2019 – Pre-trip Reflection

As we prepare for our journey to the Dominican Republic, I consider one of the indelible lessons I have learned from our church’s mission work – you never know what will happen and you must be flexible, because it won’t ever go like you planned.  Many of you know that last year we ended up staying in Haiti for 5 extra days due to civil unrest and our inability to get to the airport.  So, after 5 trips to Haiti, we have been rerouted to the Dominican Republic this year.  We are still serving with Mission of Hope, but circumstances in Haiti has caused MOH to establish operations in the DR.  I am disappointed about not going back to Haiti, I have made so many friends there that I long to see again.  However, I’m trying to embrace the change and am now looking forward to a new adventure.  I’m sure God has some surprises in store for us, He always does.  Our team of 8 is ready to serve as we are needed. 

I’m sometimes asked why we go on these trips and why so many people generously support us.  We are all aware of the numerous places in the bible where God encourages us to help others, to serve Him through our work with others.  Today I was considering the parable of Lazarus and the rich man from the 16^th chapter of Luke.  Lazarus was a poor man covered in sores and the rich man ignored him during their earthly life.  Upon dying, Lazarus ended up in heaven and the rich man in hell.  So, do we support mission work to try to avoid hell?  I don’t think it’s quite that simple.  A priest once told me that what we do doesn’t change who we are, who we are changes what we do.  I’m no theologian, but I can maybe explain why I keep returning.  As I mentioned, mission work is always full of surprises.  When I first started mission work 11 years ago, I thought I was doing a good thing, but I certainly didn’t plan for it to last this long.  What I discovered is that I wasn’t really serving, I was being served.  I am served by the people in the places I go.  I can’t adequately explain the inner happiness of the Haitian people, but it’s contagious.  The youth and adults that have served with me and the relationships I’ve developed with them fill me with joyful memories.  I have also met so many incredible people from other teams that we have served with.  These relationships are the treasure I receive in mission work.  So I think about Lazarus and the rich man.  What if the rich man had helped Lazarus and spent time with him and gotten to know him.  It’s easy to see how Lazarus could have been helped.  But, how might this encounter have helped the rich man?  It might have helped him find the better him within himself, and that might have changed his trajectory.

Last year we could feel the prayers of folks back home during our extended time in Haiti.  We ask that you again pray for us.  Also pray for our new friends in the DR and our old friends in Haiti. God Bless, Dave Berg