I just
remember- Poptun, Petén-Guatemala. It was maybe 20 years ago.
We were leading a Spiritual Retreat. Two female missionaries were in
charge of the church. For our group was weird. You know
"Two female missionaries". See most of the people that wanted to
serve the Lord in our youth group were men. We had a lot of women in our youth
group, but only a few wanted to give their lives to missions. Well, for us was intriguing.
We wanted to know, why? They were there. So, one night I just pop the question.
But honestly the answer I was expecting was not the one we received. Both of
them told us: "we are here because men did not obey the call of
the Lord to come to this place". The answer I was expecting was something
like: no-one in our church asks us out in a date, so we are single and that´s
why we came here to live in this remote place in Guatemala. No, the answer was
wrecking. And it was like Jesus was saying to me it is your fault that these
ladies are here. After that little meeting I had with them, I was in tears
praying to the Lord and telling him: "Here I am-Send me to the Nations".
A long
time pass by. That was the moment that I received the passion
and the call to the nations. But it was until this year I am starting to
fulfill it. How? Leading a short term trip to Honduras. New Generation is a
ministry that is working to reach the Great Commission. We reach, disciple and
send the Guatemalan Youth to the nations, and we do it intentionally. It takes
a lot and a long time to disciple. And it takes another big step to go or send.
But yet, we are so happy with the results. We went 6 people including myself (and 2 Americans).
And we went 6 because the other students that were in the process had some migratory
issues. I am so proud with the people that went there. Everyone went with the
right attitude. Everyone used their skills and gifts. I learn and bond with
this team more than ever. At the end I have to say that these people were not looking
for an experience. You know they were not the kind of folks that said: “Had
been there done that". NO, these people gave their lives and most of all
they follow the call of Jesus. I will not be surprise if they go and serve as a
long term missionary in another country.
So we
are not looking to have an experience. We are looking to have the following:
1. To
fulfill the Great Commission.
2. To
expose the participant to another culture.
3. To
expose the participant to have a long term call for missions
4. To
create the awareness to missions and invite the participant to start praying and
giving to a specific organization or missionary.
And
right now we are praying to see where we are going to take the next group of
Guatemalans for the next short term missions trip. Thank You Jesus because you
are allowing us to fulfill the vision you gave us as your people…
