Participants: Dick Duerksen
Series Code: MMS
Program Code: MMS003072
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00:00 [music]
00:17 Hi, I know, I'm not Dick Duerksen, 00:21 but this is "Maranatha Mission Stories." 00:23 And today we're here in Nueva Guinea, Nicaragua. 00:27 I'm here on Maranatha's Summer Family Project, 00:30 with my family, having fun, and making a difference. 00:35 You'll hear more about that later, but first, 00:37 here's what's happening in Maranatha's world. 00:41 Last week, the Bulawayo 1 Project kicked off in Zimbabwe, 00:44 where volunteers are building a large education 00:47 and evangelism center. 00:48 Hundreds of people, including church leaders 00:50 from the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, gathered at 00:53 the job-site for the opening ceremony. 00:56 The large building comes complete with several 00:58 classrooms, offices, bathrooms, and auditorium. 01:01 The future primary school will also serve as a church 01:04 in Bulawayo for a congregation of about 300 members. 01:08 Church leaders from Peru report that the work of Maranatha has 01:11 made a significant impact there. 01:13 Just a few years after Maranatha concluded efforts in 01:15 the country, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has flourished 01:18 in areas where there is a new church. 01:21 One such region is in the outskirts of Chiclayo, where 01:24 Ultimate Workout volunteers built five churches in 2006. 01:28 Since then, membership has grown at a rapid pace. 01:31 Read more stories about how missions are transforming 01:34 communities around the world in our quarterly magazine, 01:36 "The Volunteer." 01:38 To join our mailing list, sign up at Maranatha.org. 01:41 This is my very first mission project, but it definitely 01:43 won't be my last. 01:44 Here are some of Maranatha's up and coming projects. 01:47 So what are you waiting for? 01:48 Sign up today. 01:50 Join Maranatha in changing the world by getting involved in 01:53 missions starting this Christmas. 01:56 From December 19 to January 1, we need volunteers for our 01:59 annual Christmas Family Project 02:01 to be held this year in Nicaragua. 02:03 Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join this 02:06 holiday experience. 02:09 It will be a Christmas blessing that your family 02:12 will never forget. 02:18 In January, volunteers are needed for 02:19 the Falakata school project in India. 02:22 We're building 16 One-Day School classrooms. 02:24 Volunteers do not need construction experience 02:27 to join this project. 02:29 If you've had a desire to serve in India, 02:31 this is a great opportunity. 02:33 Your participation will help to change the lives of hundreds 02:35 of children who desperately need a school. 02:38 For more information about all our upcoming projects, 02:41 visit our online project calendar at maranatha.org. 02:51 During the next year, Maranatha will be focused on 02:53 constructing churches and schools in 16 countries. 02:57 The projects will provide a place to worship for almost 02:59 200,000 people and will give more than 26,000 students 03:03 a place to attend school. 03:05 Your help is needed to make these projects a reality. 03:10 To make a gift, please go to Maranatha.org and click on 03:13 the "Donate" button. 03:14 Your donation makes a difference. 03:20 I may be little, but I made a big school in Nicaragua. 03:27 [music] 03:32 Don't let their size fool you. 03:34 These kids, along with their moms, dad, aunts, uncles, 03:38 grandmas, and grandpas transformed a community in 03:41 Nueva Guinea, Nicaragua. 03:45 They were all volunteers on the Summer Family Project, 03:48 a special program that invites people of all ages, 03:51 from 3 to 83, to serve on a mission trip. 03:59 For one little 6-year-old girl, this family project 04:02 was what you could call an early career move. 04:06 I want to be a missionary when I grow up. 04:09 Well, by the time Marjani was three, and I would ask her, "Oh, 04:12 honey, what do you want to be when you grow up," she'd say, 04:14 "Mommy, I want to be a missionary and a doctor." 04:16 It's like, "Oh, that's awesome," and I decided that, you know, 04:20 later on we should try a mission trip while she's young 04:23 so that she could see what the experience is like. 04:26 And you think, "Boy, she's only 6 years old," but there's a lot 04:29 of research that shows that a person is formed 04:32 between birth and the age of 7. 