This blog will be on hiatus until the next mission trip, whenever that may be.
In the meantime, here is Megan's wrap up post on her blog.
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Sunday, July 16, 2017
We are home!
We are home and are so thankful for all that God did in us and through us during our amazing mission trip! Due to internet issues and limited time (and the need for sleep), we were not able to keep all of you nearly as updated as we would have liked. Sickness hit all 3 of us toward the end of the trip, making the trip home a challenge for Megan and me. It has taken me several days to recover enough to write this post.
Wow! Where do I start? Three of our six ministry days were each spent in a different community in Lima. It was eye-opening for us to see the living conditions in these poor areas. In the mornings of these days, we played with the children, painted faces, invited people to the drama performance, and helped with laundry (one of the days - done by hand in a tub). Some members of our team washed children’s hair. I helped brush one girl’s hair after she had had it washed…yes, I saw lice nits. (I was told that we do not do anything about the lice because the kids will just get it again.) After eating lunch on the bus (peanut butter and jelly, Nutella, honey, or marshmallow fluff sandwiches), the cast put on their costumes and makeup. We attracted people from the community by playing music and dancing. Children and adults gathered around the cement soccer field or the designated dirt area to watch the 22-minute drama, which presented an allegory of the Gospel message. After the drama, with the help of a translator, someone from our team explained the drama and someone else shared a short testimony. Before we left, we talked and prayed with the people in small groups with translators. It was amazing to pray with people about needs in their lives and to pray with them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. For those who did not have a church, we wrote down their contact information so that a local church could follow-up with each person.
One of the other ministry days was a Saturday, and we presented the drama in some public areas where people were gathered for recreation. First, we did it in a park. The other two performances were done in two different amphitheaters. Another day, we presented the drama at 3 different schools. The children were so excited that we were there and enjoyed interacting with us after the drama. Our last ministry day, we presented the drama at a market, complete with hanging chickens and other meat, and another park. During our 9 days in Peru, our team presented the drama 11 times. Each time, lives were impacted for the Lord.
After ministry each afternoon, our team (Team 1) returned to our hotel where we joined the other 2 teams for dinner and FUAGNEM (Fired-Up And Going Nuts Every Minute), which was a time of worship and Biblical teaching. God did amazing work in all of our hearts during these evening events.
During the trip, we were encouraged to prepare our testimonies and were given opportunities to share them with others. This process helped to increase my confidence to share my faith with others. I loved how we were each given opportunities and nudges to do things that were out of our comfort zones. When we stepped out in faith, God helped us.
One highlight of the trip was meeting the amazing people on our team and some who were on other teams. Megan, Savannah, and I greatly enjoyed making many new friends. We miss them a lot!
Next year, Big World Ventures is going to Guatemala, and we would love to go. (Many people participate in these trips year after year.) We are praying about God’s plan for us. If any of you feel called to do a mission trip next summer, we would highly recommend this trip for all ages. One woman on our trip is in her 60s and pulled around her oxygen with her everywhere that we went. You would not believe the health problems that she has, but she does not let anything stop her, and God used her in mighty ways to impact many lives. Please let us know if you are interested.
Thank you so much to all of you who supported us in prayer and financially to make this trip possible. We are very grateful! It truly was a life-changing experience!
-Mindy
Wow! Where do I start? Three of our six ministry days were each spent in a different community in Lima. It was eye-opening for us to see the living conditions in these poor areas. In the mornings of these days, we played with the children, painted faces, invited people to the drama performance, and helped with laundry (one of the days - done by hand in a tub). Some members of our team washed children’s hair. I helped brush one girl’s hair after she had had it washed…yes, I saw lice nits. (I was told that we do not do anything about the lice because the kids will just get it again.) After eating lunch on the bus (peanut butter and jelly, Nutella, honey, or marshmallow fluff sandwiches), the cast put on their costumes and makeup. We attracted people from the community by playing music and dancing. Children and adults gathered around the cement soccer field or the designated dirt area to watch the 22-minute drama, which presented an allegory of the Gospel message. After the drama, with the help of a translator, someone from our team explained the drama and someone else shared a short testimony. Before we left, we talked and prayed with the people in small groups with translators. It was amazing to pray with people about needs in their lives and to pray with them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. For those who did not have a church, we wrote down their contact information so that a local church could follow-up with each person.
One of the other ministry days was a Saturday, and we presented the drama in some public areas where people were gathered for recreation. First, we did it in a park. The other two performances were done in two different amphitheaters. Another day, we presented the drama at 3 different schools. The children were so excited that we were there and enjoyed interacting with us after the drama. Our last ministry day, we presented the drama at a market, complete with hanging chickens and other meat, and another park. During our 9 days in Peru, our team presented the drama 11 times. Each time, lives were impacted for the Lord.
After ministry each afternoon, our team (Team 1) returned to our hotel where we joined the other 2 teams for dinner and FUAGNEM (Fired-Up And Going Nuts Every Minute), which was a time of worship and Biblical teaching. God did amazing work in all of our hearts during these evening events.
During the trip, we were encouraged to prepare our testimonies and were given opportunities to share them with others. This process helped to increase my confidence to share my faith with others. I loved how we were each given opportunities and nudges to do things that were out of our comfort zones. When we stepped out in faith, God helped us.
One highlight of the trip was meeting the amazing people on our team and some who were on other teams. Megan, Savannah, and I greatly enjoyed making many new friends. We miss them a lot!
