As I pondered over what I wanted to write about the Peru mission trip, I went through several experiences in my mind, mostly those that were happy or funny. Then I thought I about the not so funny things, the frustrating experiences. I was most frustrated when we ran out of certain medicines quickly in the pharmacy. Of course, we ran out of items that practically everyone needed, like vitamins or Tylenol. A great sense of helplessness comes over you when you realize that you have to send them away without what they need.
However, our greater purpose for the mission trip was to share with these people what they really needed--the message of God’s love and teach them how to become Christians. Their physical bodies needed medicine, but their spiritual well-being needed God much more. It is a difficult task to show them that they need God more than they need Mylanta. The differences are so obvious. The supply of medicine was limited, but God’s grace and mercy are abundant (2 Cor. 12:9, 1 Pet. 1:3). Medicine is not manufactured or distributed at no cost, but God’s gift of eternal life is freely given (1 Cor 2:12, Rom. 6:23). In order to obtain medicine, a person must see a doctor or at least visit a pharmacy, but God’s love is always available and nothing can separate us from it (Rom. 8:38-39).
In Peru and in the United States, we are surrounded by people who need God, and they don’t even realize it. They focus their time on what they think they need: acquiring material things, increasing their quality of health, and seeking the latest in entertainment. All of these things will pass away, and then the only thing they will be seeking is a way to Heaven. Why don’t we try to give that to them now before it is too late?
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