As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead ( James 2:2).
For many years Westminster has ministered through work camps and day mission trips, but in June 2002 we undertook our first international mission trip.
In June 2002, seven Westminster folks joined thirteen Winter Park, Florida, Presbyterians (mission trip veterans) on an international mission trip to Montegalpa, Nicaragua (a drive of about one and a half hours from Managua). Some helped in an eye clinic, doing examinations and distributing refurbished donated glasses; others assisted with construction/maintenance projects at La Vita Joven (Young Life) Campground in the nearby mountains.
We now hope to have an international mission trip annually. In 2003, 2004, and 2005 Westminster sent an International Mission Team to the Dominican Republic, and in 2006 to Peru. On behalf of WPC and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), they helped with an eye clinic, providing free glasses to those who could not otherwise afford them. They were accompanied by optometrists who performed the eye evaluations and gave prescriptions. (Below are the reflections of some of the participants in the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 trips.)
FYI: The cost of the trip is essentially the cost of the plane flight and hotel plus incidentals. We have fund-raisers to help defray some of the cost. Financial help may also be available. We also usually have some cultural orientations and a little introduction to Spanish phrases to help make the experience more meaningful and useful.
Last year we made our first international mission trip to Peru, and we're going back again this year. The trip is scheduled for June 13-24, 2007. To sign up to be a team member, please send or bring to the church office a $100 deposit check (made out to Westminster with the designation line "deposit for Peru 2007 Mission Trip") and a copy of the name page of your passport, if you have one. Deposit deadline: January 8, 2007.
Because of the physical layout of the clinic, the size of the team is limited to a total of 16 persons including our 3 optometrists, dispensary coordinator, and WPC leadership. Folks who made a deposit for last year's team and didn't get to go will have priority. The cost per team member for flight and hotel will be around $1,500.
In 2006 we went to the highlands of Peru for our eyeglasses clinic: performing basic eye exams; dispensing eyeglasses, sunglasses, and cases; and making sure everything fitted right. Most importantly, we shared Christian love from Knoxville with that region of Peru. Here are the reflections of two participants in this mission trip.
An Opportunity to Show God's Love
Star-studded skies, the Southern Cross, the Milky Way, and the black outline of majestic mountains pushing up from the floor of the river valley surrounded us as we returned to our rooms for the night. It made me feel small and insignificant. But the next day, surrounded by people who have never had glasses and whose world was so limited by poor eyesight, our presence was very significant. How a life can be changed or vastly improved by one small act of kindness, such as handing out a pair of glasses, is to have the opportunity to show God's love. What an incredible experience!
The people of Peru are like us in their humanity -- they laugh, they cry, they love, they get angry -- but one thing that particularly impressed me was how extremely grateful they were. The least little thing done would elicit a wonderful smile, a hug and a heartfelt "Gracias!" Hundreds traveled for many miles to come to this clinic -- many prematurely aged by hard manual labor and poverty; others with dusty worn sandals or eyes clouded with cataracts; young children and babies wrapped in shawls. All came filled with hope and optimism.
I was reminded of the crowds that came to Jesus for healing and remembered his words: "If you do it to these the least of my brethren, you do it to me." To be a part of doing God's work in this world, to make it a better place for others, is an awesome experience.
What a privilege it was to see this part of God's creation, the fascinating history of an ancient civilization, the faces and culture of the Inca Indians, and to see love made manifest in a small clinic in a small village in the mountains of Peru. I feel truly blessed to have been able to participate with such an enthusiastic and positive group in such a worthy endeavor.
A Gratifying Experience
Normally, one doesn't think of instant gratification as necessarily a good thing. It is usually associated with consumerism and impatience. However, while participating in the Eyeglass Clinic in Coya, Peru, I experienced instant gratification at its best. After I adjusted a new pair of glasses for someone, the expression of happiness that came across their face brought me an immense sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Most of our patients had never seen an eye doctor or ever had a pair of glasses. They were very appreciative and thankful to us. Over the course of four days, we saw over 650 patients and dispensed prescription glasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses to protect their eyes from the tropical sun. The team worked very well together and the clinic in Coya is well-run. The optometrists, Amhad and Janice, were very dedicated and worked diligently with all their patients. It was a blessing for me to be part of the team.
In addition to working at the clinic, we saw some incredible scenery, ate some wonderful food, did some local shopping, and got to know others from Westminster much better. Of course, there was too little sleep, too much travel, and typical traveler issues.
I truly believe that we were doing God's will on this mission trip. I appreciate the congregation's support in this outreach ministry. I hope that many more from our church can participate in some trip in the future. The impossible question that came out of this for me is "Which place do I like the best Azua, D.R. or Coya, Peru?" Both places are spiritual in different ways. I want to go back to both.
