The question often arises: Is it worth all of the money and effort of a volunteer team to go and work in another part of the world, or would it be better just to send money? Yes, it is worth all the effort, time, and even money because physical presence shows just how important the people are to those who have sacrificed so much to come. It shows the people that they are important to God and thus they will be more open to hearing His message because of these volunteers.
One such team was a group of 5 MKs (missionary kids: Alicia, Stephanie, Michelle, Ashley and Emily) and 7 missionaries (Annette, Mike, Mary Beth, Holly and Sue, and Eduardo and Raquel). They came from Temuco and Talca and arrived late Friday evening, July 4 to spend some of their winter vacation sharing in the Patagonia. Six of the team lodged elsewhere and six remained with Jackie. It was certainly close communion but only Michelle consistently had a cold shower. Praise the Lord for the mission house and it capabilities to house a group of people without too much difficulty. The team would travel around Punta Arenas as well as to a few population centers away from the world’s most southern city.
On Sunday the team began their work at the Playa Norte Baptist Church. It was a good start to the week’s work. The team shared the story of the Good Samaritan as a modern story of a lost tourist as well as sharing Gospel songs and skits. There was always an invitation to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. That evening there had been a confusion of plans and the team had no place to go. Back at the Bible institute the team received an invitation to go and share at the First Christian Missionary Alliance Church. It was a good opportunity to realize that not just Baptists are preaching Jesus, but that we are fellow laborers with many different groups in our quest to share the Gospel with the world.
Monday the team with two members of the Playa Norte church went to San Gregorio, a small town close to the Argentine border. Because of the icy roads the trip took nearly three hours. During the trip Eduardo was able to share the Gospel with one of the drivers, Gabriel, who made a profession of faith. San Gregorio once was a leading sheep ranch in the Patagonia, but most of its glory has been reduced to a small cooperative ranch and status as a national monument. Before the meeting several of the team went door to door inviting people to come to the program at the local school. Many were not at home and in many of the homes the doors were opened just a bit, as if the inhabitants were reluctant to talk to outsiders. Recently Jehovah Witnesses have been visiting this town. At 3:30 a group of some 30 people, including children, adults, school teachers and the director of the school were in attendance. When the time came for the invitation to receive Jesus as Savior, several people, including the director raised their hands as an indication of their desire to know the Lord on a personal level. Pray as the Playa Norte Church continues to reach out to this town.
Illness played a part in the week also. Because some of the group arrived in Punta Arenas with colds, it was natural that they were shared with one another. On any given day the team had one or more missing from the program. But, the group was flexible and someone would immediately jump in to pick up the responsibilities of the one who was missing that day. The only confusion would come when the “Wordless Book” was shared and a given color shirt was missing from the line. Each of the girls wore a different color of shirt to represent the colors in the “Wordless Book”. Alicia and Michelle managed to stay healthy for the entire week, though even Alicia was feeling under the weather by the last day.
On Tuesday the team visited a home for the Aged. This home is run by the government and most of its 50 inhabitants have been abandoned by their families because of an illness or in many cases because of the family’s desire not to be bothered by this one who no longer was able to act in the accepted manner. Here you will find some who are suffering from extreme physical problems, but many are of clear mind and body. The staff was a blessing in that each one expressed a love toward the people and treated them with respect. In a conversation the director expressed the struggles that she had with finances and the care of the home’s inhabitants. She talked of the lack of funds and how many of these dear souls are left almost on the doorstep of the home, never to see their families again. Jackie asked if she could pray for the staff and the work of the home. With the appearance of complete surprise Mirtha accepted the request and seemed moved that someone would actually want to pray for her and the work she is doing. The group received the young people with open arms and enjoyed each minute that the team shared. Jackie will be returning to the home in the coming days to present pictures which were taken during the visit.
Wednesday the team had a break in the morning to do some shopping in town, as well as some sight seeing. As one could expect the weather was very cold and windy, keeping the roads and sidewalks icy and slick. The afternoon was spent at a Catholic home for children. There the children are well attended but because of their backgrounds are often burdened with emotional pains. Many of the children have been removed from their homes because of abuse or lack of primary attention. Young girls have left their babies here to be cared for by the staff. They are able to visit with their little ones in the afternoons. As the program began the young people were slow to respond, laugh, or join in with the singing. Only toward the end did they beginning to express any type of enjoyment. Because few of them had any background of true Christianity, there were no indications of a desire to know Jesus personally. This is a home that needs a continued witness and expressions of love and hope.
In the evening the team went to a mission point of the Playa Norte Church in a southern section of town. What a difference this group of children was in comparison to those of the afternoon. Their response was warm and loud, hopefully an indication that their home life was strong and healthy.
Thursday the team arose early to catch a 9:00 bus to Puerto Natales. The three hour ride was a time of additional sleep for most of the team. The national missionary in Natales met the bus and shared the extended plans for the afternoon and evening. These plans included a visit to a preschool center run by a Christian group, a visit to another children’s home, a presentation at a community center and a visit to the local hospital. The team caught its breath and started to work.
At the preschool center the team met little Eduardo, a boy with lots of evident pain in his life. Every response was a negative shake of his head and a look of hopelessness. No one shared what the situation in his life is but the Lord has engraved this precious little boy in the hearts of the team members. He will not be forgotten in prayers or in the hearts. We pray that someone will be able to reach him and share a future of hope and love with him.
The children’s home and the community center programs ended by being combined into one, which was easier on the team member’s arms that would have to work the puppets. It was well attended and several people expressed a desire to know Jesus. That evening the national missionary and Eduardo Jordan visited the hospital and shared some small gifts with the few patients there.
Friday was a day of relaxation and adventure. It was a day spent in the Torres del Paine National Park outside of Puerto Natales. The day was absolutely beautiful and the team was able to enjoy God’s creation and its splendor. As the guide, Rodrigo, expressed, it is difficult to look at this place and not realize that there is a God. Once more it was possible to share with him about the benefits of a personal relationship with the Lord.
The team returned to Punta Arenas on Saturday and rested up for the last program. On Sunday morning the group went to Las Vertientes Baptist Church. The Gospel was once again shared via puppets, music, and Scripture with several responding positively at the time of invitation.
After an all you can eat lamb barbeque the team did some sightseeing and then returned home to pack up for the trip home. During a final time of worship the team members shared their thoughts about the week and had a time of prayer for those whose lives had been touched. This team of young ladies supplied some needed contacts for future work in Punta Arenas and the surrounding areas. They left seeds to be watered and later harvested in many places. Until Heaven they may never see the results of what they did during one short week. But the Lord knows and will use their faithfulness in His work here in the Patagonia.
Let’s end with Paul’s words about our combined effort: “The ones who do the planting or watering aren’t important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God’s field, God’s building – not ours.” I Corinthians 3: 7 – 9 NLB. The MK team did a lot of planting and a lot of watering and we will leave the growth to the Lord.
