The Trip to Guyana

The Spark

My soul is somehow at ease now that I know that I'll be taking part in a mission trip this spring. After all, what would spring break be without a big mission trip?

Of course, that's not why I'm participating in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship international mission trip this year. I'm participating because the Lord has called me and 15 other people to minister to people in Guyana, South America in March 2003. Read on to learn all about it, and how you can help.

A Brief Overview

Once again, I'm heading out of the country on a trip that IV is sponsoring over spring break. One of our leaders, Sherwin, has seen a need in his home country to assist local villages and missionaries with their needs. This work includes clean water, construction, and evangelism.

During the trip I will be involved in many aspects of our outreach. First, I will be part of the construction team. One of our team members has designed a most impressive playground, and one of our primary jobs will be to build it in our time there. I will also be involved with drilling a well for a village. On the weekends our group will be doing personal ministry and outreach among many of the villages. And finally, during all of these events, I will be one of a few photographers who are documenting both our trip, and the work of the missionaries with whom we are working. I am extraordinarily excited to be able to use one of my primary gifts in service to the Lord.

Schedule:

I would, of course, love all of your prayers as we are on this trip. Here's the rough schedule so you can know what we're (hopefully) doing each day:

• Friday, February 28th. Leave Rochester, NY late in the day.
• Saturday, March 1st. Arrive in country, and do orientation activities. Spend the afternoon in the town of Canal.
• Sunday, March 2nd. Lead Sunday School, then the service Faith Community Church. Lead Children's Church in the town of Parika, then services at two more church later in the day. Whew. That's sounding a little crazy to me.
• Monday, March 3rd. Drilling and playground construction.
• Tuesday, March 4th. Drilling and playground construction.
• Wednesday, March 5th. Drilling and playground construction during the day, and the Tuschen Sunday School in the evening.
• Thursday, March 6th. Drilling and playground construction during the day, and the Tuschen Sunday School in the evening.
• Friday, March 7th. Drilling and playground construction. There will also be a road trip to Georgetown, and we will spend the evening at the Unity School.
• Saturday, March 8th. Leave for the town of Bartica and ministry to two river villages during the day.
• Sunday, March 9th. Lead Sunday school and church ministries all over the bush.
• Monday, March 10th. Collapse into an airline seat and head home. And yes, this is the first day of classes.

As you can see, this trip is very heavy in evangelism and outreach...not necessarily my strong points. But just ask Moses - the Lord is far larger than our strengths and weaknesses. And you play a part in the ministry of this trip. Continue on to find out you can help.