 Global Missions Day
SermonsSeveral Sermons preached at St. Luke's Church on Global Missions Day, the Last Sunday of Epiphany, February 26, 2006 Pam: |
By Pam and Scott Chapman (there
are more below):This page updated 07 April 2006
Several Sermons preached at St. Luke's Church
on Global Missions Day,
the Last Sunday of Epiphany, February 26, 2006
Pam:
Good Morning! Scott and I are here to talk to you about our St. Luke’s mission trip to Mango Creek or Independence, Belize, completed this past Sunday. The group went to serve the Anglican Diocese of Belize, who assigned us to a specific location and job. Our assignment was to level a floor about 50 by 35 feet. This floor had been severely pock-marked with cement from previous construction, to accomplish the leveling hand and mechanical removal of high areas was needed, this took at least 2. 5 days. Gutters and down spouts were installed. The building was wired for outside and inside light fixtures. Stucco was mixed and applied outside and inside. Floor leveling concrete was mixed and applied over two days. Painting inside and out with a first coat of paint. Ballisters and cement railing on the entry porch were installed, framed and poured and later painted. All of this was accomplished by our 14 member dedicated team and three professional construction workers.
Before we left on our trip Anne Hodges-Copple spoke to the group and encouraged us to get to know the people and the country we were visiting and serving, and to enjoy the company of our teammates. I am happy to report we tried in all three areas, but as I think back I think I would have liked to interact more with the Belizean’s maybe even going to their schools. We did interact with our taxi and tour guide Phil, the staff at the hotel where we stayed; there was Miss Candy, Thelma and Selma, working in the restaurant, Roy who brought us coconuts and the owner of the hotel who also was general manager of shrimp farm. There was Charles and Lorna Longsworth with their grandson, all members of St. Michael and All the Angles, the church we were replacing after it was blown away by a hurricane in 2001, who entertained us in their home. A first, John Willard informed us in his experience, and what a feast they provided. There were the children who visited us daily on their way to school, at lunchtime and after school. They were curious, shared their stories, wanted food, water or cookies, loved having their picture taken and seeing it on a digital camera screen. They shared in the work with supervision while chipping excess concrete from the floor and painting the outside of the building. Our general construction contractor Steve, bought two helpers Manuel and Adrian. Manuel taught me to mix stucco, after sifting the seven large buckets of sand, adding 2 bags of cement, shoveling to mix, that means turning over and moving the pile at least three times and then adding at least seven buckets of water slowly, mixing, and kneading until the correct runny mixture was ready to throw. I felt so attached to that first batch of stucco I asked to throw it on the walls. In Belize City we were visited by the Bishop of Belize and Francis Wilson, Volunteer Coordinator and quite a sales woman.
Not only did these people play a key role in our lives but as they influenced us we influenced them. We were 14 people who made up a congenial, fun-loving, hard working team. We accomplished in 3.5 days what was scheduled for 5 days. We reached out to one another and looked out for one another. In this group of 14 we ranged in age from mid-twenties to mid-sixties, we each had different skills: we were flexible, magnetic to the children, quiet and thoughtful, possessed wisdom and shared knowledge, were teachers and were taught, we shared our spiritual love and musical talents. When we had our evening outdoor services the neighbors would appear on their doorsteps, even the goat and rooster would show up. Our spiritual lives were made richer when we worshiped in Mango Creek there were 5 ladies and 12 children and with a Presbyterian minister who was also a Dr. leading the service. They so loved their church they were not going to let it die. The Bishop was there a week later and there were 60 people present, a good number to start to fill the church we were working so hard on. In contrast the service we attended in Belize City probably had 200 people in a huge church. Five rows of ladies in white dresses and hats sat in the front rows and could sing up a storm. The entire congregation held hands and lifted their prayers to God and when they passed the peace everyone passed it to everyone else.
My thoughts go in all directions when thinking of this trip, to what I learned, what I’d like to share and what I can do to help with the next large project proposed for next year and the years to come.
I’d like to take this time to thank the dynamic duo of Jean and John Willard for their incredible leadership. We thank you for your support before during and after our trip. God Bless you and St. Luke’s.
