The preparation that we do before our trip is a vital part of our program. I really feel a call to disciple the next generation in their walk with Jesus and I love the fact that this trip creates an opportunity to spend large amounts of time together. This year we ran into difficulties each month, due to schedules and weather issues. Even this "monthly" blog suffered from the challenges of this year. But God is good! We still found ways to get together and address the most important areas of spiritual and cultural preparation. Links are provided below to the Chalmers Center excellent "Helping without Hurting in Short-term Missions" series.
January:
January:
- An Ice storm derailed our Sus Manos retreat Friday evening, but was clear enough Saturday to be able to attend the non-denominational Mission Connexion conference. Keynote and breakout sessions helped students get a bigger view of God´s mission to share the good news of Jesus with the world.
- Each student received a journal and we did a practice of the "quiet time" -- spending a few minutes reading the Bible, praying and journaling our thoughts. Then we came together to share what we had read. We encouraged students to continue the practice of quiet time each day. This will be an important part of each day in the Dominican Republic.
- Students recruited Prayer Teams that will support us through prayer during our preparation and trip.
- Helping without Hurting Unit 2: Chicago -- Students watched at home on Friday and we discussed on Sabbath.
- We added Friday evening to our planned immersion day, to make up for some of the training missed in January.
- Our focus this year is literacy development. I will be working with teachers at the campus school on building reading skills and enthusiasm. Students sorted Spanish children´s books that we will take with us. They played a couple word games that we will give to Las Palmas, so that they will be prepared to teach how to play them.
- We reviewed the texts that are foundational for Sus Manos (Romans 1:11-12, Ephesians 2:8-10, John 15:4-5), adding them to our journals.
- We watched Helping without Hurting Unit 3: They are not Helpless
- We spent all day Saturday with the Portland Spanish church. I gave a presentation in Sabbath School about ways we can get into God´s word (Listen/Read/Study/Memorize/Meditate) and gave everyone a card with a link to an online Bible app. I encouraged them to listen and to pass the link on to someone else. After a potluck with the youth group, my students went with their youth leader to visit an Adult Foster Care home. In the afternoon, we collaborated with the church for their "Sociedad de Jóvenes" (youth-led meeting). Devante, Caleb, Noemí, Amanda and Ana led the singing, everyone participated in short Bible dramas, and I shared a lesson about the impact of multiplying disciples. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the church.
- The weather threw a monkey wrench into our plans, again! We had over a foot and a half of snow on Dixie Mountain and were not sure we would make it to PAA for our last Sus manos meeting. Fortunately, Pastor Fernando and his wife recently joined our team and the show began without us. Mike, Ana and I arrived just in time for her presentation and for my talk about culture.
- Helping without Hurting Unit 4: The Kingdom is Upside Down
- Student presentations about the Dominican Republic
- What is culture? We looked at the "cultural onion" and talked about how the things we see on the outside (environment, behavior) may not tell us what is deeper (values, beliefs, world view). We want to be sure that our own spirituality is rooted in a world view that recognizes God as our Creator and Savior, and not just outward conformity to our Christian cultural expectations.