Team Member Interview: Greg Gessert

Q: What motivated you to come on the Trip Initially?

A: "Missions is important and the appeal of Central America enticed me."

Q: What surprised you the most about the Trip?

A: "How close we were to the wall where we were staying and the amazing operation at YSLTA. The amount of things they do is amazing. They help the homeless, feed people, give medical supplies, operate a thrift store etc..."

Q: Where did you see God at work today?

A: "Through the lens of the camera and In the faces of children."

Q: What has been your favorite part of the mission thus far?

A: "The people were so patient and the people would be eagerly waiting for us no matter what. Their full attention were on us."

Q: What has been the most difficult?

A: "Not being able to fix everything. Knowing that their is still people without filters, knowing that there is still such a need here, it is difficult to walk away."

Greg was our resident photographer and took most of the pictures!

Team member Interview: Kay Shalfeieff

Q: What motivated you to come on the Trip Initially?

A: "I feel blessed and therefore I should give back. To whom much is given much is expected. This specific trip, I helped work on a 5 year mission plan and felt the call to be active. ."

Q: What surprised you the most about the Trip?

A: "This is my first water resource, trip (I have done eye glass missions in the past) and the need for clean inexpensive water is huge. This is a huge impact for the people living in poverty near the border."

Q: Where did you see God at work today?

A: "The opening today where we sang and clapped together in Spanish even though many of us don't know the language. The language barrier was not problematic and it started the day off right. 

Q: What has been your favorite part of the mission thus far?

A: " Bonding with people from SOTL and getting into deeper relationships. It is a joy to have time to spend together." 

Kay, Helping to Assemble a Filter.

Q: What has been the most difficult?

A: "Relaxing and accepting the cultural differences and just living within them."

Editors note:The culture in Mexico is much more laid back, not as dependent on time, and relationships with people trump the pull to move onto the next thing. 

Day 5: New Faces

Pastor Hernandez leading worship.

We visited a community center in Juarez today. The church is called San Pedro and San Pablo  they do not have a brick and mortar church, but services are held at this community center. The center is owned by a women in the community, who opens it up several times a week to the church, other moms to cook food, and a place for kids to hang out after school. The center is located at a place just referred to as "Kilometer 30," meaning it is 30km from the border. The topography is very different from Anapura, where we had been the last two days. While the other community was hilly and surrounded by mountains, this area is flat and vast.

The Church is a one room building, so it had a more interment feel to it. Pastor Hernandez made us feel right at home by welcoming us to their community; leading us in a series of hymns in Spanish with his guitar. During class the team was able to answer more questions and get more information about their particular community. In this community a government water truck drives by once a week, and that is all the water that they have access to. The water is not potable either, so it needs to be boiled or they have to purchase water to drink.

Mark with the water filters.

Health and hygiene class.

The children's group was all preschool age kids, so we were able to play a lot of games with them, and share a brief Bible story of the women at the well. These kids really wanted to interact with us, and were eager to play and see pictures that we had.

We were able to go and do 3 home visits to give out the filters in this area. Just like the other community these people were so happy and appreciative to get their filter. As previously mentioned their is no running water in this community, the water truck delivers it all; but it isn't safe to drink. The filter will make this water drinkable, and they will no longer need to travel, and purchase water to drink. While these home visits were being conducted, other members of the team stayed behind to assemble the remaining filters for distribution tomorrow.

We came back a little early, and had a little more of a relaxing end of the afternoon. After dinner some of the ladies that we were serving in Juarez came to the mission to sell homemade bags and trinkets, which some members of the team bought in order to support them.

Water truck that gives out the weekly water supply.

The team outside of the community center.

Team Member Interview: Bill Chauvin

Q: What motivated you to come on the Trip Initially?

A: "I have been associated with MOST since the late 90's and I went on my first mission in 2001 to Panama. Seeing the needs of the people and the opportunity for compassion on my part has always motivated me. I love the opportunity to reflect the love of Christ."

Q: What surprised you the most about the Trip?

A: "How on a daily basis God has helped us to work through challenges. We Plan, God laughs."

Q: Where did you see God at work today?

A: "I saw God at work connecting hearts from people of different cultures. Everything from smiles, to hugs, to thankfulness."

Q: What has been your favorite part of the mission thus far?

A: "The whole experience. It is like being on the mountain top."

Q: What has been the most difficult?

A: "Nothing especially stands, it's blessing to be able to be here."

Bill Explaining the Mechanics of the Water Filter with his Interpreter Marisela.