04:34 And if we can get our children to understand what it is to give 04:37 of themselves when they're very young, then there's a good 04:39 chance that when they become adults, they will actually want 04:43 to be giving and caring about the community around them, 04:46 so I thought it would be a great experience for her 04:48 while she was young. 04:49 So when Roxanne heard about Maranatha's Summer Family 04:52 Project, she felt it would be the perfect environment 04:55 for Marjani's first mission experience. 04:59 What kind of families come on the Summer Family Project? 05:02 Every kind of family you can imagine. 05:05 We have single people coming. 05:06 We have divorced people. 05:08 We have families of husband and wife and child. 05:10 We sometimes have a grandparent and a grandchild. 05:14 We have people who are not even biologically related, 05:16 but they're friends of the friend, 05:18 and so that family becomes enlarged. 05:20 For us, whoever is part of God is part of the family, and so 05:25 we've become one large family. 05:27 We look out for each other and you're gonna find 05:29 all kinds of diversity here. 05:32 For the August family, the idea of serving together 05:35 was appealing. 05:37 I think that we model the behavior for our children, 05:40 and if your children are seeing that you give your time 05:44 to others, they, too, fall in line with that. 05:46 And with us coming together, that was the understanding, 05:49 before we even left Connecticut, that we're going there to help 05:52 as the August family, the August team. 05:55 The August team joined other families to help construct 05:58 a large school and reach out to the community 06:00 through medical clinics and children's programs. 06:05 [music] 06:31 Hundreds in Nueva Guinea were positively impacted, but some 06:34 of the biggest transformations were taking place within 06:37 the volunteer group. 06:39 For Johanna Viteri of Massachusetts, the Family 06:42 Project not only drew her closer to God, but closer to her son. 06:47 My son did not want to come here. 06:50 I did tell him we were going on a mission trip, 06:52 but I left out all of the details. 06:54 I really love home. 06:55 I love my friends and my home and my state, and so I didn't 07:00 really want to come at first. 07:02 Despite J.P.'s apprehension, 07:04 Johanna felt serving together would be a great way 07:11 Well, my son just graduated from high school and I thought, 07:15 before he goes out into the world and-- 07:18 you know, sometimes when the kids leave for college, 07:21 they never come back home. 07:23 I wanted to have this experience with him. 07:25 Being fluent in Spanish meant Johanna and J.P. 07:29 were in high demand. 07:31 They worked in all aspects of the project and that time 07:34 spent together bonded them. 07:37 Out here, it's just simple, and you really have to 07:39 communicate more with, you know, with people face-to-face. 07:42 And it's forcing me--well, not forcing me, but it is more like 07:48 encouraged me more to, you know, talk to my mom more and we've 07:52 actually, you know, strengthened our relationship already. 07:55 We have really bonded, you know. 07:57 In the mornings, we have worship together, 07:59 even before the worship 08:00 that we do as a group, and we've been able to share 08:03 some things of why we're here, our feelings, and I think 08:09 this has really made us stronger as a mom and son. 08:12 But not everyone came with a relative. 08:16 For Nick Vera Cruz, who came alone, Maranatha's projects have 08:20 become a way for him to heal and find family. 08:25 Going back just a year, 2009, December 5th, my wife passed 08:29 away and by March of 2010, I was very lonely and down. 08:38 And I called Maranatha, the office, and I asked 08:42 if I could go on a mission trip. 08:45 And they told me that there was one coming up in June. 08:48 It was a family mission trip they were going to 08:51 Tonala, Mexico, and so I asked if I could go along, 08:55 and they said yes. 08:56 We'd love to have you. 08:58 That first trip sparked a whole new passion 09:01 in Nick's life. 09:03 When I first went to Mexico, I was still kind of down, 09:07 but excited about this trip. 09:10 And I left Mexico and that experience had changed me, 09:16 had done a great thing for my spiritual 09:20 and emotional feelings. 09:23 So ever since then, I've been so involved with Maranatha. 09:27 I've been on five mission trips. 09:29 This is my fifth one, and every one of them is different. 09:33 It was just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful experience. 