After a good rest in a hotel in California, we had early Devotion and took off for an additional one 10 hours for our stop-over at church' friends in Pasadena. The landscape changed from pine trees to fruit trees. Millions of fruit trees in full bloom and level lines - stunningly beautiful. American farmers think Big, they never think that there are not enough population in the world to consume all the fruit that will be harvested. Yes, it is impressive and enlightening for a small business owner like me to learn to think Big. I should comprehend the entire world is my target store via the Internet and it can be done from my office at home with Miniature capital investment. Wow! What an eye opener or me. The host house thinks the same, the world can help them.
Thinking
My small mental mind turned into big mental possibilities. I asked the question, do I actually Live, do I actually Love and do I actually Matter to anything in the world? an additional one question, will this Mission trip actually matter if it helps only one singular person to taste our Love, to bring Hope and encourage deeper Faith?
More about that later, read on.
Most of the passengers in the two vans were sleeping again. The spring air is just comfortable and the drivers are chatting over the walkie-talkies. Time for lunch, the hungry kids jump up when food is mentioned, it's a long drive. Getting back on the road means it is iPod time and maybe time to irritate one another, but we as parents must assure that we build a thriving connection among all the kids (children and their friends) before arriving in Mexico and iPod's will not do it. We rotated kids with every stop-over to get to know each other. While driving, we suggested spicy topics to discuss and get opinions without getting irritated. We guided each conference to keep it focused. It worked well and they got to know each other much great so that they could serve others with a sincere heart.
San Diego, time to cross into Mexico.
We filled up and ate in San Diego, we could see masses of small houses on a hill in a distance over the border with the biggest flag swaying in the late afternoon breeze. Our children were warned not to drink water in Mexico, to take their own toilet paper and to wash hands while retention their breath for a long time. Good guidance as we experienced while waiting for our visas at the Mexican border.
It was a shock to see the difference over the fence in the middle of the two countries. The accepted of living dropped by 80% and the need to help this nation entered our aware minds. The roads were narrower and full of potholes, road signs were barely visible, drivers are production up the rules of the road as they drive and pedestrians crossed the roads wherever they could, jumping in-between the vehicles narrowing missing the speeding cars. We are clearly in an additional one world.
Destination in Manedearo
We were welcomed by the astounding couple (Wayne & Claire Wagner) who owns and invited us to their small Day-Care Center. A couple with a big heart and does all by Faith. They saw the need a few years ago and became the humble owners of God Will supply Day-Care Center.
We followed them to their house where we will be staying for 6 days. The side road was mud and water, potholes that will rip the suspension off our heavy loaded vehicles. Just driving through the hamlet confirmed the great need for unity among us to stand strong, to have patience, stamina and to roll up our sleeves for the weighty task awaiting for our children. Our godly character will be tested to the utmost.
We met parents with three other children from Alberta who will be sharing the same house (22 population in a five-bedroom house with two bathrooms). We concentrated at the task at hand rather than the conditions colse to us. "Take a estimate to go to the washroom". The owners of the Day-Care were kind and our kids realized they will have to accept anything will be thrown at them. The long drive made them tired but they were ready for it.
To-do list
The To-do list was drawn up as well as what Not-to-do list. A shocker was that the toilet paper Cannot be flushed down, but must be rolled up and located in a box next to the pot. Ooohh! All Ipods and Cell Phones must be handed in. Ooohh! Our kids tried to come up with every inherent excuse Not to hand over their extra equipment. Long faces and broken hearts were visible. Children in North America are so connected to these personal electronic devices these days that they feel as if half of their bodies are being torn away without an Ipod or Cell Phone. The adults insisted and it was reluctantly handed over for safe keeping.
Teams were made up: a Day-Care helping team, a construction team and each had to do dishwashing at home, floor mopping and table setting with every meal. Ooohh!
The first team will start at 5:00 am, Devotion time, have breakfast and leave at 6:20 am. Ooohh!
A new time table for our kids who usually sleep till 11:00am on spring-breaks.
A astounding Scripture came to mind: We died with Christ and now we are united with the One who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.
Our kids were all groomed and aware of this Scripture (Rom 7:4-6) they were prepared to produce the harvest of good seeds.
The first day was behind us.
The first day was behind us and the kids came back with spicy reports. Some changed baby diapers (nose coverings had to be used) some spent time feeding very hungry kids, veggies was not a problem. When you hungry you will eat it.
The construction team were tired, very tired, but satisfied by pouring concrete in a church floor where the local population come to worship on wet soil due to missing windows in pouring rain. Mixing concrete is hard work, pushing a wheelbarrow full of cement was a brand new taste for them. Ipod listening is easy compared to this.
Parent's mission was spot-on
Parents asked questions to our teens. What did they learn today? The most genuine,sincere thing was how appreciative and amiable the Mexican population are and yet they have so Miniature material possessions. They mentioned how privileged we should be for what we have and yet they take it for granted in Canada.
We also asked if any of our children missed their Ipod while the day - none, no, not one. Great laughter followed. As parents, we realized that our children were studying mental, physical, financial and spiritual things. Our parent mission was for our own children to view their own lifestyle and collate it with that of a third-world country. This was very encouraging for us as parents; our traditional mission is working, we were exposing our kids to something that most children in the Western world will not learn or appreciate, never.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Concrete evidence was in the production for our kids. Our evening Mexican meal was prepared by a local hired cook. Enjoyable it was. The washrooms were shared by all. Devotion and a sound rest followed. It was time to rotate the teams for day two.