Scott:
Thanks, Pam. You did a great job of explaining what this mission trip was all about, what we did, and who we got to work with.
Pam and I had been trying to go on one of these trips for several years, and we were lucky that this year all our other obligations lined up right so we could make the trip. Will we do it again? I sure hope so. Would some of you like to come? I sure hope so, because I’m sure John and Jean will find more that needs to be done in Belize.
I want to share two special things with you.
First, the parish we went to help was almost 50 years old. In the last ten years, it had had it’s building destroyed by a hurricane, lost, then gained, then lost again full time, ordained leadership. The Sunday we were there, it had only a half dozen adults and a dozen kids in the congregation. But one day in a local store one of us met a man who asked if we were working on St Michaels. We said yes, and the fellow beamed and said with pride “That’s my church”. He was proud of its history, and of its restoration and rejuvenation. And the next Sunday, after we had left, there were sixty people in the new, still unfinished, and church when the bishop preached celebrated the Eucharist. St. Luke’s’ and St. Michaels are sharing the wonderful experience of Renovation, of building a better future on a loving past. We are fortunate to have been given the opportunity to share in two Renovations in a single year, and that makes a special bond between St. Luke’s and St. Michaels.
Second, you never know how a little bit of mission, a single act, can have a big result. One night, a local couple very active in the church invited us to their home for dinner. It was a great meal, and it also meant that we had dinner money left in our budget. It turns out that as yet St Michael’s had no money to buy doors and windows for the new building. We took the unspent dinner money and gave it to the Diocese to pay for one of the six windows and four doors St. Michaels needed. Well, the Diocese was so excited, they sent out an email challenge to the six other US church groups who had also worked on St. Michaels. And in less than 24 hours, there was more than $3,000 on the way to Belize, enough to buy all the doors and windows. And next month, John Willard is taking some Duke students down to install them. All that, just from a dinner invitation.
What I saw in Belize was that “mission” does not mean doing it all, or doing a big part or even doing a little of a project. “Mission” is the idea of doing something, anything, toward a larger goal, even if that goal is very distant. Fourteen of us spent 10 days to put down a floor, paint some walls, and install some gutters. Two people served dinner and provided thousands of dollars to finish a building with windows and doors. It was a blessing to be part of both. Thank you.
The mission trip to Belize was a wonder experience for me. I came away with several distinct observations and feelings.
1. The people of Mango Creek are very poor in possessions and what we would call net worth. An expensive yet nutritious meal for them is stewed chicken, rice and beans. The people of Mango Creek are, however, rich in spirit, pride, and caring for others. Every person you pass walking to the work site says good morning, good afternoon (starting at exactly 12:01), or good evening. They all knew we were the missionaries working at the Anglican Church and they were gladdened by that. The school children were so curious to see us, see what we were doing, talk with us…. Beautiful children of multiple descents, loving children wanting to be hugged, to have their picture taken……..
Yet hungry children wanting any food we could share with them or give them.
One special little boy visited us each day at lunch- the children go home for lunch in this small village. This little fellow was 7 years old and had only an orange that his teacher had given him, for lunch. Terrie peeled it for him – which made him very happy- I think both not having to peel it himself but more that someone was treating him special. He kind of hobbled as he had a bad left toe. He had no shoes. The next day we went to the store and bought a pair of Adidas slides for him and gave them to him when he came for lunch.
He put them on, his eyes big with excitement, ran around the church building and yelled just one word: LOOK…. He was so excited to show them to his friends…. Do you know any 7 year old with no shoes?
2. The work at the church was hard physical work. Advanced tools used were bucket, shovel, hammer, and broom. Everyone in our group just stepped up and started doing a job. And stepped up and did another job if it needed doing, and nobody complained. Everyone just worked, worked hard, and had fun. Everyone was filled with the spirit and did the work of the Lord. In one of Paul’s letter to the Romans he writes on how to live your life.
3. I say then through the blessings that are given me for all of you, do not look for anything outside of what you are supposed to look for, except look inside yourselves, every human being according to the measure of faith that which God doled out to them.
