Sunshine! By Tara Baer
The thing I enjoyed most about the whole trip was the SUNSHINE! The forecast had foretold rain and clouds the whole week but we didn’t see a cloud the entire time. I can’t help but think God changed the forecast for us!
Photo by Connie Rock
We hiked up an active volcano, took a boat ride across a lake, and went shopping, and lived missionally. We walked everywhere that we went which gave us opportunity to meet the people on the streets.
Photo of Tara :: By Connie Rock
Photo By Connie Rock
One thing we did was go out and pray for some of the poorest members on a church which was located beside a dump. When we got to one particular home (it was a cement structure for the bedrooms, a lean-to for the kitchen, and a sink without a drain) we found a woman with three small children. When we explained why we had come, she started to sob. She said that that morning she had told God that she was giving up on Him because she felt that He didn’t love her. We prayed for her and spoke words of hope over her and gave her some groceries.This incident reminded me again that God put us on earth to bring hope, life, and love into places of darkness and despair.
Photo by Connie Rock
I really enjoyed my team. I felt like they looked out for me and cared about me. Several of them took time out to listen to me talk about some of the issues I am working through and pray with me. And this happened for more than one person at some point on the trip. I also was impressed by how everyone was responsible and took the initiative to step out of their personal comfort zone and pray for perfect strangers, or take out the trash, or suck it up when they were bugged by a team member.
I’m not sure how to put into words what all I got out of this trip because although I know I learned a lot of amazing things, I am still processing it all. I know I learned a bit about vulnerability, how to be bold when you are freaking out inside, and how to be okay with making mistakes and doing something when you know it won’t turn out perfectly. Beyond that I am unsure how to put it into words.
I am so glad I chose to go on this trip. It was a lot of fun, I made new friends, I got to experience a new culture, and I got an abundance of much needed time in the sun. I am so grateful that God provided the opportunity! ~ Tara
