Mission Trip Highlight: TRINIDAD
Testimony by Rachel Fan
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
“無論做什麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的。 因你們知道，從主那裡必得著基業為賞賜，你們所侍奉的乃是主基督。“ （歌羅西書 3:23-24）
This past June I had the opportunity to visit Trinidad for a mission trip. One thing I noticed was that the people living there were very friendly. Their friendliness made them easier to approach and talk to about God. This whole trip I have never felt judged or discouraged by the way the people living there had treated us.
One thing we did as a group was visit a children's prison. First, we had two of our group members lead a few worship songs. Pastor Pearson then preached a message about how God can turn seemingly bad things for his good. I believe this was helpful for the children in the prison because they may have felt like God didn't love them because of their mistakes. After he finished preaching, he invited us up to pray for the youth. I had never been to a prison before, nor have I ever felt such sadness for other people’s hurting. As I stood there it occurred to me that these people were very broken and needed Jesus desperately. I realized that when I'm praying for people, I shouldn't let how I want to be displayed or seen block how God wants to speak through me. The people in Trinidad needed Jesus and I couldn't let my comfort zone stop people from receiving him.
去年六月，我有機會到千里達參加宣教之旅。我注意到的一點是，那裡的人們非常友善。他們的友善讓我更容易親近他們，也更容易與他們談論上帝。在整個旅程中，我從未感到被評判或因當地人對待我們的方式而感到沮喪。
我們小組做的一件事是去探訪一所兒童監獄。首先，我們小組的兩位成員帶領大家唱了幾首敬拜歌曲。之後，Pearson牧師講道，講述上帝如何化腐朽為神奇，使看似糟糕的事情變成好事。我相信這對監獄裡的孩子很有幫助，因為他們可能因為自己的過錯而覺得上帝不愛他們。講道結束後，祂邀請我們上去為孩子禱告。我以前從未去過監獄，也從未如此為他人的痛苦感到難過。站在那裡，我意識到這些人非常破碎，他們迫切需要耶穌。我明白，當我為別人禱告時，我不應該讓自己的形像或被他人看待的方式阻礙上帝透過我說話。千里達的人們需要耶穌，我不能讓我的舒適圈阻止他們接受祂。
Everyday we ran a VBS for the local kids in Trinidad. We would talk about the bible, and then go into crafts and games. More kids would come in each day which was very encouraging. Through conflicts between our group members and a shortage of materials, we had to be flexible. Pastor Pearson talked about how the devil was trying to make us less efficient by dividing our group and we couldn't afford to let that happen. Having to be flexible definitely reminded me that this was all for God and not me. Because it was for God, he provided me everything I needed and more. If I had tried to do this all by myself, I would have burned out. Conflict forced me to rely on God for help. One thing I noticed was even through all the hardships these kids faced, they still had such a joyful heart. It made me realize that gratitude is a choice, and complaining is also a choice. Overall I learned that things needed to get done regardless of conflict or how I felt. I realized that joy is a fruit of the spirit that every believer has the seed to produce. We need to choose to be thankful and joyful and work wholeheartedly. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
我們每天都為千里達當地的孩子們舉辦暑期聖經學校（VBS）。我們會一起學習聖經，然後進行手工和遊戲。每天都有更多的孩子來參加，這非常令人鼓舞。由於小組成員之間的衝突以及物資短缺，我們不得不靈活應對。皮爾森牧師談到魔鬼試圖透過分裂小組來降低我們的效率，我們絕不能讓這種情況發生。這種靈活應對讓我更加意識到，這一切都是為了上帝，而不是為了我自己。正因為是為了上帝，祂為我提供了我所需的一切，甚至更多。如果我試著獨自完成這一切，我早就筋疲力盡了。衝突迫使我依靠上帝的幫助。我注意到，即使孩子們面臨種種困難，他們仍然擁有一顆喜樂的心。這讓我意識到，感恩是一種選擇，抱怨也是一種選擇。總而言之，我明白了無論發生衝突還是我的感受如何，事情都必須完成。我意識到，喜樂是聖靈的果實，每個信徒都擁有結出喜樂種子的能力。我們需要選擇感恩和喜樂，並全心全意地工作。“要常常喜樂， 不住地禱告， 凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向你們所定的旨意。” （帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:16-18）
Intercessory prayer was another highlight of this trip. As we were planning to enter the adult women’s prison, we were told that kids under 18 were not allowed in. This means that only the leaders went. We stayed on the bus and we were encouraged to intercede in prayer for our leaders. As I began to pray God took me back to the first time I felt his presence. I began to feel his love and I really hoped every person in that prison building would know how precious God’s love was. I prayed that every heart in there would be filled with the presence of God. I also prayed that our leaders would be reminded of the first time they felt the presence of God so their faith could be rekindled and they could speak with love and hope to the people. After the leaders came out of the prison, they told us they felt the intercessory prayers and how God was moving in people's hearts.
代禱是這趟旅程的另一個亮點。當我們準備進入女子監獄時，被告知18歲以下的未成年人禁止入內。這意味著只有領隊才能進入。我們留在巴士上，並被鼓勵為我們的領隊代禱。當我開始禱告時，神帶領我回到第一次感受到祂同在的那一刻。我開始感受到祂的愛，我真心希望監獄裡的每個人都能明白神的愛是多麼寶貴。我禱告，願那裡每個人的心都被神的同在充滿。我也禱告，願我們的領隊能想起他們第一次感受到神同在的那一刻，使他們的信心得以重燃，並能帶著愛和希望與人們交談。領隊們走出監獄後，告訴我們他們感受到了代禱，也感受到了神在人們心中的感動。
This trip definitely reminded me that God is my source of strength. Also it revealed to me that we need to always be grateful no matter the situation. Overall I'm so grateful to be a part of the Trinidad STM team this year. It was a great experience that helped me grow in my faith and make a lot of new meaningful connections.
這趟短宣讓我更加深刻地體會到，上帝是我力量的泉源。它也讓我明白，無論身處何種境地，我們都該心懷感恩。總而言之，我非常榮幸今年能成為千里達短宣隊的一員。這是一次非常棒的經歷，它幫助我加深了信仰，也讓我認識了許多意義非凡的新朋友。
