Summer – the word conjures up images of surf, sun, and sunglasses. But, for many One Challenge workers it’s the busiest time of year.
Summer brings short-term mission teams to many of OC’s fields around the world. Fredy, a Sepal (OC in Latin America) worker in Guatemala, spent some of his time this summer serving alongside Ascent Church of Colorado as they ministered to children and a team made up of medical professionals as they ministered to the physical needs of many.
Children Hearing the Good News
Beth, OC worker and Fredy’s wife, says Ascent Church has blessed the people of Paquip, a small town in Guatemala, and the surrounding towns for many years. One area of impact was children’s ministry. “The children’s ministry at the beginning of our time there saw 40 children. Due to word of mouth and the children’s enthusiasm, that blossomed into about 300 smiling faces,” Fredy says. During the ministry, children were able to participate in songs, Bible stories, and Bible verse memorization.
Medicine and Eyesight
During Fredy’s second partnership in short-term ministry, the medical team served many, including a three-day intensive medical care where they saw between 700 to 800 people. This happened in the village of Monte Carlo, an hour and a half drive each day for the team. “Fredy hopped between helping pass out needed medicines in the ‘pharmacy’ and helping people get a new view on life as the picked out reading glasses,” Beth says.
Many people are unable to read due to poor eyesight. When the people could read, they would become engrossed in reading the section of the Gospel John they were shown, Fredy says. “It was such a neat experience and blessing to see the thankful faces,” she says.
Celebrating Miracles
One of the incredible miracles that took place in this short time of medical care happened with a young girl brought to the team who had recently been injured in a motorcycling accident and her injured leg had gangrene. The nurses got to work right away. On the trip was an ophthalmologist, who was performing small surgeries on the trip, mainly for cataracts. The Lord had prepared this doctor 25 years ago to clean and treat these kinds of wounds while he was in the army. The team was able to stop the infection and the girl will be healthy again, Fredy says.
You never know how the Lord will use you and the skills you have in the most surprising ways.
Pray…
Pray for those serving short-term all over the world, that the Lord would work in and through them.
Pray for the people in Guatemala who heard the Good News from this team, that it would saturate their lives and take up permanent residence in their hearts.
Short-term
One Challenge is an international mission sending agency empowering local church ministry in more than 100 countries around the world. We serve, equip, and connect the body of Christ to share the Good News with all people. Short-term opportunities last between one month and one year with the purpose to provide opportunities for intensive, proactive and cross-cultural experiences.