How do you respond when God calls you to do something that feels too difficult?
Last year, I initially said no. But thankfully, my husband said yes to the same call, and our family of eight joined Browncroft’s intergenerational mission trip to Belize City, Belize this past August. With more than 30 of us total, we worked with the organization Filter of Hope and partnered with local churches to provide clean drinking water to their communities. Our task was to install water filters in homes and to use these filters as a way to share the gospel. In broken Spanish and a lot of gesticulation, we provided safe water, shared testimonies with locals, played soccer with their children, and witnessed God’s Church in a whole new way.
One of the primary advantages of multigenerational missions is the ability to bridge the generational gap. We saw each age group bring its own set of experiences, values, and skills to the table throughout the trip.
Before leaving for the trip, my main hesitation in bringing our six children (ages 7 to 12), was that we might slow the team down or hinder the group efforts. Despite my doubt, God provided wonderful high schoolers and young adults in our group that lovingly welcomed them as family. One of the primary advantages of multigenerational missions is the ability to bridge the generational gap. We saw each age group bring its own set of experiences, values, and skills to the table throughout the trip. By the end of the week, I had developed a deeper understanding and respect for each member of our team. What’s more, we have spent many hours with a handful of them long since returning to Rochester and have continued to be encouraged and inspired in unexpected ways.
Traveling to Belize afforded our children the opportunity to see extreme poverty to a degree that they hadn’t witnessed before. They may have been out of their comfort zone, but they saw and appreciated a culture different from their own. Most importantly, as parents, we were able to show them what it looks like to be the hands and feet of Christ and have them join us in that endeavor. Together, we saw God’s hand at work in our own lives and in the communities we were serving. When the pastor of a local church brought his family to say goodbye to us, he was emotional when explaining how much of an impact it made to have children serving alongside their parents in this way. The different life stages represented in our group was influential to his church and to his children, specifically.
Some other moments when the intergenerational component was powerful came during our nightly debriefs. We would end each day by sharing stories, helpful tips, and lessons learned. Before retiring to our rooms, we sang worship songs as a group, and you could feel the presence of God in the room. It was a moving experience to hear voices from all generations praising God together.
When you feel God’s tug on your heart, I’ve come to realize that taking that leap of faith is always your best option for growth.
When you feel God’s tug on your heart, I’ve come to realize that taking that leap of faith is always your best option for growth. If our family can travel abroad with six young children, any family can do it! I was reminded that God will meet you in your fear and doubt and exceed any expectation you might have.
This spring when I felt God calling us to Browncroft’s next multigenerational mission trip to the Dominican Republic, my answer was a whole-hearted yes. We will be leaving in August with a group of more than 20 people to continue installing water filters in the communities that need it most. I can’t wait to see what our family will learn and how we will grow in our faith this year!
If you would like to learn more about the Filter of Hope ministry and ways you and your family can get involved, be sure to click the button below!
