Monday, March 21, 2011

Casey & Dr. Meg's post

Sixteen servants on a mission trip.

Sixteen individuals given an opportunity to serve God in a tiny country across the sea.

Sixteen servants learning lessons about servanthood from the children of Belize.

As one student wrote: ...one thought has been at the forefront of my mind during this trip - the power of putting someone else before yourself. As Christians, we are continuously taught the importance of service. This trip has opened my eyes to the fact that when you put others before yourself, you are giving of yourself. This is how Jesus lived, and how we are called to live. The children at St Mary's and St Luke's exhibited this true love.


Snapshots that will forever remain in our hearts:

A child's words when first seeing the newly created resource center at St Mary's Primary school. The room now had a cozy reading nook, a dress-up center, a variety of school-home packs, and shelves stocked with resources and supplies. We had painted the walls of the room a sky blue and sponged white, fluffy clouds on them. The little girl peered into the room and whispered, "It looks like heaven."

Children snuggled onto laps and nestled into comforting arms as T.J. read aloud. For perhaps the first time in their lives, these children felt the power of completely loosing themselves in a story. As more and more children gathered in the tiny library, we took them in our arms and sat listening to the words from Beauty and the Beast.

Cory reached for the ceiling as he tried to paint the moon and the stars in the new resource room at St Mary's. The ceiling fan intervened, neccesitating a trip to the hospital for stitches. Holding his bloody hand in the emergency room, while the rest of the team prayed.

Helping each other complete the painting of a mural for the school in a driving rain. Some painting, others shielding the painters from the rain, we shared the work, shared the ponchos, and shared the laughter as everyone got soaked.

Stopping the van on the wet, muddy road out to St Luke's to get out and walk the final way to the school. Sunset, the sky tinged with pink after a rainy day. As we passed by the houses, small shacks with no water, no electricity, the children saw us and came running to greet us. They remembered. They put their little arms around us and did not let go. Once again, reminding us of the power of coming back, of simply coming back to love them.

Kneeling on the cement floor of the classroom with the shoes we had brought for the children. We cradled those little feet, gently cleaning them before putting on new socks and shoes that fit. The pure joy on the children's faces as they looked first down at their feet and then up to give thanks to God.

A warped basketball rim with a new net tacked onto a crooked tree out in the field. It was late afternoon and several of the students played basketball with the older boys at St Luke's. The ground was uneven, there really wasn't a court, but they played passionately as if it were the NBA finals. Teammates now, friends from different countries.

Leaving Lemonal, with the children running as fast as they could to keep up with our van, not wanting to let us go. We couldn't break eye contact with them; they were not crying, just holding us with their eyes. We drove slowly, not wanting to leave them, but knowing we must. The children just kept running on that sandy road for as long as they could. Next time, we'll run to them.


Sixteen servants on a mission trip.

Sixteen servants, one God.

We pray that we served as you wanted us to, Father.

We pray, as another student wrote, that our hearts were broken for what breaks yours, Father.

We pray that we never forget.