Bethel Assembly of God

2007 Argentina Mission

Recently a member of this Assembly of Bethel traveled with a team to minister the love of Jesus to the people of Argentina. Below is a personal account of her trip:

I thank the Lord for how He used you and me together in Argentina. There were many who came to Christ and many who attentively listened to the gospel. I saw people have a precise understanding of their make decisions to live repented lives for Christ rather than for self. I saw leadership with deep loyalty, who fully comprehend the purpose of missions is to make followers of Christ and not mere converts. Their desires are to have bible studies with the new converts and have them become aware of God's word to them and grow. For me to be able to work with the believers in the Patagonian city of Neuquén, Argentina was a blessing beyond words.

When I think about my 12 days in Argentina, my thoughts are of a great harvest field, exhaustion and passion. The Lord showed me and others, we can have whatever we ask in prayer according to His riches in glory and His will. Surely it was(and is) true as we saw many come to Christ. In all this time there was fun, laughter, humor, great friendships, wonderful hospitality amongst the terrific co-laborers. How quickly time passes when you are enjoying your experience so thoroughly!

From the onset of the trip, we were instructed to pray for one family to come to know Jesus. Our prayer was for studying the bible with them as well as having them become pillars in the new church. God bless me and my translator with TWO families. Although we saw many come to have Jesus as Lord in their lives, I felt like there was something more I desired of God. So I asked God about it. The last day we were with a young man and his wife, they asked me how I felt being there. If they were referring to their country, I said, "I loved being there". As for their home, I replied, "I felt such warm hospitality and such ease as though I was in my own home". Then the young man spoke up. He shared with me when others had come to share Christ, he would make himself busy or say he had to go to work and leave. But the day I came with Eliud, he said for some unknown reason he wanted to hear what I had to say. I was so deeply touched by what he shared. I know Jesus was showing me this was my purpose.

Now for the second family God blessed us with, we could actually see the countenance of the man of the home change. He told his wife he was making a decision regardless of what she was to do. The following day we came back to have bible study with him. We found he had a son in addition to the 2 daughters we made the day earlier. We just happen(God knew) to have 3rd person with us. We had another man join us from the church. He decided to do the bible study or discipleship study with father, while me and my translator shared with his son. His son received Christ with such understanding as his father did. God surely blessed this home as he did the one above.

To shine the “light” of Christ on sin and point another to the path of righteousness produces so much joy. I like to think it is simply another gift given to us by Christ. To serve the Lord on the mission field is more than sacrifice. It is a special honor. I have never found anything more fulfilling in my entire life (after Christ of course). I thank each one for all the faithful support, prayers and toys! The children and parents were utterly amazed, that a church from the states took time to send them and would care about them so much. I can not convey how much it blessed their hearts.

I would like to talk to those who have not gone on a short term mission trip and who may think of foreign missions as ALL hard work, long hours, difficult living conditions, strange foods, unsanitary environments, and frustrating experiences in a country where one doesn’t know the language, customs, or culture. Boy-oh-boy that is short sighted and partial truth. The benefits of serving are seeing lives changed and renewed with hope. Those treasures reaped are the core descriptions about mission trips and are laid up in heaven forever.

God prepares the hearts of those whom He draws to Himself. To be able to be present as blind eyes are opened and Christ is revealed is an experience never to be missed. A servant's heart becomes bonded to his new brother or sister in Christ. You form a relationship with them and your interpreter, deeper than you may think. Your shared experiences with your team mates produce a reciprocal love that is extraordinary. The times are unforgettable. I like to imagine the joy is in heaven among all the angels and tell my new brothers and sisters to remain faithful. If I never see them again in this life, we should look for each other in heaven.

Please continue to pray how the Lord will use you in missions. I want you to consider a biblical truth I see personally, "the fields are white unto the harvest but the workers are few."  In your obedience and pursuance (regardless of capacity) you will experience God in a dimension as never before as surely His word is true.