Summer Reflections from Volunteers
Here are some reflections from our short-term mission teams about their summer volunteering experience. Thanks to everyone for sharing!
Helena of the Boston Team said, “Our two weeks in Ouesso were filled with profound experiences and meaningful accomplishments … We rejoiced alongside the five patients who regained their sight following surgery … The Samoutous and New Sight staff showed unparalleled hospitality, providing accommodations that were the best we have experienced on a missions trip. … The daily morning worship sessions, filled with the fervent energy of the New Sight staff, were a wonderful way to start each day. Despite the heat, we were able to cool off in the air-conditioned room as needed, which made our physical efforts more manageable. We are deeply grateful for their warm welcome and the opportunity to work and worship alongside them.”
Caption: Happy memory-making by the Boston Team
Jenny of the Canada team said on their last day, “I feel that I will miss this place. Because we’ve been here for 2 weeks, right? I’ve fallen in love with this place. I feel a bit sad to leave here.”
Nelly said, “I’m going to miss this place and I look forward to see everything is completed and when it’s open.”
Gary said, “What will I miss most? The team, because we have such a good team. We will miss everybody.”
Donna said, “We had the chance to serve the children’s ministry in a local church. We taught them bible stories, songs, and little crafts. The children were amazing, many of them walked to church on their own, to arrive for a 7 o’clock start! It was not unusual to see little girls carrying their baby siblings on their hips. When they sang worship songs, their expressions of faith were so tangible by the tears that would stream down their cheeks. They were so happy with the simple beaded bracelets they made with us, each coloured bead representing the gospel message. Many of the kids wore them all week, returning the following Sunday sporting them….”
“When I tell people I went to Congo, the question sometimes arises as to what I could possibly do in my short time there. … Even during the trip, my team and I sometimes felt that we wished we could do more, as there was still so much unfinished work that we had to leave behind. But something Joyce said to us really stayed with me. She told us that even if we didn’t do a single thing for the hospital while we were there, the very fact that we came meant the world to her and Henri …This really touched my heart and made me reevaluate why we are called to go on [short-term mission trips]. It’s true that we cannot do “much” in just a couple of weeks, but what we can do is be of encouragement to those who are serving long-term, to be a physical reminder that they are not alone …”
Caption: Happy memory-making by the Canada Team
Ethan of the Texas team said, “After clearing customs, we were warmly welcomed by … the New Sight Team, as well as members of the Canadian team who were leaving after lunch. … During our time with the Canadian team, they shared the fruitfulness of their mission and how much they didn’t want to leave.”
Mia said, “On Monday … we continued our various tasks around the hospital. All of our jobs have slowly made the hospital look one step closer to looking like a general hospital instead of a building with empty rooms and boxes of materials. … Work ended early on Monday so we could walk around the local market. At the market we saw some of the ingredients to our special dinners we had earlier on in the week like monkey, porcupine, and caterpillars. We also saw an assortment of vegetables and fruits.”
Ryan said, “[On our last day] We took a final victory lap around the hospital, comparing how the hospital looked at the start and end of our trip.”
Caption: Happy memory-making by the Texas Team
<< Back to News