MISSION DAY 2020

You might recall from reading some of my thoughts, if you have through the years,  that I am happiest when I am serving or helping others; sharing Christ with others through serving.   It seems to be one example that Jesus, while on this earth, taught us to do, right?   Helping others makes me think about others rather than focusing on me; putting others first.

 

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  –Mark 10:45  (NIV)

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”  –Matthew 25:40  (NLT)

 

I recently returned from my second time on a K-Love Christian Music Cruise to the Caribbean.  The two highlights of the cruise for me are having concerts each night followed by photo sessions with the artists, and being able to serve on a day Mission trip at a particular island.

 

           

Matthew West                                                Danny Gokey

 

                

Ryan Stevenson                                          Brandon Heath

 

This year it was a humbling, joyful, special experience to be able to serve about 70 children in Cozumel, Mexico!

 

The setting for this particular event was at Casa de la Creatividad, which is a Creative art drop in place that a couple, Anita and David, started back in 2017.

 

 

 

They used to assist at an orphanage way across town from their current location but as they biked back and forth day after day, they saw all these children in the neighborhood and felt they needed something in their lives. The orphanage they were serving at seemed to be doing well with many children being sponsored through the USA.

Anita and David felt the calling to assist the kids in the neighborhood as often they were even in need of basic resources such as shoes.  They wanted to provide somewhere “safe” where the children could go and try to express themselves through art. Why not take the things they were doing at the orphanage out into the neighborhood?

 

Anita & David (in black shirt)

 

 

Teaching responsibility,  expressing themselves through different art medias, learning about routines, and learning life lessons that hopefully spill over into all parts of their lives became the goal of Casa de la Creatividad.

 

 

 

Our Mission trip was to help at a “block party” that Casa de la Creatividad was going to be hosting.  There were different art stations set up such as decorating little tote bags, making and playing with slime, decorating shoes the children would be receiving, thanks to a My360project program, and washing the children’s feet before fitting their new shoes on their feet.  Before they left there was also a meal and drink provided for them.

 

       

 

 

Never hearing about the My360project before, it was enlightening and encouraging to learn about the project whose mission is two-fold.  One is to change and save the lives of people around the world by providing shoes for those in need and second is to disrupt the cycle of poverty by providing employment for the unemployed due to lack of education or opportunities.

Each shoe is handmade. Artisans, from the My360project, train people from the local communities where the shoes will be distributed, to make the shoes, making them employable and able to earn money.  They will be going to Uganda and are working on Iran.

 

       

 

 

One of my favorite parts about Holy or Maundy Thursday has always been the foot washing.  Any chance I get to have my feet washed at a service has been very special to me.  Envisioning Jesus doing that to me is a blessed encounter.  With that in mind, I was excited to be able to hopefully actually wash the children’s feet; a sacred event for me.

 

Before I went, I was rereading Jesus’ washing of His disciples feet from John 13:1-20.  Afterwards, I thought how perfect that we were able to not only wash the feet of the children but also serve them food and drink,  as Jesus had shared a meal with His disciples and then washed their feet.

 

 

I was honored to start with the foot-washing station on this day.  The children only spoke Spanish and I was pretty happy that I took Spanish in high school and actually still remember how to ask their name and ask how old they were.  We were also provided a “cheat sheet” with a few phrases on it like “Can I wash your feet?” and “Jesus loves you.”  It was difficult to always hear and understand the children especially since they have unique names compared to our American names in some instances.  It also didn’t help that suddenly my cheat sheet disappeared as I believe the wind blew it away!

 

 

 

We had chairs for both us and the children but I noticed one gentleman who had the first child to wash his feet, decided to just sit on the ground instead.  I thought that seemed more like something Jesus did so I decided to do that as well; it seemed more like taking the role of a true servant.

 

We were provided wipes to wash the feet rather than basins of water.  One side of the wipe for one foot then the other side for the other foot.  It was an honor to do this for the children especially with thinking of how Jesus did this exact thing for His disciples AND considering that Jesus said “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”  Yes, I was taking that literally…and figuratively.

 

       

      

 

 

I was wondering if my emotions, aka tears, would show through during the foot washing but that did not happen. I think that was due to most of the children all being so happy, smiley and festive, except this little guy was more serious.

 

         

 

 

When the children were done with the different stations, we served them food and drink.  I hopped in to help serve the drinks with another gentleman as I like to be busy.

As the children came up for their food, I couldn’t help but see the face of Jesus in each one of them.  They all had such bright, beautiful smiles!

 

               

 

 

In reflecting back on John’s gospel of Jesus washing His Disciples’ feet while writing these thoughts, it occurred to me that Jesus’ foot washing showed four aspects of Jesus’ character that I hope and pray those children in Cozumel caught a glimpse of in our time with them:

 

**Jesus’ great love– “…Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love.”  –John 13:1

**Jesus’ humility–performing a selfless service that was usually done by a servant.  Jesus gave us an example of how we need to be humble servants of Him.  By dying on the cross, Jesus shared with us the ultimate meaning of servant and humility!

**Jesus’ forgiveness–that Jesus shared through this interaction.  Jesus knew Judas would be betraying Him shortly, yet He even washed his feet!

**Jesus providing a spiritual cleansing–Jesus’ interaction with Simon Peter that night showed how Simon needed not just his feet washed but he needed a spiritual cleansing as well.

 

 

Though it was harder to communicate with words I pray our actions, our love in action as a friend commented on a photo, spoke volumes to them.  I debated about kissing their feet but thought that would have seemed a little strange; but I do wish I had been better able to communicate via words that “Jesus loves you and so do I.”

 

As if all those blessings weren’t enough, the highlight for me came at the end when all of a sudden this one particular girl came right up to me, giving me the biggest hug and smile! It was a girl whose feet I did not even wash though I had wanted to; she was next to me.

 

It was priceless and she stole a piece of my heart through that simple act; no words necessary! 

What a meaningful gift of love she shared that blessed my heart and soul!

 

God moment seeing this sign while penning these thoughts.  🙂

 

What a perfect ending to a day of serving sharing Christ with these children in Cozumel.

 

The whole gang

 

When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.”  –Matthew 25:35-36  (CEV)

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.  –Romans 12:13  (NLT)

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.  –Hebrews 13:2  (NIV)

 

In case you wanted to read my thoughts on my Day Mission trip from last year, here is the link.

***Many thanks to all the prayer warriors that have been praying for Ken’s appt this week!  Update from his wife:  “Total praise report!  The Dr took 2 hrs but got that plugged area open!  It already had 2 stents so no new stents..no open heart or pacemaker needed!”  Amazingly, they even sent him home that night! Thank you all for the prayers!