Proverbs 19:21
The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. Proverbs 19:21 (NRSVUE)
My first mission experience was a dental trip to Honduras in 2004 with my teenage son and daughter. Each day we drove to a different village to provide care to the residents, and set up our clinic wherever there was space. On the last day we arrived at a squatter’s village. The people were terribly poor and lived in horrid conditions. There was no clean water, no electricity, and very little sanitation. Our clinic was set up outside. Flies were everywhere; it was so bad we skipped lunch. There was a toilet for us to use, but the pipes had broken and the waste just ran out onto the ground behind the pilla (latrine). Our team leader, Heidi Stark, declared afterwards that we would never return to that village.
The next year, Southwood sent a team to build a church in Honduras. The location was supposed to be a small mountain top village with an expansive view over the jungle that we had served at the previous year. Unfortunately, there were some problems between the village and local church and it was deemed unsafe for us to go there. Where to build the church? God had a surprise for us. It turned out to be the same village we had vowed never to return to. The name of that village was La Ceibita.
Over the past twenty-two years, Southwood has developed a close sister church relationship with La Ceibita and facilitated mission trips for hundreds of church members to serve there. The village today is a thriving community with electricity, clean water, and a church that reaches out to help other nearby villages. In addition to watching the village evolve through the years, the people of La Ceibita have been transformed from strangers into my Honduran family.
It’s more than just a mission trip; it’s a great faith experience.
Questions for Reflection:
- Does God sometimes surprise you with His plans?
- How can you be more open to accepting God’s way?
Prayer:
Lord, I lay my plans down at your feet and wait to see your purpose in my life. Guide my steps, calm my heart, and help me trust that Your way is wiser than mine. Lead me where I need to go and keep me close to You always. Amen.
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