09:38 Nick isn't the only one hooked on missions. 09:41 I want to go on another mission trip, and I want to 09:46 because it's very, very fun. 09:49 You know, when you look back on the back of the Sabbath School 09:52 quarterly and you see where the mission offering is gonna 09:54 go, you know, for 13th Sabbath, it has greater meaning 09:56 for us now because we've been on a mission trip. 09:59 I think kids should go on a mission trip just to get 10:02 a little taste of what it's like in different countries where 10:06 other kids live and know exactly how they would feel if, 10:11 you know, if they didn't have a school or they didn't have 10:14 a church or things like that. 10:20 By God's grace, I want to come back on a yearly basis. 10:24 I want it to be a part of my child's, you know, when she 10:27 looks back on her life, that this was a tradition that 10:29 the August family did, and that in turn, that she'll just grow 10:33 to be someone that sees the importance of mission. 10:38 I think this trip just kind of has opened their eyes to how 10:41 blessed they are and I just hope that they'll learn to use 10:44 what they have to bless other people. 10:56 I'm going back home and I'm telling everybody, 10:59 all of my friends, that they have to do this. 11:01 Forget about going on a cruise or on a lavish vacation. 11:05 If you want to have the experience of a lifetime, 11:08 you definitely want to do a mission trip with Maranatha. 11:16 Most of the schools in Livingstone are government. 11:19 Other children are going to schools that do not teach us 11:22 the doctrines of the church. 11:24 Parents, they have no choice. 11:26 They have no chance to choose where to take their children. 11:29 Two years ago, Maranatha volunteers answered many prayers 11:32 by building two primary schools in Livingstone, Zambia. 11:37 Today, hundreds of children are receiving a Christian education, 11:40 but there is still no Adventist secondary school. 11:44 Beginning in January 2013, help Maranatha build an education and 11:49 evangelism center, along with seven One-Day School classrooms. 11:54 Medical outreach and children's programs will also be conducted 11:57 in surrounding villages. 11:59 You'll also get to see the breathtaking waters of 12:01 Victoria Falls, take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, 12:05 and experience the thrill of a safari game drive. 12:09 The children of Livingstone are waiting for you. 12:12 Sign up today. 12:15 As you know, Summer Family Project is all about families. 12:20 So we figured it would be a good idea to bring 12:21 a family to "Maranatha Mission Stories" today. 12:24 The Milson's, from right here in California, 12:26 and I've got Katrina, Jaimie, and Ron, correct? 12:29 - That's it. - Or Bob. 12:31 Did you guys all figure out who you were in Spanish 12:34 once you got down to Nicaragua? 12:38 [laughing] 12:40 Was that a bit of a challenge? 12:41 It was. 12:42 I mean, speaking the Spanish language is a challenge 12:46 for us because we don't know any Spanish whatsoever. 12:50 Has it been a challenge speaking American English? 12:53 Because you're all from Australia, right? 12:55 Yes. 12:56 But that's been a good thing, right? 12:58 It's been a good thing. 12:59 We love hearing good Aussie accents here. 13:01 You need to know that. 13:03 Big question. 13:04 You have your options. 13:06 It's March last year. 13:07 You can go to Disneyland. 13:09 You can go to Legoland. 13:11 You can go to a variety of places, and somebody says, 13:14 "Well, how about going on Summer Family Project?" 13:17 How did you make the decision and why? 13:20 Well, I guess, you mentioned Disneyland in there. 13:22 Well, I guess that's kind of easy. 13:24 We've been there a few times already. 13:25 But we've always heard about Maranatha, and recently there's 13:30 been these family mission trips, and we've always had them 13:33 on our mind, but either the time didn't work out or the funding 13:36 didn't working out. 13:37 So we prayed about it last year and we thought, 13:40 "Well, let's see if we can do it. 13:41 "If God can help us save up the money, then I'm sure 13:43 God can help us be involved and partake in this family project." 13:47 And we thought, "Well, let's do it. 13:50 Let's do it. 13:51 We've heard a lot about it. 13:52 We've heard people come back with some amazing stories, 13:54 amazing experiences," 13:55 and so, "Look, we want a part of that, too." 13:58 So away you went. 13:59 The money came together. 