WELCOME

Top Ten Lessons Learned on My Mission Trip to
New Amsterdam, Guyana

by Aneta Dodd

 

In January of this year, I was blessed to travel with my husband and children to New Amsterdam, Guyana. It was a lifelong dream fulfilled to be on foreign soil sharing the gospel of our Lord and Savior. The following are "lessons learned" during our trip. I wanted to share them with you.

1. We can never out give God. I was so excited to be traveling to Guyana and "sharing my wisdom" with the natives of the land. I just knew God was going to use me as His instrument to enhance their lives. However, I quickly realized that God was using these sweet Guyanese families to fulfill my life. I returned home more enriched than I ever imagined! "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38

2. This land is not my home. Traveling to and from Guyana was the hardest part of the entire trip. I spent countless hours sitting in airports w-a-i-t-i-n-g on our next flight. We ended up in Miami's airport for 12 hours on the way home. This experience helped me to gain a sense of homelessness with no place to lay my weary head! I longed for my cozy home awaiting me with a warm, soft bed! I was also yearning to hug my family (grandparents, parents, sister) after such a long journey. Each of us should realize that we are only sojourners in this land. We are all awaiting the most wonderful home in heaven where those souls most precious to us will be awaiting our arrival. "In My Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-3

3. I am a part of the family. I fell in love with the Guyanese culture right away. One of my favorite aspects was their loving titles for family. If I were a dear friend or loved one they would call me "auntie Aneta". But, because I was a member of the Lord's Church, I had an even greater name! They addressed me as "Sister Aneta" at all times. I know that many of us call each other brother or sister in the worship context, but how many of us see a brother or sister in public and call them such? I want to become better at giving all my brothers and sisters this loving distinction everywhere I go. We have each been blessed with a spiritual family that will last an eternity! "For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:50

4. We must put up a hedge. In Guyana, all the animals roam free. We coexisted with cows, pigs, goats, turkeys, mules, dogs, and other animals. These animals were in the middle of the road, walking along the side of the road, and grazing in nearby yards. The kids especially enjoyed the huge bull occupying the local basketball court! Guyanese families actually plant their crops and gardens about 8 miles from their home to protect them because the cattle will not roam that far from home. If you do not wish to have someone else's animals in your yard – you fence them out! As Christians, we must coexist with things of this world, but we can fence them out of our own homes! "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." I Peter 5:8

5. It isn't any trouble just to SMILE. The children in Guyana are living in poverty, yet they have found contentment and happiness. The street in front of our building was home to a group of young boys who found pleasure in racing old tires up and down the street. These boys wore dirty clothing, some of them only partially dressed. Their faces were dirty and their noses were running . Yet, every one of those boys wore a huge smile! The sweet smiles of Guyanese children will always warm my heart and flood my memories. These children were happy with very little!! "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

6. Greet one another with a holy kiss, or at least a hug! As we neared the end of our 1½ days' journey, I became very apprehensive. I would be sharing a home with a family I had never met or even talked with. Questions began flooding my mind: How was I to greet them? What was appropriate help around the house? What if my family did something offensive to their culture? What if . . . ? I just began praying then and left it all to the Lord. As the van pulled up in the front drive of our "home away from home" and I stepped out, I was greeted with the warmest hugs from Samuel and Annie. My fears were relieved and I immediately felt right at home. It made me realize how important our kind words and thoughtful gestures are to newcomers at church. We should think of their fears and concerns, and try to make them feel welcome in our congregation. It has been said that if a person can identify with at least three other people in a congregation, they will choose to remain. How welcoming are we? "Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you." Romans 16:16

7. There is work to do. It was so difficult leaving Guyana. I felt as if there was so much more work to be accomplished. My greatest heartbreak was realizing the wide practice of fornication in this country. Many women live with their "mate" without ever marrying. The men do not want to marry because it is too "expensive". We studied with three precious women living in such conditions. We were able to baptize the daughter of one of these women! (Maybe she will start a new "family" tradition God's way) It saddens me to think of their lost condition and to see our country headed in the same direction. We have left funds with Samuel to help with the wedding, if their spouses agree, so they can live a saved, fruitful life for Him. It is on my heart to return with plans to conduct a "Teen Purity Crusade" and teach the young people of God's plan for a family. "Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." " Luke 10:2

8. God always provides for His children. A week into our trip, I fell very ill. I was plagued with a kidney stone (had not suffered for over 20 years with one of these things!) which turned my plans sour! On Wednesday, I woke with the all too familiar pain and knew I had a stone; however, I was determined that Satan was not going to stop my projects!! I kept pushing through the day on Wednesday, but by Thursday Satan had won! I was sooo deathly ill, I could not arise from bed. I could not even drink a sip of water and knew I was dehydrating. I had already heard how bad their hospital situation was and did not want to add that stop to my agenda. God was so gracious!! Samuel (our host) knew the head physician and gave him a call at home. He told Samuel what medications I needed and Glen was able to walk into the pharmacy and purchase everything for $4.00 (no prescription needed in Guyana)! By Friday I was able to force myself up to conduct the important parts of our day and by Sunday I was feeling much better. I was so thankful that I had an all powerful God watching out for me – even on foreign soil! "And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." I John 5:15

9. We must desire to be adopted. The greatest desire of Guyanese families is to be American. The children love to wear t-shirts and sweat shirts with American logos and American places on them. The daughter of our host family wore a t-shirt that said, "Everyone Loves an American Girl". Their country is so full of poverty; they think that they can be rich in America. Many families are willing to place their children for adoption with an American family just to give them a chance at the "American Dream". It seems so sad that they would separate their God given family for a worldly dream. I tried to encourage each family to desire an even greater future for their children – an adoption into heaven! " . . . just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will . . ." Ephesians 1:4-5

10. Our God is an Awesome God. I would be remiss if I did not admit how much I loved the weather in Guyana. It was a constant 75-78°F with the most wonderful breeze blowing all day long. Doors and windows were left open during the day but had to be shut at night because of the mosquitoes. I especially fell in love with the veranda. I would get up early in the morning and prepare my day's thoughts and lessons out on the patio. The kids would complete their school work and we would all fellowship during meal time outside in this area. It was such a place of peace and comfort. We could watch the storm clouds roll in or see the palm trees blowing in the breeze. It was the perfect place to take in all of God's creation and glory! "One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works." Psalm 145:4-5

Time and space will not allow me to share all the wonderful experiences and all the precious people I met while in Guyana. I could neither describe the smells or sounds that were so plentiful nor help you to taste the delicious meals prepared by our host, Annie. Watching her gave me a deep respect for the women of Guyana and their servant hearts. They work so hard and gain so little of this world's leisure, yet they find peace and happiness.

I know that there is much to be accomplished in our own backyard as well; however, if you are ever given the opportunity to travel and meet brothers and sisters in another part of the world, I encourage you to go. It will change your life forever!!