Author Archives: Carroll

Being Servants for the Lord

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The annual Servants Day at CAG (Christian Academy of Guatemala) became the main topic of discussion with my sixth grade students. “Ms. Bishop we’ve already done a lot for the foster family. Could we look into some other areas of need?” I agreed. New missions project renew the hearts of young missionaries and give them some additional experiences.

Another student, whose family worked with Mission Venture, said, “We are involved in a feeding center that needs lots of help. It’s in a huge settlement on the side of a hill.”

The students voted yes to this place, which was a school that accommodated a feeding center for 250 children. We planned to clean the area, paint the kitchen, another room, and the tables used by the children. We were warned that it would require lots of work. My students anxiously wanted to take on the challenge.

On Servants Day, we headed over to the school loaded with paint, cleaning supplies, brushes, cleaner, and tracts. It didn’t take long for me to see that the area lived up to its reputation for being the most deprived place in Guatemala City. This huge settlement clung to the hill and had row upon row of little metal and wood shacks. The only windows were the cracks in the walls. The stench of garbage and sewer reached our nostrils before we entered the walled-in area. Nothing could have prepared us for all of the filth. It would take a major use of muscle to clean out the trash.

Those amazing sixth-graders pitched in wherever needed without one word of complaint. We put seven gallons of paint on the walls and tables. They swept and cleaned with vigor, and the place took on a different and clean look.

When the younger children who attended this school were dismissed from class, some of our students lined them up for a special surprise. One of our budding evangelists shared with them how much the Lord Jesus Christ loved them. Her sincere message claimed the attention of everyone. Afterwards, my students gave each of the little kids a tract, wrapped around a Tootsie Roll, which explained more of this important message.

At various times, some of my students could be seen talking or praying with youngsters. I love it when God uses the least likely to show that He is God, and that He can work through anybody. Danny* attended CAG, but he didn’t have missionary ties like the majority of the students. His Korean father owned a factory and a business in Guatemala City. Danny sat down with two young brothers, whose names we later learned were Oscar and Pluto. With full compassion, Danny listened as Oscar tearfully said some older boys had been hitting him. Danny told his story, that in his younger days the same things happened to him. Then he explained how much Jesus loved them. A classmate of Danny’s joined him and helped give more details about the story of Christ’s coming to earth. He explained that all people could have eternal life, if they chose to follow that path. Danny read Scripture explaining that God had a plan for their lives. Through his sensitive nature and pain from the past, these little guys were ministered to by a young fellow who three days earlier had said he didn’t know what a mission venture meant. The Lord used Danny’s willing heart to bring hope and love into these two young lives.

Later, the director of the food program took us on a hike of the immediate area of the settlement. She shared about her biggest concern—the lack of funds to keep the food center operating. She feared she would have to tell the 250 children that she no longer had resources to feed them. She showed us a ten-by-eight metal building, which had been put up by missionaries, to replace a shack destroyed by Hurricane Mitch. Six people lived in it with one bed and a tiny stove. One step from the front door flowed black and rank sewer water, which coursed its way in front of all the wall-to-wall homes built upon this steep hill. Poverty made its appearance everywhere.

When we returned to CAG to reflect on all that had happened that day, I again expressed to the students of how proud I felt for all that they had done at the settlement. I saw the love of the Lord in action.The day was called “servants day” and they were servants in every sense of the word. Many of the comments from the children matched the ones after the La Rosa project. The kids wanted to do more in ministry, to help people in their suffering and need. More ideas poured forth for the La Rosa family. We then developed a plan to give them a simple wood burning stove and provide the wood they would need to operate it.

Many people want to make a difference in lives, just as these sixth graders did. I believe that no matter where a person lives, there is opportunity all around. Do you have a story share? Perhaps your story could be the fuel for a new missions project.

*Name has been changed.