Team Member Interview: Phyllis McDowell

Q: What motivated you to come on the Trip Initially?

A: "My desire to serve where there was a need."

Q: What surprised you the most about the Trip?

A: "The level of poverty in the community. I was expecting to see poverty, but not to this degree. It was so much worse than I could imagine. Yet, the residents were so pleasant, so goodhearted, and  so kind."

Q: Where did you see God at work today?

A: "I saw God at work in the people from the community who were so thankful to God and to us. They were particularly thankful that we came to them in person instead of sending something in the mail. God was also at work in the way everything fell into place today.

Q: What has been your favorite part of the mission thus far?

A: "Today (Tuesday) was my favorite part so far. To see the children relaxed and participating in activities and lessons. To see them having so much fun while playing the games; and observing them carefully watching  Bill as he was washing the disciples feet. 

Q: What has been the most difficult?

A: "Riding in the van. It's a little cramped, and hot."

Phyllis Talking to the Children

Day 4: Everything Coming Together

Today was a windy day. I can't help but to think of the wind as a metaphor for God's power. The wind moves when it pleases, seemingly random, but still able to put everything into place. God put our team in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and lives were literally changed today.

Bill Explaining how to use the Filter.

We were able to give the final health and hygiene lessons to the adults, as well as explain how the filter works, how to backwash it, and how to care for it. As previously mentioned if this is done properly this filter can last up to 20 years. The options for these people to get water are either buy it from the store, go daily from 3-5pm for government provided water at an outdoor location,-bear in mind not many people have cars so they would need to carry this water back themselves- or take their chances with the spicket water, which is non-potable. This filter is going to fundamentally transform the quality of life for these people. The gratitude could be seen in their eyes, in their hugs,  and in their heartfelt thank-you's. Hope seemed almost tangible, spreading from their hearts into ours. They now have hope for a better future, we have given that to them. You simply cannot put a price tag on that; hope is invaluable.

As much as we were doing for the people of Juarez, they were doing something for us. All of the members of Santo Biblia were praying for Brenda, Mark's Wife, as she was having gallbladder surgery yesterday. Mark had reservations about coming on the trip due to this, but decided to come anyway, knowing the mission was important. We are happy to announce that Brenda is ok and got out of surgery with no complications. God is good!

The children's team taught the children about nutrition, brushing one's teeth, parasites, and a Bible lesson about being a good example to others by using the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. We learned later from the children that they had not heard this story before. We were even able to teach them a few English words at the end, which they really seemed to enjoy!

Jeff Helping with Assessment Forms

We also got the treat of working with another missionary who lives in Juarez, who just happened to be in the area, named Jeff who stopped by and helped with the translation. He also gave us a lot of inside info about the city of Juarez. He was also originally from the Grand Rapids area!

One of the amazing things that transcends culture is sharing the love of Christ. This was our last day in this village and we hugged everyone goodbye for now, but also knowing one way or another we will meet again. Its amazing to see God's love transcend language and culture!

When all the filters were distributed, Alonzo took us  to a local Market in Juarez, and we walked around town for about an hour with him as our guide. Many people in our group bought Vanilla from the market, which came in huge bottles and will probably last forever.

We came home through the border crossing in El Paso this time, and the last little treat of the day was we were joined at dinner by Bob, a veteran and driver from Orphan Grain Train that stopped over here for the night.

Pastor Ben and Alonzo

The team, as a unit, also grew today; we all got to see God's work fall into place. All of the stresses and unknowns proved no match for our mighty God, who moved the wind, moved us, to serve and have the people who needed it be served.

Our team by the Juarez Sign-Plus two Locals!

Team Member Interview Bill Olszewski

Q: What motivated you to come on the Trip Initially?

A: "I've always had a need or a want to serve and help people. There has been a point in my life where I thought mission work would me my calling. Maybe it still will be as I get into retirement."

Q: What surprised you the most about the Trip?

A: "The way God has worked everything out in spite of what has gotten thrown at us. For example, we did not have a finalized team even a few days before the trip, and everything is working out just fine."

Q: Where did you see God at work today?

A: "In the eyes of the people that we were serving. You could see the love and the appreciation in their eyes and in their demeanor. We even got a heartfelt thank you from them, we got tears in our eyes.

Q: What has been your favorite part of the mission thus far?

A: "Fellowship at the mission, especially our interaction with the other mission team that is here from Nebraska. It is also tender and heartwarming to work with the kids!"

Q: What has been the most difficult?

A: "Getting over my own sense of impatience."

Bill, reading to the kids with the help of his translator Pedro.