I decided to go on this Team Timothy trip after hearing Pastor Casey talk about it—it was something I had always wanted to do.  A theme for our team was being flexible.  Pastor Len Pine gave us all a mini Gumby figure to remind us of that.  This proved to be an important preparation because this Team Timothy trip was unique in that we didn’t always have the details worked out ahead of time.  It was good to see God’s hand in that and His protection of us on the trip.

One role I had on the team was the nurse, and there was plenty for me to do!  I was grateful to Joe Becker, from my home church at Grace BPC in Cincinnati, in helping me prepare to minister to the team in this way.  Another way that God had been preparing me for this trip was by giving me a real heart for people.  I love meeting people and making connections with them.

There were a few people on the trip that I met that became especially precious relationships—Roldan, Franmig, and Eva (picture at right).  Roldan is the Peruvian pastor who orchestrated the trip and is a man passionate about spreading the gospel.   Franmig is another pastor who left his family in Iquitos so he could travel with us to minister to more remote villages.  Eva saw how hot I was one day and offered me her umbrella to keep the sun off.  Every time she saw me after that, she gave it to me as well.  It was an example of how loving and generous the people there were, even with fewer material possessions.

I didn’t expect how physically challenging the trip would be.  We did a lot of walking and our days were long—up early and to bed late.  We really were there to work!  But it was wonderful to be ministering to people and to see how hungry they were for the gospel.  Our team had such a good spirit about it.  It reminded me of Philippians 2:2-4, “fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”  We really were of one mind and looked out for each other.

The biggest thing I walked away from the trip with was a passion for sharing the gospel.  There were times we went from hut to hut, knocking on doors, inviting people to services and sharing the gospel!  And while it is different here at home, the need is the same.  I learned that I don’t need to go so far away to do God’s work and share the gospel.