14:01 The money came together and the time came together, 14:02 and it all fell into place. 14:05 At what point on the trip did you feel you were truly 14:08 on a mission experience? 14:11 I guess once you hit Nueva Guinea and then you 14:15 feel the heat and you feel the humidity, 14:18 and you're like, "Yes, we're really living 14:21 the mission experience," and I guess also, 14:25 the trip down there, you see the way they live and you see 14:30 the different houses and how they live, you just feel, 14:35 "We're really here and we're really gonna be doing something 14:38 for these people." 14:40 It was a cultural thing. 14:41 As soon as we landed in Managua, other than the heat, we just 14:44 heard different language, different people, 14:46 different culture, so we knew then and there that, 14:48 "Hey, we're on a mission trip." 14:51 Now, when you got into the hotel, Jaimie, 14:53 in Nueva Guinea, New Guinea. 14:57 You ever been to New Guinea, Nicaragua? 14:58 It's just crazy, isn't it? 15:00 But you got into your hotel. 15:01 Did it feel just like home? 15:02 No. 15:04 What was different? 15:05 Okay, let's go and pick names. 15:08 Bedbugs, small bed, dirty, 15:13 and a whole bunch of other things. 15:16 And there wasn't a whole lot of hot water. 15:18 No, not really. 15:19 Now, what is that laugh about? 15:21 There wasn't any hot water? 15:22 Is that what that meant? 15:24 If you had water-- 15:25 If you had water, you prayed it would be hot? 15:27 Well, actually, it doesn't matter whether it was 15:28 cold or hot. 15:30 If you had water, then you know you're being blessed. 15:32 There was one instance where we came back from, 15:36 I think, first or second day. 15:37 I can't remember what day it was. 15:39 You know, you're all dirty, you're all smelly, you're 15:41 all sweaty, and yeah, the first thing you want to do is get up 15:44 to your room and take a shower. 15:45 So we went there, or I got in there and turned 15:47 the water on and guess what? 15:49 No water. 15:50 It's better to have it happen that way than to get all soaped 15:53 up and then there's no water. 15:55 Well, that's true. 15:56 So then we had to do the old-fashioned way. 15:58 Katrina got some bottles and, you know. 16:01 - And it worked just fine. -It works just find, yep. 16:03 It works just fine. 16:04 I want to know what each of you did on the project itself. 16:07 The reason I wanted to know about where you were, I mean, 16:10 it's so different from where you live in Melbourne 16:13 and where you live here in California. 16:15 Is it okay to go someplace that's that different? 16:19 Absolutely. 16:20 We wouldn't have gone, you know, if we didn't know it was okay. 16:23 And we were assured by Steve Case at Maranatha 16:25 that it was a safe place to go. 16:26 It was safe, just don't worry about the water. 16:28 That's right. It was very safe. 16:29 So what did you do every day? 16:31 Well, I was involved with the construction projects, 16:33 so I was there and we'd get up early in the morning. 16:37 We'd get ready. 16:38 We'd hop on a bus. 16:40 The bus ride wasn't that long, 16:42 so we could have even walked if we wanted to. 16:44 But we're all together as a team. 16:46 I liked that family atmosphere and the team atmosphere. 16:48 So we got there. 16:49 We laid block. 16:51 Actually, that was part of our project, we laid block there, 16:53 so we did that every day. 16:55 And occasionally I would be involved with the kids, 17:00 helping out with the kids. 17:02 - The VBS. - The Vacation Bible school. 17:04 So occasionally I'd help out with the VBS, because I love 17:06 kids and I wanted to see my son there being involved, 17:08 so I think once or twice I did that as well, too. 17:11 Jaimie, you get ready. 17:13 What did you do, Katrina? 17:14 I did a variety of things, actually. 17:16 I mean, I guess the first-- I was involved 17:18 with the construction project, which is interesting, because-- 17:21 You were laying blocks, too? 17:22 I was laying blocks, too, yes, 17:24 as much as I could probably lift. 17:25 I guess I was involved with putting the cement into 17:29 the places where it needs to go. 17:31 She was throwing mud around. 17:33 I was throwing mud around. 17:35 But also, I was involved with, which is really, 17:38 really interesting, the medical ministry. 17:40 The medical--the day that we went to the City Hall, where 17:46 the mayor's offices are, and we had the opportunity to 17:53 see the people that came in, that worked for the city, 17:56 works the for the City Hall. 18:00 And so they came with their families, and they were 18:03 to get checked, you know, by the various doctors there. 