By Kathy Luce
It is a wonderful blessing to have been called by God to serve His people in another culture who speak another language - both in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Chennai, India, this past year. I consider it a great honor and privilege to assist others in Jesus' name by providing basic medical care and physical therapy services in countries where health care is difficult to access.
In Oaxaca, it was especially exciting to be able to converse with the Mexican pastors and their wives, getting to know them on a personal level. Even with my limited Spanish, I was privileged to hear many stories. One story was told by two Zapotec ladies of how the gringa missionary came to live among them to learn their language. She told them about God and translated the New Testament into their language. They were so proud of their Bible that they brought one to show me the next day. They said one missionary lady died in the U.S. but was buried in Oaxaca at her request. Another missionary lady who had come later still speaks to them in their own language via telephone. This helped me to appreciate the power of God's word (both oral and written) when available to people in their own language as well as to realize that I should appreciate God's word more in my own personal Christian walk.
Another story involves a pastor who gave up a more lucrative ministry in Mexico City when God called him to be a village pastor in the Huatulco area. He has gone into several villages where there were no Christians and planted churches. In order to survive financially he works in a restaurant; this sacrifice has impacted his wife and family. It is my prayer that he will be able to raise enough support to quit the restaurant job and that his next church plant, in a village that we visited briefly, will be successful in bringing more people to the Lord.
On a short-term mission trip, I believe the blessings received are often greater than the blessings given. On this trip I was greatly blessed by the development of relationships with the other team members from southern CA and the pastors and their families from Mexico. We saw several people whose lives were touched indirectly by our ministry accept the Lord. In addition, I had an awesome spiritual experience when, on our last ministry day, our American team was prayed for by 1200 Mexican nationals who prayed out loud at the same time. I hope heaven is a little bit like this!
I would urge you to support missions in any way you are able, either by sending or by going. The blessings of being part of God's work around the world are of eternal consequence. You may see people in heaven who would not have been there if you hadn't been obedient to God's will for you in missions.
By Dan Lyle
I have had a desire to go on a missionary trip to Mexico for awhile now. Rick Craig had asked me last year, but it did not materialize at the time. I had no idea what to expect on this trip to Oaxaca. I asked Ray Dodson what to expect, and he told me that I would have to "wait and see" what the Lord would do. Well, I did not have to wait long. Before we left, I totally surrendered to the Lord any preconceived ideas. All I knew was that I was supposed to go.
When we reached LAX and met the Southern California Group, they immediately "took us within their wings." I immediately felt close and connected to this group of people. And, of course, through the week the bonds beca
We touched so many lives at the Leadership Conference in Oaxaca by a simple caress or embrace, a kiss or smile, a prayer or healing touch. By experiencing and witnessing—in them and through us—their transformation from fear and desperation to hope, joy, even glee will remain with us throughout our lifetimes.
If you really want to experience what heaven must feel like, you must go on a mission trip. You feel closest to God there! So why would you ever want to be anywhere else?
For me there were two levels of action - going and being of service, being available and open to what the Lord wanted me to do. And the other level was what the Lord was doing in me and my heart on a spiritual level. Throughout the week God did an emotional healing and spiritual renewal in my life. He totally filled the voids in my heart with His love and comfort. He did this through prayer, music and worship time, His Word and reaching out to others. God brought us Brother Roberto from Puerto Vallarta who ministered to us (and my heart) through music worship, prayer, friendship and sensitivity to the Lord. I am grateful to the Lord for this relationship.
God also reminded me of a dream that I had several years ago that at the time did not make any sense. Well, that dream was a vision of this trip. It took place in Huatulco on the corner of the downtown plaza area on a specific corner where Luis and Roberto prayed with the shop owner of that corner to accept Christ into his heart. There are other "God stories" from this trip that happened all week long. The relationships formed on this journey are very special ones that cannot be described unless you experience them on a mission trip.
I don't know what God has planned but I do know that I want to return next November and maybe even in the spring also. I know that God has given me a keener focus on Him and more desire to know Him and His Word. I encourage anyone who wants to get stretched and totally blessed to step out into the mission field.
By Claudia and Rob Hampton
“To those who have been given much, much is required.” And how generously He provides.
It was time to take our gifts on the road. Thanks to FCC Missions, Rob and I had the privilege to go to La Ventosa in the southwest corner of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. What a way to bring our busy, frenetic lives back to center.
With Rob as our leader and organizer extraordinaire, Dan Lyle, Rob and I set up shop in the perfect room with our antique dental chair which was garnished with beaucoup duck tape. Running water and electricity was, indeed, a perk! OK, I squirted some faces and almost choked a few with the vacuum ( a virgin dental assistant on the loose…), but what a joy to hold their frightened hands and watch with loving respect, my husband, Rob, working tirelessly to make some lives better. Their beautiful faces are indelibly marked on our minds forever. The teeth we are trying to forget!!! Dental hygiene has not yet been introduced in many locales.
Roberto Chavez from Puerto Vallerto, our angelic interpreter, shared the magic of our dental office and touched the hearts of all he came near with laughter and love.
Rob and I were so moved at God’s continued genius. He planted a seed in David Day, Rick and Susie Craig’s dear, dear friend from Los Angeles, which then began its germination process. We were the honored recipients of the beauty of the culminated mission. For those of us foodies, therein in lies sustenance at its freshest – from daily butchering from the adjacent pasture to a kitchen full of loving Oaxacan hands busy multiplying the fish and bread to feed the multitudes -- just another of God’s handiwork. There was always enough for everyone to enjoy and be satiated.
Laughter, cheers, praise, prayer, hearts full of love for our Master. It was tangible. We give thanks for the opportunity to give back. We will never be the same. Our love to the members of the entire team. Each was hand-picked for the assignment to give and receive love. Thank you, FCC.
By Kris Dodson
I have been so privileged to be introduced to more parts of Christ’s body this year: African, Indian, and Mexican parts! I have been impressed, even envious, of their expressions of worship and the power of God working through them.
During this trip to Oaxaca, God challenged me to value my uniqueness and differences, as well as others’ uniqueness and differences, and yet to also not be satisfied with unfulfilled potential to worship Him. Let me give you an example: While in Oaxaca I heard and saw different worship acts. I heard a testimony of God speaking to a teacher through a dream. I heard hundreds of believers praying simultaneously. A woman submitted to the Holy Spirit and literally fell limp into my arms. A brother relayed scriptures at breakfast to a few of our team members that God had given him during a sleepless night. All these things are examples of God equipping His people differently to worship Him. I value and appreciate these expressions from Christ’s body and I value how God has equipped me to worship as well. But I am not satisfied with staying where I am.
I have witnessed on this trip, as well as at home in Napa, that other parts of the body are experiencing deeper things with God than I am. But God is producing and growing greater worshippers - and I am one of them along with the parts of the body all over the world!
So dear FCC of Napa, God showed me in Oaxaca that He is purposing for the whole world, every culture, to revere and love Him. What a privilege it was to be part of that reverence in another spot on the globe with another part of Christ’s body!
P.S. Leaving home and participating in service on a short-term missions trip seems to accelerate spiritual growth and an awareness of God’s purposes for you personally and globally - I hope you say “YES” to God when He invites you to go! You will not regret it!
By Valarie Brown Coon
How Did Oaxaca Change Me?
This mission trip didn't so much change me as it reconfirmed to me that God gave me a heart to serve others.
There are no other times in my life that I enjoy more than serving God's children and his kingdom. Whether we speak their language or not, his children recognize the hand of God when it is given freely, with love and grace by another brother or sister in Christ. |