Day two back at base camp.
Report back was again, again it was very spicy to us as parents; our kids are getting trained that is not taught on school benches, serving the needy can be an eye opener and humble experience. Everlasting training that will turn their lives for the better. They were discussing and planned fund-raises by themselves to help the needy population in future. Again a chapter not learned at school. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
The biggest surprise (actually a shock for me) was to meet the man who was ankle deep in the wet concrete and was very comfortable in levelling the wet cement on the stage with every wheelbarrow that came his way. It was Pastor Isaac who invited us to worship with the local population that evening in a small room next to the church.
The Pastor could not say a word in English, yet we attended. A Mexican investigator in his church came to our rescue, the investigator was deported back from the Usa to Mexico after drug smuggling a year ago. He is a changed man now. This intrepreter was impressed with the attitude of our kids and he idea very of them. The room was packed. The closeness of the local population was heartfelt. Singing Hymns has no language barrier, music is music and worship is worship. God speaks gradually in the heart of every believer who comes to Him in humble adoration. Pastor Isaac played the guitar while his young son impressed us all on the drums.
The message that delivers Hope.
Pastor Isaac spoke about Noah while the days that were evil, but God had a plan for Noah and his family, all God wants is to trust and believe in Him and God will supply an outcome in the future. You could hear a needle drop in the packed room. The local population were inspired. Richard, the investigator had to speak fast to keep up with the enthusiastic Pastor, but we absorbed every word with deep appreciation. Many tears were wiped from our eyes. How astounding is it to worship with God's population who cannot understand a word of what we say other than to feel our appreciation and we feel theirs. Yes, an intense and uplifting experience. Pastor Isaac loves to serve in every aspect of his life. He mentioned he loves to preach all night to bring hope to people. He loves to give, yet he has Miniature or no income. It was a shock to me; I had to re-evaluate my roll in life.
Cash is not king, Serving is king, Giving is king, Sharing is king, Compassion is king, Love is king. God in His mercy gives us second chances - yes, how privileged we are. We can only humble ourselves before Him.
Exciting days followed
Our children never asked for their Ipods while these serving days, all they wanted to do is to help the needy kids. As parents, we were impressed to see this happening. The mission trip is taking shape in a astounding direction for our own kids. As parents we noticed that our children are changing internally as they go through every day in serving others.
It was time to hand out the small presents that we brought from home. We were invited by the host house to visit the local dwellings of the farm workers. The local children could not wait when they saw the boxes of presents. The local church Pastor used this opportunity to give a short message of hope even if the world colse to them looks so grim. Just believe in God regardless of circumstances colse to them. Just stay close to a loving Creator; He has made the promise that He will rescue those who believe in Him.
Lines were formed by these Miniature kids and gifts were distributed by our children, the sparkle in the eyes of the needy children was clearly a highlight for our children to experience. It is nicer to give than to receive. What a great chapter for all of us, lessons that are not taught at school. Mission concluded on all sides.
During our debriefing time with our children, we as parents were delighted to hear for the second time how they are planning a fund raising project when they get home to help here in Mexico in future. It was an encouraging sight for us to see as parents.
The hosting house said that they will use our children as a yardstick and measure time to come mission-parties that will come down to help them. Again, mission concluded and we are so grateful for this opportunity that we all learned from. A sweet sound in the ears of parents.
We became very close to the needy children in Mexico, they experienced love, affection and interaction which usually does not exist. Our teens gave all the attention and love that they could to serve the needy.
We were convinced that these needy kids will remember it for a long time to come. Yes, changing diapers, feeding the kids, cleaning toys, wiping floors, playing covering with the kids was all part of serving. Hugging and bonding also took place in the middle of the Day-Care helpers and our teens on the last day. The humble deeds were much appreciated.
The 3 day journey back to Canada.
It was time to depart and we left lovely memories behind. After visiting San Diego Zoo we headed north and stayed over in Los Angeles only to taste a 4.4 earth quake at 4.00am. It was a scary moment for all of us. We did not sleep after that and left at 6:30 am after a meaningful devotion session. Oregon sand dunes was next on our list to wind-down a thriving mission trip. What fun we had on those Sand-Dune-Vehicles, a highlight for our hardworking children.
To conclude, if you are planning a mission trip, (for adults or teens) I recommend a well planned itinerary should be worked out; there are lots of topics on the internet to make it worthwhile and production it a life changing event. We as families who participated in this event are also willing to share the detailed criteria to help anything in their plans of a mission trip that you might have idea about, but never idea it is possible.
In our opinion, it is worth every Miniature in adult and children's lives to taste what Scripture says: "It is more blessed to give than to receive". A Spiritual seed germinated in the hearts of the giver and the receiver.
I sincerely hope that this description about serving the needy on a mission trip will encourage anything to arrange a well planned mission trip. I promise it will open your eyes as it did to all of us.
A final suggestion, have clarity about the mission trip, know what you want to accomplish for you and the needy children that you are going to serve, visualize what you want, discuss and share it with inherent participants and then get excited about the fact that you will fulfill a great vision. It builds character and encourages unity which was clearly felt by those whom we served.
As parents we could travel together for two weeks, it gave us the freedom. This is due to our home-based business which is production money online from anywhere in the world.
Hope you are planning a Godly mission trip soon.
Contact the writer if you need information planning schedules. It is free for the asking.
You life will never be the same again.
Are You Sure It's Nicer to Give, Than to Receive? hunt the Internet For Teens Involvement