4. For just as in one body we have many members, and all members d not have one function,
5. Thus we also who are many, are one body in Christ, each one of us then are members of each other.
6. Except we have different endowments, according to the blessings that are given us, there is prophesy as the yardstick of faith.
7. And there are those who serve through ministry. And there are those that teach through their erudition.
8. And there are those that love through loving, and the giver who gives* genuinely and the helper who strives to help,* and the merciful, who performs acts of compassion* joyfully,
9. And let not your love be treacherous, except despise evil doing and embrace goodness.
10. Be kind to your brethren, and love one another. Be the first to respect each other.
11. Be strivers and not irresponsible. Be fervent in spirit. Be workers for your Master.
12. Rejoice in your hope. Anticipate your sufferings. Have faith in your prayer.
13. Respond* to the need of the saints. Be kind to strangers.
This describes how the group worked and went about our time in Belize:
I went on a trip with acquaintances from St. Luke’s. Some I knew from serving on vestry with, some from supper groups… yet all as just folks I see at church. I come back enriched with new friends… working hard with new friends, celebrating a hard days work with a cold Belikan at days end, worshipping each night with new friends…. Having made great memories that will always be with me. Think about going on such a mission trip when the next opportunity comes, or a community service project in our town… when acquaintances become friends special things happen, special relationships are formed… life is too short to miss out on these kinds of opportunities.. all you need is the will to serve people and to do the Lords work.
This past trip to Belize was my 3rd in 3 years. When my friends and co-workers hear that I am going on a mission trip to Belize, they always say nice things about me. (Maybe that’s why I keep going back). Usually, it’s something like “Oh it’s so nice of you to take time away from work, friends and family to go help those less fortunate people in Belize.” In fact, the first time I went, that’s what I thought too. I could not have been more wrong. The greatest benefit of our mission trip is not to the people we visit in Belize, but to those of us from St. Luke’s who make the journey. We are not there to build a church or a school, but something much more important. What we are building are relationships, by getting to know the locals, working side-by-side with them and worshiping with them.
On my first trip, we were working on a church in Willows Bank. The work was very difficult, mixing concrete by hand, or digging a septic tank, as the sun beat down on us. For lunch we would drive over to the school and eat in the little cantina. The smart people in our group would eat and then rest in the shade before going back to work…but not me. On the playground I noticed some of the older children hitting softballs to the other kids in the outfield. I realized my place and joined them in the outfield and chased fly balls.
The next day, we went back to the school and had a little lunch and I headed back to the playground to find my friends. But this day was a little different. They were choosing up teams to play a game of softball. I watched the same process that happens in any country where the most athletically gifted kids were selected 1st. My eye was drawn to this little guy who wanted so desperately to be picked, but the team captains seemed not to notice him. After both teams were complete this guy was still standing there holding a softball with the cover hanging off. My heart ached for this little guy, so I walked up to him and asked if he wanted to throw the ball with me. His face lit up as we began a game of catch. After a few tosses it became obvious why he had not been selected, but we were having a great time anyway. Then I found a large stick to use as a bat and we started batting practice. Some of the other kids who had not been selected saw how much fun we were having and soon we had about 5 kids playing…well, 6 counting me. I noticed that the rest of our mission team was headed for the van to return to work, so it was with great reluctance that I joined them. I know that little guy had a great time that day, but nobody enjoyed it more than me.
These are just a couple of examples of the experiences that we have multiple times every day that we are there. I know that many of you have considered joining the mission team to Belize, some of you may consider it every year. I am reminded of a quote from Ben Franklin that says “The scriptures assure me that on the last day, we shall not be judged for what we thought, but for what we did.” My advice would be to think about it now and speak to those of us that have made the trip. Decide now to join us next year and do whatever it takes to make it happen. I guarantee that you will not regret your decision.
Each time I return from Belize, I always feel more a part of St. Luke’s and the good works done by our church. I look around on Sunday and see the faces of those of you that shared this marvelous experience with me and I can’t help but smile and think “Thanks be to God.”
This page updated 07 April 2006