Red Dirt
A trip, going to bless
Knowing we’d be blessed.
Red dirt
It stains your hands a little more
leaving an impression
However its imprint be tiny in comparison
A blazing land
though it was the faces bringing the most warmth
Lush greenery
but their kindness gave off greater beauty
A people who have less- we would think
who should have more worries
be more anxious, stressed
but aren’t
A Joy,
it envelopes them
revealing our lack,
Our need – (this isn’t the need of some or of only me personally but truly it is that which everybody in this world has a void for in their hearts. The void isn’t shallow either. It is as deep as the reason why we live. An empty space seeking to be filled, but no matter what we jam inside their is only One who will give us of what we [most of the time] don’t even know we need)
In the land where there isn’t plenty
we find out that we seem to have all
when really it’s nothing at all
We are found wanting
not material things
Something of eternal value
costly for One
yet, free to us
The theme of most songs
the longing of all hearts
what many spend their lives searching for
when it at their door
Charity
Or as most call it
Love
Their love
His love
It left an impression
Not on my hands
But on my heart
When the Maplewood mission trip was first announced, I didn’t imagine the impact that this one trip would have on all who attended. A lot of us wanted to go, and at the time we had no idea how much we could be blessed while we blessed others..
Leading up to the trip, I had to learn how to fundraise with letters. I really prayed about those receiving the letters because I hoped God would soften their hearts to choose to give. Later, it was beautiful to hear that not a single person who signed up to go had missed the fundraising goal. God was faithful, as He has always been.
After lots of traveling, from Minnesota to Dallas to Brazil and lastly to Paraguay, we made it to the Adventist school where we would be staying. We were welcomed like family members who hadn’t visited in a while. The academy students were like brothers and sisters that we simply hadn’t met before. The differences in our lives and cultures became the glue that brought us together. Trying their foods left our taste buds dancing. And learning their songs brought us childlike joy.
While working, God showed us the joy of service. One group helped dig holes for a future build, another cleared out trees and bushes to extend a chicken coop, and a different group worked on the crops that the school was growing in their agriculture area. Our work went beyond outdoor labor. The academy was attached to a middle and elementary school, so we presented a children’s ministries program for the students. Every moment with them was a blessing that I’ll never forget. On top of that, we formed four groups to lead out in evening evangelistic meetings at local churches.
The most beautiful time for me was on a simple evening our second day of outreach. We accidentally went to the wrong church, but God has His ways of working, and it turned out to be the best accident that could have happened. A storm had just passed through the area, leaving this church without power. This was a blessing in disguise. We arrived a bit confused because we recognized quickly that this wasn’t our group’s church. After speaking with Pastor Pete, we were told to simply stay.
Seeing that the church had no power, we thought, “Why worship inside when we can go outside on such a beautiful evening?” So, we moved everyone to the porch in front of the church and conducted the service across the lawn. We sang songs in all three of their languages, Spanish, Portuguese, and Gurani. Next, we taught them the same songs in English, and that was all it took to feel like family. With the moonlight shining down on us, we spoke about how glorious heaven will be. That night our minds were brought to the “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13, ASV). To add to the joy, the entire time we could hear the kids playing across the lawn. Their laughter, smiles, and giggles could put a smile on anyone’s face.
The time to go home came too fast for our liking. Many of us thought that staying longer wasn’t such a bad idea. Of course, that didn’t happen but we came up with one more thing to help. All those who were able, collected our extra money together to donate to the school. I realized that this small sacrifice for us was an enormous blessing to them.
God spoke to us in so many ways on that trip. Through the kindness of the people, He showed me that “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:55). No matter who we get a chance to speak with, showing them the love of our Father is the least we can do with the love that He has poured out on us. These effects might just change a life–the way it changed mine.
This was all possible because of the willingness of all those who donated. So, I, alongside all of us who went, and all the Maplewood students and staff involved are extremely grateful for every person that donated to this trip. Thank you for making it possible! Thank you for investing in the lives of young people and helping us be able to know God more and more.
Iosif Dubreuze is a junior at Maplewood Academy and loves doing mission and outreach work.