Collaboration Makes the Difference

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In the last post, I told about my concern for the squatters who lived in dilapidated shacks and lacked the ability to keep warm during the cold nights. I knew I needed others to join me in a collaborated effort to help these people. I contacted my mother and explained the situation to her. She immediately sent me two hundred dollars to buy blankets. A few other people responded, and I went shopping for blankets at the local market, where they were cheaper than in the US. I pushed back the thought that I lacked the resources to help every squatter family in San Cristobal, or every family in my neighborhood, for that matter. The story of the starfish came to my mind: A boy walked along the beach throwing starfish into the ocean. Someone told the boy that he couldn’t make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of starfish lying on the beach. The boy responded that it did for this one and he threw one into the surf (The Starfish Story by Loren Eisley). That sure put a strong emphasis on the idea to get out there and do what could be done.

I asked a Spanish-speaking missionary friend if she would join me on this missions project. We prayed over the blankets before we set out. “Lord, when each one wraps himself in this blanket, may he feel Your love. May each of these blankets provide warmth for each man, woman, or child.” We soon found ourselves going up and down the streets in my neighborhood, praying for the Lord to reveal where we needed to stop for these deliveries.

The first corrugated-metal shed housed two families, but only one family was present at this time. The mother’s name, Norma was my mother’s name. That made me chuckle since Mom invested the most in this venture. Norma had six children, and her husband needed employment. The kids shyly lined up for introductions, and the smiles broke out when we passed out the blankets. My friend shared about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who gave His life for us that we may have eternal life. Norma listened intently and encouraged the conversation with questions. As we departed, we assured her we would be back for more visits.

A grandmother, a girl and her brother lived In the next place. The grandmother acted standoffish at first, but when my friend started talking about the Lord Jesus, she warmed right up to us.

Only a block away stood another shack where a young brother and sister lived with their grandfather. The grandfather, confined to a wheel chair, kept shaking our hands in gratitude. I wondered how he functioned in his chair with hill-side terrain, bumps, and holes. On later days, when I walked past them, the grandfather would smile and wave his hand in greeting, just as best friends do.

Days later, resting in the apartment, I heard a knock on the door. Since we never received unannounced visitors, I peeked through the hole in the door and saw Norma’s oldest boy, Angel, holding a red rose and a plastic bag. He gave me the customary greeting—a slight hug and kiss on the cheek—as he said, “Señora, my mother wanted to give you this rose and these vegetables.” Humbled beyond words, I noticed his mother waiting by the gate with her daughter, Normita. I lacked the ability to speak the language, but I could communicate in other ways, so I motioned for her to come in. God truly blessed me that day as I looked at the squash, oranges, lemons, and a package of store-bought cupcakes. These were gifts, to show how much they appreciated the gift of blankets. I saw them as sacrifices to say thank you.

Over the years, I have seen what collaboration can do in missions projects. It could be as large as building a duplex in an orphanage, paying for the operation of a child or as small as donating a box of diapers. It’s amazing to see the number of people, who step forward and say they want to help. Being involved in helping others is a big part of God’s plan and purpose for us. How would you feel, to look out your door and see Angel bearing gifts just for you?

Squatters Needs

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100_2390I lived in a city, San Cristobal, above a valley where Guatemala City sat. The two cities were divided by a huge canyon called a barranco in Spanish. The beauty of this place, full of trees and flowers, stirred my heart. I wanted to walk the area and enjoy the breezy air. However, I had been warned about walking alone and knew there were areas considered taboo. I lived in a safer area; whatever that meant. How did anybody know it was safer? The idea of robbery, rape, or kidnapping were not far from my thoughts as I clutched the pepper spray tube in my hand. Through prayer, a calmness took over, and off I went to explore this beautiful land, staying within a short distance of the apartment.

