July 1, I began a six week journey with two young ladies Keira and Sarah. The first two week were spent in Guyana.We left Chicago around 7 am July 1, arrived in Houston a few hours later, and then waited for our overnight flight to Guyana. Due to a hurricane, we took a different route and flew East over Florida and down through the Caribbean Islands. We arrived in Georgetown at 1 or 2 am, and after moving through customs and immigration, we then waited outside the airport for our ride. We were taken to a place to sleep for about two hours, and then got up to be at the local airport for our last flight into Port Kaituma. After a bit of trouble with bags and tickets due to not having Guyana money, we went to wait for our plane. By this point, we had been up almost 48 hours due to not sleeping much the night before we left Chicago. The plane was a small 12 seat plane. Our pilot was great, and we had no issues with the quick one hour flight.
Upon arrival in Port Kaituma, Mrs. Runyon met us and helped us gather our bags. We arrived at Lighthouse Baptist Church Port Kaituma, unloaded our bags, and the two girls promptly took a nap. They slept through lunch, and were awakened for dinner. I on the other hand was wide awake. I traveled to a very poor village two hours away where we held a church service and Sunday school. I taught Sunday school to the children. It was fun being in a country where the people spoke English and I could teach unhindered by language barriers. While driving to and from this very poor village, we passed Jonestown, the location where Jim Jones killed many people in the name of religion. I am thankful that instead of religion, we helped bring Jesus to the people of the poor community.
The first week in Guyana, we ladies helped prepare crafts for the VBS. We were up many nights until midnight or later. On Monday of the VBS week, a group of 14 people arrived from the States to help with VBS. I began cooking all the meals so that Mrs. Runyon could direct the craft preparations and prepare the workers for their responsibilities during VBS. A lady named Bibi became my cooking partner. I was up by 6:30 or seven everyday depending on what I was making for breakfast, and Bibi would arrive by 8. She would stay and cook all day until 5-6 pm. Many times, after she would leave, I was up until midnight prepping whatever I could for the next day's meals and helping Mrs. Runyon with various tasks.
Although I did not work in VBS, I was able to teach kids' classes on Sunday and Thursday, play the piano, including learning and playing the VBS theme song, and singing a few specials. Some might think that not being involved in the VBS programs, getting to teach, or getting to witness to the kids was a bad thing, but because I was in the kitchen, Mrs. Runyon was able to keep VBS running smoothly. Otherwise, she would have been running in the kitchen to cook and then running around trying to help wherever needed. Many times we think the most important jobs are the ones people see, but if people don't have food, they cannot keep going.
We had over 200 kids most days of VBS, and the highest day of kids was 283. On the last day with all the parents, we had 310. There were several salvation decisions throughout the week. While still in the US, I had collected stuffed animals from my community to bring for giveaways. Over 100 children received a stuffed animal.
Some think being a missionary means you go out and plant churches, but not all missionaries do this. The first woman missionary was Phebe who was sent by the church in Cenchrea to the church in Rome to be a helper. Romans 16:1-2 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also." God isn't looking for just preachers and church planters to be missionaries. If you swing a hammer, hang drywall, clean, cook, take care of kids, work in ministry, and are willing to do whatever needs to be done, God can use you on the mission field. Moreover, you don't have to wait 3-5 years to raise support or stay permanently on a field if you go as a short-term, support missionary . Most countries allow a 3 month visa. In some you can get extended visas. If you have a vacation, go help a missionary. If you are retired, go help a missionary. If you plan to be a pastor or missionary, go help a missionary. It doesn't matter if you are single or married, missionaries need help. More missionaries leave the field because of burnout than for any other reason.
Sightseeing, Fun, Animals...
Guyana is home to a large blue butterfly. One of these flew behind the house on several occasions, and his wingspan was as big as my two hands held side by side. I never did get a picture of him. I did get pictures of toucans, a scarlet Macaw and several other birds. Mrs. Runyon has a baby monkey named Coco. The first couple days, he liked me, but one day, Mrs. Runyon's grandson was teasing him by taking his blanket. I tried to get the blanket back, and from then on Coco thought I was the one who took his blanket. He would scream at me every time I came out the door.
I was able to take a boat ride on a river, and ended up in a rain storm on the way back. Since Guyana was so hot, I didn't mind getting wet. While visiting for VBS, I took a tumble in some deep mud. Another day, I ended up walking with Bibi in the rain while shopping. We returned the same way we had come from the church, and ended up in several flooded streets. It was an adventure. In Georgetown, We were able to see the ocean, the largest indigenous hut still standing, had an amazing Chinese meal, and good fellowship with the missionaries.
The girls and I were taken to the airport at 9 pm on Monday night. Our flight left at 12:30 am. We flew to Houston, then Fort Lauderdale, collected our luggage in Fort Lauderdale, and then switched terminals. We flew from Fort Lauderdale to Bogata,Colombia, and then from there to Santiago, Chile, and finally to Concepcion, Chile. We arrived in Concepcion on Wednesday morning. We will be here 3 weeks helping the Saints with their children, cooking and keeping house as well as any other ministry work they may have for us.
Please pray as one of the girls has been ill since we left Guyana. She is doing much better, but still has some more healing needed