Those of us who went on the June mission trip to the Dominican Republic are excited to share with you our stories, impressions, and insights that we gained while spending one week in Azua, which is about two hours from the capital, Santo Domingo. For the third year in a row we conducted an eye clinic, but for the first time we organized and ran this mission trip all on our own. The sixteen of us from Westminster were joined by an optometrist and an optometrist's assistant. Our host partners in the Dominican Republic were the Lions Club of Azua, who are very committed to service in their city.
We had the same "stations" as before: registration with a brief medical summary, long-distance eye acuities charts, auto-refractor readings, optometrist's prescriptions, dispensing glasses and giving out sunglasses, and finally adjusting the glasses, making sure they fit right before the patient traveled home. A total of 626 people were served in a five-day period, most with smiling faces, grateful hearts, and better vision. (We spent two days dispensing glasses in an eye clinic set up in the Lions Club pavilion in Azua. We also spent two days in Barro Arriba, a small town of subsistence farmers in the hills above Azua, where we set up our clinic in a school. The last day our clinic was in a co-op milk processing plant; there too our clientele were local farmers and their families. Throughout, teenage member of our host families provided translation and helped in other ways as well.)
|
|
|
Our theme this year was "Celebrating the One Body of Christ." We wanted to recognize the differences we all have (differences in culture, skin color, language, economics, religion, etc.) while emphasizing that we all need each other, for we are all one in God. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. We all have a different function, yet we are all necessary as part of the one body of Christ. That was certainly true for the clinic. One person had the best Spanish skills and therefore was perfect for registration. Another had that steady hand and concentration level to work the auto-refractor for hours on end. And the list goes on and on. Everyone had their own strengths which they brought to the group. Each person was indispensable. And together we worked as the Body of Christ, serving our neighbor as ourselves.
But we also found out that we had a lot to learn. We learned at a deeper level the closeness of family in the Dominican Republic, with many generations often living together. We learned that time is relative and maybe isn't as important as we Americans think after all. We experienced hospitality from gracious and generous people. We learned about group decision making as one of our four vehicles broke down on the way to the Nashville airport. We grew closer to each other, to our host families, and to the people we served.
Yes, we are all different. But we all need each other. We have much to learn from other cultures. We also have much to give. As we celebrate the one Body of Christ, may we remember to reach out to those who are different, valuing their contribution to the Body of Christ. As we work together as the church, may we also celebrate our differences as individuals in this congregation. How can we say to each other, to anyone in this world, "I have no need of you"? Yes, we are all different. Those differences become even more apparent when we travel to another country. But it also becomes even more apparent that no one is disposable. No one is worthless. No one can be discarded. We all need each other as we live out and live into our calling as the one Body of Christ.
"Go out and preach the Gospel . . . If necessary, use words." This quotation from St. Francis of Assisi was not only the theme of our International Mission Sunday but also the theme for our whole week in the Dominican Republic (June 12-19, 2004). Some of what we experienced was familiar to the three out of our group who were returning for a second year: we knew most of the host families, we knew the kind of work we were to do, we were familiar with the town of Azua. But there was a lot we were not expecting: major electricity problems we didn't have the previous year, new host families, new optometrists and clinic leader, and two new towns that we worked in. All of these factors combined for an interesting, dynamic, rewarding, and very exhausting week. Many don't realize how much work mission trips are and that toward the end of the week it can be very hard to persevere in difficult circumstances.
This year we served 770 people, people who otherwise have little resources or opportunity for eye care. I could tell from the smiles on their faces and the sparkle in their eyes, not to mention the hugs and kisses, how much this clinic was appreciated. As Christians we are encouraged, even commanded, to go out and love our neighbors as ourselves. There was a lot of love going on on this trip, within our own group, with our clients, and with our host families. We didn't need to preach, teach, or tell others who we were. At least we didn't need to do this through words. If actions speak louder than words, then we were shouting our faith to everyone we met.
Here are some reflections by members of the mission team.
Renewed Visions
What did I get out of Westminster's trip to the Dominican Republic? Four kisses by men and women over 70, two marriage proposals by men over 80, lots of hugs, hundreds of smiles, and one Dominican family who will always be in my heart. In broken and often incoherent Spanish, I feebly attempted to communicate and provide translation for our clients in the eye clinic.
 |
|
 |
I offered what I could, which honestly was not much -- maybe equivalent to the widow's mite. But God can do wonders through the smallest of gestures. Remember the mustard seed analogy?
So with few skills, little language knowledge, and good but flawed intentions, we entered into a foreign country who welcomed us with open arms and homes. They forgave our mistakes, overlooked our impatience, and made us part of their families. I was reminded once again of what is truly important in life and the sacrifice that our hosts went through to make the week possible. But even more powerful was the daily sacrifice our hosts gave to help others in their country through the Lions Club of Azua.
I was encouraged once again, not only to give of myself on such annual mission trips, but to allow God to transform my life that I might live day in and day out as sacrificially as our hosts do for those in need in my country. Mission is not just what one does one week of the year, but an intentional way of daily living with and for those who might have less. Every time I have the opportunity to participate in an international mission trip, no matter how long or short, I always come away with a fresh perspective and renewed vision of the world. These kinds of trips are truly life transforming for all who go.
