We’re On a Mission

By Marcy Stenstrom

      Our families think we’re crazy. My husband and I are going on the Mustard Seed Communities mission trip to Nicaragua this March. We’re only going for one week and we’re not taking our children. We’re actually going to help children in an area of the world where poverty is rampant and some children may have been abused or have severe disabilities and are abandoned by parents who could not take care of them.  Since we’ve been blessed with two young daughters, we have experienced an intense passion for children who are struggling to survive. We feel called to go on this trip with Millie and several other faithful, passionate and adventurous people.  And we don’t think that the calling from Christ to aid our brothers and sisters is crazy.

      “Mustard Seed Communities is a non-profit, community development organization that began in 1978 in the depressed community of Mona Common on the outskirts of the city of Kingston, Jamaica. Mustard Seed’s objective is to promote the enrichment and empowerment of the spiritually, psychologically and financially poor that live in urban communities, to assist them in leaving the cycles of frustration and hopelessness that dominate their lives.” (www.mustardseed.com) 

      I did my homework and researched Mustard Seed (see their website shown above) as well as Managua, Nicaragua. We’ve sent out our letters asking for prayers and donations from family and friends. We feel very supported in their response to our call. Even though I pray that God will lead us to do His work and use our hands and skills and talents that He gave us, we are in need of material donations to take with us to the orphanage and community in need.

      All missionaries have only one carry-on bag for our clothing and personal items. We’ll each have two large suitcases to fill with items that the people of Nicaragua will need. Millie has included a listing of these items in the bulletin. We are in dire need of your help. Please look at this list now and perhaps when the snow begins to melt as you do some spring-cleaning. Put a paper shopping bag in each room of your home and as you clean and organize, refer to Millie’s list and put items in the bag that the children and workers of Nicaragua could use. Ask family members if they have baby and kids clothing that they have outgrown. Or keep the list with you for the next time you do some shopping. Pick out a few things off the list that would be an easy monetary sacrifice. You can drop off your donations at the parish office in the school building. We have a lot of suitcases to fill and I know that our homes are full of items that are no longer useful to us but of great need to someone else. Even though many church members may never travel to a third world country I believe that we’re all on a mission.