Once again, we returned to the same location as the previous year, and this would be our 3rd mission trip as a family. As there was overwhelming response, two teams were set up, the one with children went to the capital, while the other team with single ladies went to the other city. It was interesting how God brought the team members together. Of the 3 families, every one has at least a wife or husband or both involved in church children ministry at some point in time. We were not totally foreign to each other which helped in team building and unity. And surprisingly, the ages of the children were close, so the kids gelled together nicely.
Although it was our second time to the city, there were quite a few things that were different, or had changed over the course of one year. Road traffic was the same, dusty and busy with many cars and slow moving from one place to the other due to the jam. There were new additions to the English centre as well as the M team, which is good news. The kindergartens and churches have seemingly grown larger too.
On our first day out, we experienced what the locals termed as unusual in the month of dec - heavy downpour! We were caught by surprise. We were going to one of the M house for dinner from the English centre. We could not get a cab for a long time, and finally decided to take a public bus. It was our first time. We were glad that the others simply followed without any grievances, though most of us were drenched through. Even the kids kept quiet and some were actually excited about taking a public bus. It seemed that after that adventurous experience, we appreciated the rest of the trip all the more.
We met new M families and reunited with familiar ones. We were deeply moved by their life stories of how they overcomed challenges with the help of our God who worked out miracles in their lives. They were living testimonies of God's faithfulness and goodness, who never fails or leaves them and who always intervenes at the right moment. Some of their stories made me have goose bumps, knowing how you can have such close encounters with God. A God who does not constraint us with rigid religion, but one who embraces us in a loving relationship.
In the middle of the trip, some of us had stomach upset. Our boy said it was the worst night of his life when he had to make toilet runs 4X through the night. It was a rather crippling time as we were afraid he could get worst or if the medicine would not work. Thank God he was well after one charcoal pill dosage and sprung back to health by lunch time. Some of us had prolonged stomach discomfort with mild upset but continued the rest of the trip with little hassle. The thing I often fear most during holidays and especially in a mission trip is ill health. You really do feel helpless and worry about the 'what ifs'. I guess that is the time to pray and trust God to work his wonders and a test of faith.
At the kindergartens, we presented the 'prodigal son' skit. During the pre trip practices, everyone was slightly apprehensive if our actors could bring out the act, but with more encouragement within the team, the actors grew into their roles and did pretty well. Thanks to our local translator who did a wonderful job telling the story in their language. Our 3 girls also put up a dance "We are the reasons' at the church and youth service. Practising with them brought back fond memories of my days in my 20s when I did it with my team members in another country.
Besides the teaching and school involvement, we did community work! We helped to paint the walls that guards a building which would be the training centre for local pastors. The men worked really hard, some had not even painted their own houses, like me. We learnt to use the paint brushes and rollers, scrapped the walls down to smooth the uneven surfaces and plastering the walls. It was a sweaty and back breaking two afternoons we spent. But through it, we had sweet moments when we looked out and cared for one another, some bringing drinks around, some fanning the hotter ones, and others feeding snacks. There were always opportunities to serve one another in the family of God.
We are thankful for the opportunity to serve God in this way- of LC leading a mission trip for the first time, of many of the trippers who were there for their first time, of the food, culture and people we met and shared lives with. We hope to return to see even more growth and expansion of God's kingdom in the golden land.