Is God calling you to a trip like this in the years to come? Keep your eyes open for future international mission opportunities. With comfortable living conditions and friendships already established in the Dominican Republic, we will need at least 15 people, lots of enthusiasm, and open minds and hearts in order to make next year's trip successful. Pray about it . . . but be careful, you might just get what you pray for.
Connecting
Connecting: That's what makes these mission trips so special to me.
Staying in a home, being part of a family -- what a rare opportunity! The Dominicans all were so open, kind, gracious, and generous. I was struck by their patience. No pouting. Being able to sit and talk with so many people was one of the best things about my experience (I did some of the patient interviewing and history taking for the clinics.)
And it was a real treat to get to know the rest of our WPC team better.
I enjoyed sharing my husband's first mission trip with him. I appreciate his willingness to go simply because I wanted him to know what it was like. We now have a shared perspective otherwise unobtainable.
New Perspectives
"Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. And you cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."-- Cesar Chavez
You also cannot be blinded from what you have already seen. As I watched the young children go through our trash and drink the leftover water from our water bottles, then take the empty bottles to their one room houses that were hardly standing, I asked myself, "Why? Why do we have so much more than they do?"
The gap between our economy and theirs is huge. I may have more possessions then they do, but they too have things that I lack.
I watched neighbors and friends sitting under trees talking, young girls tending to babies, kids on their bicycles in the middle of the road, and children walking to school hand in hand. And, in the one week I spent in the Dominican Republic I noticed a society which had a strong sense of belonging and a feeling of security accompanying their interdependence.Within those seven days, I observed the exchanging of love between strangers, friends and families.An experience which has influenced my life in more ways than one.
Lasting Images
When I think about my week spent in the Dominican Republic (DR), I am reminded of the people, places, and experiences that have touched me like no other.
I could not have hoped for anything more than I received from my host family. On our way to the DR, we thought that we would be bathing in buckets and living off of the granola bars that we had brought with us, just in case. Instead, when we arrived we were immediately welcomed with open arms into a loving family who was willing to share everything they owned.
My favorite times of the week were spent with my family, whether it was my host brother Victor teaching me to dance merengue or the whole family gathered around the television watching the Miss Universe pageant. I never expected to feel so loved by people I had only just met.
The images that I saw in the DR are forever imprinted in my head. I saw unimaginable poverty--a family of six living in a house the size of a regular bathroom; children digging garbage out of trash cans that we had just filled, hoping to find some scrap of food; and people desperate for glasses, begging at our clinic every day. Along with the awful I also saw beauty in the gorgeous countryside, the sprawling mountains, and the crystal-clear waters of the beach. New sights for me included horses, goats, and chickens roaming freely about the city, roads with no traffic lights (and as far as we could see, no rules either), and trash lining every street and corner.
New experiences were ever present -- like living in a country while not understanding one word of the conversations going on all around me, giving glasses to those with so few possessions to call their own, and embracing the culture that never ceased to surround me.
I truly loved every minute of this trip and I am so glad that it will always live on in my memory.
The Week I Spent a Month in the Dominican Republic
Scenes from our trip to "the D.R." keep bobbing up in my mind as I go about my daily tasks. All of the mental images seem to have three things in common: vibrant color, Caribbean music, and chatter. That's right -- no quiet or pensive moments in the scrapbook from this trip! Nope, the daily agenda was full of life and activity.
Bright colors were everywhere, from the lush green foliage in the mountains to the azure blue of the Caribbean Sea.
There was, of course, the postcard image of the ubiquitous fruit stand loaded with mangoes, bananas, plantains, coconuts, watermelon, and some strange fruit that looks like a green cantaloupe with warts. But the most memorable image is that of the painted houses -- even the tiny one-room wood and thatch variety, which might be pink with a bright blue door and green shutters. Everywhere you looked there was color.
As for music, the Dominicans would laugh and say they turned on their car radios before they turned on the ignition. Rarely, the timing would be reversed. I recall one morning that we were bumping along in our bus (the roads are terrible) and it was quiet and somber--almost depressing. Then, the bus driver became aware of his omission, turned on the radio, and all of a sudden we were bouncing along to loud Caribbean music (which evidently can't be played on low volume). I found my mood picked up immediately--as did the chatter on the bus. It seemed as though we were forever playing in a movie with a Caribbean soundtrack that kept us uplifted and dancing.
Finally, the chatter. If our hosts are any indication, the Dominicans are friendly people who enjoy socializing. After just a few days and fiestas, we felt we had known our host families for a lifetime. Their openness and warmth left a lasting impression on all of us. People who visited the clinic had easy smiles and unfathomable patience, despite the heat, long waits, and confusion.
A remarkable place, an extraordinary people, and an unforgettable experience.
Back to Community and World Service
Updated 1/7/2007
Westminster
Home