18:07 I was basically getting the people in order 18:08 and collecting tickets. 18:10 They had tickets, you know, that was for them. 18:12 And it was great to see the people come through, because 18:16 they really appreciated the time that we spent with them. 18:19 Did you make some good friends? 18:21 As much as I could speak the language, I made some 18:24 good friends, you know, within the people in the community. 18:27 I made friends with the little children and I made friends 18:31 with the mothers that were there, helping them out 18:32 as much as I probably could, 18:34 communicating as much as I possibly could with them. 18:37 But it was very interesting, and so I spent some time, 18:41 one day with the medical ministry. 18:44 Also, I got a chance to spend one day with the kitchen crew, 18:48 and that was a very interesting aspect. 18:51 It's Loretta. 18:53 She was fantastic in heading up the kitchen and also just 18:57 organizing everything that we needed from the meals to, 19:00 just the snacks and everything and the lunches. 19:03 So did Loretta make cinnamon rolls? 19:07 Not this time around. 19:08 Not this time? 19:09 You're gonna have to come on another trip. 19:13 But what I loved from that, we had the pineapple juice. 19:19 The fresh pineapple that was from the local markets 19:26 and it was crushed and made. 19:28 It was absolutely gorgeous. 19:29 But the food in general was fantastic, and so I spent a day 19:34 with her in the kitchen and she took us out to the markets 19:37 to buy the produce and to buy the bread. 19:41 So we got to see everything, you know, what they do 19:45 in the marketplace. 19:46 The way it really is, exactly, and that was really fun. 19:49 So Jaimie, what did you do? 19:51 Well, I did construction. 19:54 Now, I see you holding the bricks and putting them in, 19:56 the big blocks? 19:57 Sort of. 19:59 With help from his dad. 20:00 That's good. That's what it's about. 20:02 It's about help from mom and dad to make it work. 20:04 Yeah. 20:06 So I did, like, I put paste or the mud, whatever, 20:12 on the bricks, and someone else would lift it up 20:16 and I would help them. 20:18 And when I thought of construction, 20:20 I meant like construction 20:21 like you see in the city or something like that. 20:23 I thought I couldn't even do it, but then when I saw it like this 20:27 and I saw a lot of kids doing it, and so I'm like, 20:31 "Oh, this is gonna be fun," so I just decided to do it. 20:33 And have a good time. 20:35 Now, you told me that someday you want to be a contractor, 20:38 at least do construction in your life. 20:40 When did I say that? 20:41 A little bit earlier. 20:42 Is that something you really want to do? 20:44 Maybe. 20:45 Did this trip help you decide that? 20:49 I don't really know. 20:52 I didn't really think of that. 20:53 So I have another question, then, for your family. 20:55 As you look back at this now, 'cause it's been several months, 20:59 what is the impact of going on this trip on your spirituality 21:03 in your family? 21:06 The one thing that I have really, I guess, focused on now 21:11 and as a family, spiritually to emphasize the value 21:20 that you place upon someone's life, or people's lives, 21:25 by being of service to them. 21:28 I think that by placing that value on them, how much more 21:34 would they see the value that God places on them? 21:39 And so, it's just amazing how, you know, you're part of, 21:44 you know, I guess bringing God to them whether they know God 21:48 or don't know God. 21:50 And then giving the opportunity for them to basically, you know, 21:56 start a relationship with him. 21:58 Get to know him, and that's all part and parcel 22:01 with serving others. 22:03 She just said the right word, to serve. 22:06 I mean, we know Christ came here to this earth, to our earth, our 22:10 home, to serve, and that's one thing we've always as a family 22:13 wanted to do. 22:14 Through our lives, and I'm sure through yours as well. 22:17 You've probably done many projects and, you know, 22:18 we're always involved in serving. 22:20 We wanted to give Jaimie the opportunity, too, 22:22 to experience what it's like to go to a different country 22:24 and to serve other people. 