Blog

Years ago, when MCC was supporting the Nij family in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to visit the Morning Glory Christian Academy in San Raymundo, Guatemala. While I was there, they took me to Antigua, which was once the Spanish colonial capital of Central America.  The city has beautiful cathedrals and palaces and is located between three large volcanic peaks.  

I had the added benefit of visiting around the time of Easter. During this time they have a huge celebration involving processions that move through town commemorating Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His march up Calvary, and His resurrection. Prior to each of the processions, community members decorate the streets with ornate murals made of sand, colored sawdust, grains, flowers, and leaves.

These amazing creations take hours to prepare and then the procession tramples the murals underfoot and destroy them.

One questions why they would spend so much time just to have the mural destroyed—the artists view this as a simple act of sacrifice and worship.

What simple act of sacrifice might you make on this Easter: invite a friend or family to worship; a word of encouragement; serving one in need; visit a shut in; pray for the lost; bring a heart to worship that is truly centered on our Lord?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. ~ Romans 12:1

This is our last day in Sucre. During our time here we've had the opportunity to reflect on experiences and seeing God work all week! The time spent with FH, the children and the families has truly been a blessing to each of us.

We have learned so much about others and so much about ourselves. We are blessed to come to Sucre and encourage the families and children to accept God in their lives and to learn new skills to end the cycle of poverty.

We have prayed with those who are vulnerable. We have strengthened existing relationships and developed new ones.

The FH staff has had such an important impact on the lives here and I have seen such progress from 2 years ago. FH has made a positive impact on Villa Margarita. We have been blessed to see examples of positive transformation within the community. 

To learn more about this amazing ministry and opportunities for you to be a part of it, come to MCC's Sunday service, April 9th for a mission trip wrap-up! Mission team members will talk about their experiences, show pictures of the trip and discuss how you can get involved!

Food for the Hungry works with families to leverage their assets, no matter how small, to better their lives. We saw an example of this at the home of Christian, Jennifer Ward's sponsored child.  Their home is typical for the neighborhood,  with one exception, the yard is a little larger than most.  So, an FH agronomist worked with the family to convert the space into a vegetable garden! The vegetables they grow, and sell in the market, pay the family's rent each month. This is a great example of helping without hurting; using our God given talents and assets to improve. The team worked with the family in their garden Saturday.

You never know what to expect when you get to Sucre.  It's been 24 hours of travel.  3 planes, multiple airports, too much coffee, and the anticipation of finally making it.  

There are questions on your mind every time you come here.  Will this greeting be like the last one?  Will they make you feel like you're the VIPs of the city?   Will you sponsor kid be there?  It would seem, after years of teams going, that the greetings would get stale, but they never do.  

And honestly, it's not because of the banners, cheers, and games.  

It's because there is something special about reuniting with friends.  There is something unique about seeing brothers and sisters that you've formed deep relationships even if you're only there once a year.  You see faces like Esther, Carmenita, Maria, German, and the other FH workers that you've become close to.

God made relationships to be special.  He made us to have friendships and brotherhoods, and to work together on things that are bigger than us.   What an amazing thing that He would create that kind of arrangement; that kind of mutual transformation.

Even here in Bolivia we'll be challenged to be focused on relationships this week.  To not let tasks and agendas get in the way of being with each other.  And you know what?  You'll be challenged in the same way.  

So, what are we to do?  We lay it before God, ask him to orchestrate the conversations, the time we spend, and attitude we have toward each other.  He does that in Bolivia, and he does it in New Mexico.

Thank you for your prayers for us. 

Thursday is full of home visits, food, and a talent show. 

We appreciate you all!

Why am I going on this mission trip to Bolivia? It’s just selfishness really. Oh, it doesn’t look like selfishness, in fact by all appearances it’s just the opposite. When someone finds out you’re going to Bolivia for ten days they applaud your sacrifice with a comment like, “It’s so great that you are giving back.”  The appropriate reply is always, “I actually get much more out of it than I give,” but no one thinks you mean that, it’s just the right thing to say.  The truth is, it’s the truth.

I can’t say I go to Bolivia to give anything; I go because I need to go, I have to go.  Going to Bolivia recalibrates me, like taking your car in to get the brakes adjusted and I’m in consistent need of adjustment.  Otherwise, first world problems loom so large, and God shrinks so small. 

You see, many of my heroes live there.  The Food for the Hungry team who tirelessly spend long hours, sometimes through tears, loving the most vulnerable; they are my heroes. The young people like Mayra and Juan Javier and Paola who grew up with FH and now work tirelessly themselves to lift Christ up there; they are my heroes.  Ericka and her family who show so much hospitality when we invade their home and just hang out; they are my heroes. Sabasta, who we sponsored for years and has now graduated out of the program, has a family of her own now but still calls me on WhatsAp now and again just to remind me that she’s thinking of me; she’s my hero.  She has taught me that even if you are only 15 and you love your family by simply taking care of them, it’s enough. They are true faith heroes who inspire me and recalibrate me to be on this mission with Him.   

I have to go because for 10 days I won’t have control, I won’t make decisions, I’ll submit to someone else’s agenda and I’ll see God work.

If everything goes as planned sometime around midnight on March 29 I’ll drag my bag off the carousel in Albuquerque and someone will be impressed that I sacrificed for the people in Bolivia.

Truth is, I’ll be filled up with all they gave me and God will be bigger again. 

Click here for more information about MCC's Bolivian Missions.