Relevant Mission

Reflections from Ecuador Mission Trip

By John Sherrer

Continued from front page

This is one such moment for me, as I attempt to impart a fraction of the fulfillment and excitement I came to know by participating in this summer's St. John's mission in Ecuador . Already my choice of words bears significant meaning. Some readers have read my last sentence as “the St. John's Youth Mission to Ecuador .” Led by Dorian Del Priore, Director of Youth Ministries, this endeavor involved five adult leaders and nine youth of various ages, experiences, and interests. Much of its focus was youth and much of the experience occurred in a country thousands of miles away from our Shandon church. However, what transpired, from the time I became involved around February 2011 until the time of my writing this piece, involved people of all ages and of different nationalities, here, in transit between Columbia and Quito , throughout Ecuador – a country of which I knew very little about initially, and finally back here at home.

 What I first viewed as a “youth mission trip” became for me a journey in which I, as an adult, embarked upon with youth of St. John's and members of St. Christopher's of Spartanburg . In our formational meetings we came to appreciate that we were part of something greater than a ten-day trip to a foreign country. What we had embraced was not, in sports parlance, a “one and done” kind of thing. Its impact would resonate well beyond our time abroad and offer greater meaning for further spiritual development – regardless of our respective ages.

 

This realization came to me in many ways over the course of the days while representing St. John's international outreach efforts along Ecuador 's coast in the seaside town of Atacames , in the barrios of Quito , and within Cotopaxi Province . Each venue provided a wellspring of memories – working with our host team from Youth World in Christian outreach to children and adults. This took many forms – dramatic performances, song, spirited games of soccer, manual labor, and simply listening to others as they shared their faith journeys.

 

How did I come to share in this wonderful experience? I was motivated by those who had gone before me in earlier missions (Dorian's energy for this work naturally caused others to gravitate to the cause)! I had a genuine desire to get to know and members of St. John's youth in the hope that I could better appreciate fellow parishioners with whom I had had little previous interaction. And, perhaps even more I felt I needed to stretch my faith in ways that I had not been able to thus far as an adult. I wanted to place myself in a situation that would essentially create a form of spiritual boot camp in which I could prime the pump for growth later back home.

 

My experience exceeded any initial hopes I might have had. Our youth at St. John's were amazing in their depth of character and spiritual gifts. My adult colleagues with whom I had the pleasure of serving helped me grow beyond measure. Culturally, I came to appreciate a people previously unknown, while returning to have keener appreciation for how I might not only serve them but also how I may be a better Christian here at home within my community.

 

In short, on June 6 th , I thought I was taking a trip as part of a Christian youth missionary project. While in Ecuador and upon my return to Columbia I realized that the word is too confining and simply does not define what is essentially a chapter in a far longer spiritual journey. I look back on my time away from Columbia fondly, as I came to know myself and others in ways that previously I had not. I enjoyed seeking a deeper meaning in my faith in an environment that challenged me in ways I had not predicted.

 

My hope is that what I experienced in Ecuador this summer might be something that catalyzes further interest on the part of St. John's members – both in terms of youth missions and adult missions, the latter of which might be something for which many among you yearn but have yet to have any outlet. Consider how you may growth through such an experience and then work toward that goal. It will be an experience whose fruits will be plentiful.