I have just returned from a mission trip to La Ceiba, Honduras. I was the chaplain for the Mission Team from the Church of the Transfiguration of the Eagle Valley in Colorado. For most folks like me, that means Vail, CO. However, the team consisted of men and women from the Eagle Valley, California, Virginia, and SC. The common factor was the commitment to Jesus and to be available for His service to the dear children in La Ceiba.
The Church of the Transfiguration has developed a relationship with the Special Educational School of Emilia D'Quire over the past 5 years. As we were saying our good byes, it was evident that a relationship had formed to the point of TRUST. Trust is not easily developed in Honduras. One has to earn it and the only way one can earn trust is to Be Present. This is a hard lesson to learn, but in any relationship one has to Be Present for the relationship to move from being casual to that of trust. If I hang around you and observe your actions toward me and others, then I and only then am I in a place where I can trust you.
The Mission Team had a "Word of Execution" which was prayed by each member in their preparation for the Mission. A "Word of Execution" is a verse or more from the Bible that the Lord has given the Leader of the team to pray and to reflect and inwardly digest for the Mission. This stems from Psalm 149.6-9 and Isaiah 55.10-11. As the Word is Spoken, it does not return empty but accomplishes that for which it was purposed.
The "Word of Execution" for the Team came from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 2 & 3; "With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love. Take every care to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together." During the 10 days that I was with the Team, I witnessed the reality of these two verses. Men and women from all walks of life coming together to be formed and fashioned by these verses to Be Present to the children, teachers, staff, helpers, and parents of the Emilia D'Quire School.
This was the second year that the Church of the Transfiguration helped out at Holy Trinity Episcopal School. Holy Trinity is on its way back to be a very good bilingual school for the children of La Ceiba. Many years ago it had the reputation of being one of the best, but because of circumstances it decided to just be a regular parochial school that taught only in Spanish. So some of the team members were "called" to Be Present at Holy Trinity School. They helped the students with their English and other aspects that were needed around the school. They made a big difference, because they were Present.
The major difference between Christianity and other religions is the fact that Christians can have a personal relationship with their God. At Christmas we talk about Emmanuel, God with us. God became Present to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth and through the person of the Holy Spirit in us, we can have a relationship with God, the Father, through Jesus. Relationships is the key factor. We talk about the fact that God is Love. Only when a person is in a relationship with another person can love be displayed. We experience the love of the Father through His son, Jesus. And it was Jesus who demonstrated how much the Father loves us by dying on the Cross for our sins. Yet, it was when the Father raised Jesus from the dead that the reality of all that Jesus said and did was TRUE!!! In Jesus and only in Jesus can we have this relationship with the Father because we cannot get to the Father without having a relationship with Jesus. If we don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, then we can never know the Love that the Father has for us.
Sure, you can send money to relieve people from circumstances. You might even help them have a better life. But only by Being Present will the people know that you care and can be trusted. And it is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with His grace and love can we begin to know the mind of Christ in order to do the work of Christ in this world in which we live.
Come Holy Spirit come and fill us with your Love and your Power for the extension of the Kingdom of our God.
Fr. Joe