My first time out gave me a good view of the clash of two different cultures. Large fancy homes sat next to shacks that could blow over in a windstorm. (The attached photo is an example.) As I walked past these shacks, I looked for the squatters who lived in them. I looked especially for the children. Dirty from head to toe and carrying lice in their shaggy hair, they smiled at me from ear to ear. Seeing me, a white-skinned, blonde-haired woman, caused fear and curiosity. I had invaded their territory. Other missionaries told me that the indigenous were told stories about “gringos” who stole Guatemalan children to sell for adoption. I needed to be cautious and not overstep my bounds. As these children saw me on a regular basis during my walks, they became more confident that I wasn’t going to cause them harm. We greeted each other with a word or a wave; however, the conversation ended there, because I did not know enough Spanish to initiate anything more. I learned their names when someone who spoke Spanish walked with me.

As the season changed, the wind blew harder through this area called a wind tunnel. I figured that if I, a Montana girl, felt cold, these children had to be freezing with the lack of socks, sometimes shoes, and warm coats. I had opportunity to peek in some of the shacks and saw primitive living conditions. Campfires were used for cooking and old and cracked plastic containers held their water. The stark reality was that most of them slept on the ground huddled together with only few holey blankets to cover them.

Lord what can I do? I don’t have any money, and I want to do something to help these people. My mind started processing possibilities, and I knew I could do something, if I found people to partner with me. I learned that it is not about what I can do but, but what God can do through me. In the next post, I will share the action taken to help the people who were my neighbors.

There are many stories, from all over the world, of people collaborating together to help others during their hardships. I know it makes Jesus smile. I’m sure many of you have a testimony of ministering in God’s love. In the “comment” area on the post, describe this and may it be an encouragement and reminder to all of us, to keep our eyes open for more of these opportunities.

Misconceptions About MKs

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People may think that kids of missionaries don’t contribute to God’s call with their families, but that the calling is only for the parents. That is not what I saw at CAG (Christian Academy of Guatemala). Our first missions project, as the sixth-grade class, turned out to be a great learning experience for all of us. After we shared our perspectives of our time with the family in La Rosa, I asked the kids to write in their journals. I prayed that the project would have a life-changing effect upon them, and what I read in the journals indicated that my prayers were answered. I’ve copied below several of their written comments.

“It made me think about how fortunate I am to have everything I need. It was a wonderful experience. I will never forget it.”

“I felt so sorry for them because they were so poor, but I also felt ashamed because I realized that I really was spoiled, and I still want more when they have nothing.”

“We had the chance to help others and witness about Christ to them.”

“My greatest experience was seeing how grateful and happy the people were when we gave them the food.”

“I saw the ladies’ faces light up because of all the food they needed.”

“I am willing to help them as much as I can. I would give all that I have to make them happy.”

“I want to get them on fire for the Lord.”

“I almost started to cry when I looked into the girls’ faces and saw their joy. I did not think anybody could have joy in that place.”

“I feel God is telling me to help them.”

“It made me feel so rich and thankful.”

Deeply touched by this experience, it made all of us aware that we wanted to share the love of the Lord to the hurting and the needy. This wasn’t a happily ever after time that ended the struggles of the MKs (missionary children). It did, however, give them a missionary perspective—the main reason their families were in Guatemala. They had participated in the missionary experience and wanted more. We continued to help the La Rosa family as a class, and with other individuals who became involved with our project. Someone provided a water drain system to catch rain water into a fifty-gallon barrel for their private use. Later, another donation provided a faucet that tapped into the town water system. A small block room with a concrete floor was built for added protection and comfort for the six occupants. Others donated money for the land, that secured them their home and peace in their hearts, knowing they wouldn’t be homeless again.

This pre-teen class shined like the sun in their ministry with our foster family and in other ministries through out the school year. Eric Johnson from Bethel Assembly in Redding, California once said, “Ministry is not what you do but who you are.” We were all in this process of finding out who we were. These third-culture kids tapped into their hearts and realized they were doing the same things Jesus did when He walked this earth: helping others. They could make a positive difference in the lives of others. I’ve learned that any of us can make a difference where ever we are if we keep our eyes open to the people and needs around us.