22:26 And there's always a verse that I always want to remember 22:29 in the Bible, when Jesus says, "By this all men will know 22:32 that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 22:35 And we know about the people of Nicaragua, but it's not until 22:40 you really go there and you actually see them and hug them 22:44 and talk to them in some language or way. 22:47 Communicate in some way. 22:48 In some way you communicate that it really makes you try to 22:50 understand that, you know, how much we love each other. 22:53 And that's what makes it real, isn't it? 22:55 That's right. 22:57 So where next? 22:58 Well, we don't know. 22:59 I mean, we're thinking and we're talking about the next Maranatha 23:02 family mission trip. 23:03 We know the dates but unfortunately, 23:05 we don't know where yet. 23:07 Are you just about ready to get your passport out? 23:09 Yes, actually, yeah. 23:11 We're actually heading off to Australia in December to renew 23:14 our visas, so once we come back, we'll be ready and armed. 23:18 Thanks so much for coming here and sharing today, and 23:20 I'm looking forward to seeing you somewhere next summer. 23:23 -Thank you. - Thank you. 23:26 - Jaimie, you're awesome. - Thank you. 23:28 -God bless. - You, too. 23:30 Thank you. 23:32 [music] 23:47 [music] 24:03 [music] 24:18 [music] 24:31 There was a day in Israel 24:32 when Jesus stopped his disciples cold. 24:35 He'd been healing some of the older folks in town, 24:38 the hard of hearing, the ones with cataracts 24:41 blinding their vision, 24:42 the ones needing knee or hip replacements, when a crowd of 24:45 active children finally grew too loud for the disciples 24:49 to handle anymore. 24:51 You've been there. 24:52 Trying to do a job that requires your fully-concentrated 24:55 attention, when suddenly the kids are arguing loudly or 24:59 the cat jumps up on the table, and everyone starts yelling 25:02 at her to get down, and you want to shout for them all 25:06 to shut up. 25:08 That's where the disciples were, ready to shout and already 25:12 shouting at the kids. 25:14 "Get out of here. 25:15 "Can't you see Jesus needs you to be quiet? 25:17 "Go home and play. Go somewhere else. 25:20 "Get out of here. 25:22 We're doing important things." 25:24 Jesus stopped them in mid-command. 25:27 "Excuse me, fellas," I can hear him say. 25:30 "I need those kids. 25:33 "I love hearing them play. 25:35 "It's like heavenly music to my ears. 25:38 Makes it easier for me to work to have kids around." 25:42 You know, that brings on a very uncomfortable silence, 25:47 a long one. 25:49 The Master breaks it. 25:52 "I want everyone to hear this. 25:54 "Around my home in heaven, there are lots of kids. 25:58 "In fact, the only way to get in the gates of heaven is 26:02 "to become like one of these bright-eyed wonders. 26:06 Come here, kids." 26:08 And they all obey, slipping through the lines of elders 26:11 waiting to be healed, piling on his lap like a swarm 26:14 of happy puppies. 26:17 "Now," he says when they're all settled, 26:19 "What story would you like to hear?" 26:23 And thus, the first Family Project began. 26:27 Jesus, kids, parents, needy and disciples, 26:31 all together sharing in the story of redemption. 26:38 Maranatha needs your continued support to build 26:40 more churches and schools for 26:42 the growing Adventist Church around the world. 26:44 For more information about how you can get involved, 26:46 call 800-467-6384, 26:50 or you can visit our website at maranatha.org 26:53 for information on upcoming volunteer opportunities 26:56 or to donate online. 26:58 You can also send your gift in the mail to: 27:00 Maranatha Volunteers International, 27:03 990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100, Roseville, California 95678. 27:09 Thank you for your support. 27:11 Our website is maranatha.org. 27:14 Maranatha volunteers often say that for them, 27:17 missions is not a one-time event. 27:20 It's a lifestyle. 27:21 It's who they are 27:23 and who they are teaching their children to be. 27:26 It's great to see so many parents giving their kids 27:29 a head start on that philosophy, and it's also inspiring to see 27:33 that we're already training the next generation 27:36 of Maranatha volunteers. 27:38 If you would like to watch this episode again, or download it 27:42 to share with friends or your church group, 27:44 please visit on us online at maranatha.org. 27:49 Thanks for watching today. 27:51 I'm Dick Duerksen, host of "Maranatha Mission Stories," 27:54 and I'm looking forward to seeing you next time. 27:59 [music] 28:24 CC by Aberdeen Captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.abercap.com |
Revised 2013-06-28