Next year, Big World Ventures is going to Guatemala, and we would love to go. (Many people participate in these trips year after year.) We are praying about God’s plan for us. If any of you feel called to do a mission trip next summer, we would highly recommend this trip for all ages. One woman on our trip is in her 60s and pulled around her oxygen with her everywhere that we went. You would not believe the health problems that she has, but she does not let anything stop her, and God used her in mighty ways to impact many lives. Please let us know if you are interested.
Thank you so much to all of you who supported us in prayer and financially to make this trip possible. We are very grateful! It truly was a life-changing experience!
-Mindy
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Things You Might Not Know About Lima, Peru
1. The traffic is insane. Picture a very large city with a ton of traffic. Now picture that same city where the traffic laws don't have to be followed. Car horns = hi, I'm here; big car/bus = I'm first
(This is an intersection.)
2. You can tell kids in public school about Christ. Wouldn't that be nice to adopt in America?
3. You can't flush toilet paper. There's a little trash can to the side of every toilet to put used toilet paper in. Isn't that gross?
4. There are pickpockets everywhere. When in very crowded areas, you have to wear backpacks in your front.
5. The people are super nice and open to the Gospel.
6. The roads are SUPER bumpy.
7. The soccer fields are usually concrete.
8. They think Americans are the coolest (mostly the kids). Especially people with light hair and/or light eyes.
-Megan
Monday, July 3, 2017
Greetings from Lima, Peru!
Greetings from Peru!
I am so sorry that we have not posted anything since we arrived in Peru. We have been very busy, and the Internet service is not the best. We are having an amazing time! I am going to post a few pictures, if possible. We will write more details as soon as we are able.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Look Out Peru...we are on fire for God and coming your way
I'm exhausted. My legs are sore, my eyes stay open from sheer need to remain awake, and I hear video-game style music playing over and over in my head. Today was a very long day...and it's not over yet. This morning, we had to eat breakfast at 7, meet with our team (GO TEAM 1!) at 8, and be ready for drama practice at 9. Since then, I've had two 20 minute breaks and an hour lunch break. But I'm not complaining because I'm having so much fun! I've met so many amazing new people who are on fire for the Lord! (Our team is so lively and amazing!)
Today, the funniest thing happened. Okay, so to start this story, picture a big room. Now picture it cut in thirds. Each third is marked off as a "stage" for each of the three teams. Each team practices the drama at the same time on their different "stages" (actually large rectangles marked off with tape). As an exercise, the director had us perform the drama talking "in character". Normally, the drama has no dialogue. Since our team is so talkative, lively, and outright funny, it quickly turned into a screaming match. Characters would scream out something funny that had to do with what was happening. It was absolutely hysterical and everyone was laughing.
I've learned so much more about God in the last couple of days. I learned that I need to be closer to Him (don't we all, though?). I've ever really been close to him because I just...didn't know how, I guess. But now I'm really working at it. I met this amazing girl named Laurel. She is such an amazing role model. I talked to her for a while a few days ago and I realized that I want a relationship with God as strong as she does. Already, this trip has changed my life.
I have to be honest, before now I was terrified to go to Peru. I love traveling, but there was so much to worry about. What about _____? What about __________? What about _________________? I let my anxiety get the better of me. God has completely turned around my attitude and given me a peace about it. Whatever happens is in His hands.
The 2017 Never the Same Missions group is going to do amazing things in the next couple of weeks, guys. Seriously. Look out Peru...because we are on fire for God and coming your way.
-Megan
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Training + Drama Practice
I am writing this post as I sit and watch drama practice. It has been a busy few days. Saturday and Sunday involved leader training for me and mostly free time for Megan and Savannah. Leader training included spiritually challenging talks, practical guidelines for interacting with students and keeping them safe, clarification of responsibilities, and a balloon art workshop. The girls enjoyed playing games and getting to know other team members while I was in meetings. On Sunday afternoon, we had some free time to take a trolley to the beach.
Yesterday, our day was spent welcoming students as they arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. We enjoyed having some time to get to know the wonderful people who are on this trip with us. Last night, the mission trip officially began with our first FUAGNEM, our nightly worship and teaching time. The acronym stands for "Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute". The music and message by Susie Shellenberger were very impactful. After some time with our team (one of three ministry teams), auditions were held for the drama. (Yes, it was quite a late night.) Before we were sent to bed, the parts were announced. Megan will be playing the part of a baseball player, believe it or not; and Savannah will be playing a mime. After "tucking in" a few girls on our team, I joined Megan and Savannah in our room, where we all went right to sleep.
Today, Megan and Savannah have been working with the rest of the cast to learn the drama, called "Spellbound". It has been a lot of work and a lot of fun. I have been watching most of this process, and it has been incredible to see how quickly it is coming together.
Yesterday, our day was spent welcoming students as they arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. We enjoyed having some time to get to know the wonderful people who are on this trip with us. Last night, the mission trip officially began with our first FUAGNEM, our nightly worship and teaching time. The acronym stands for "Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute". The music and message by Susie Shellenberger were very impactful. After some time with our team (one of three ministry teams), auditions were held for the drama. (Yes, it was quite a late night.) Before we were sent to bed, the parts were announced. Megan will be playing the part of a baseball player, believe it or not; and Savannah will be playing a mime. After "tucking in" a few girls on our team, I joined Megan and Savannah in our room, where we all went right to sleep.
Today, Megan and Savannah have been working with the rest of the cast to learn the drama, called "Spellbound". It has been a lot of work and a lot of fun. I have been watching most of this process, and it has been incredible to see how quickly it is coming together.
Before closing, I want to say that this trip is one of the most positive experiences that I have been involved in...for students and adults alike. So far, everything about it has been amazing...And we have not even left the U.S yet. I am so excited to see what God will do in us and through us in the next 12 days! We are very thankful to be here!
-Mindy
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