Tired Arms

I just flew in from Guatemala and boy are my arms tired! No, I didn’t use them to fly home, but they are tired because I used them in a variety of ways this past week. Along with the rest of our team, we used our arms to dig, hoe, carry, push, lift, and shovel as we helped build a play area for the elementary school at El Sucun, Guatemala, a Mayan farming community. But that’s not all we used our arms for, we also used those same arms to play, to teach, to hug, to wave, to dance, to serve and in all of these things ultimately to love the students and their families on behalf of Jesus Christ, Mission Guatemala, and Newburgh UMC. 

This past week a group of 16 members of NUMC traveled to serve and discover more about the work of Mission Guatemala and the needs of the Mayan people. We visited the pharmacy that we support with our gifts and donations; the community of Nueva Esperanza (New Hope) where the feeding program provides for hungry children and their relationship with the school provides much needed supplies for both students and teachers; and another community displaced after a hurricane, Chutinamit, where new opportunities to support a struggling community are continuing to be developed.

But mostly we simply served the kids of Sucun…because that’s what our arms (and hands) are for!  Jesus welcomed children into his arms; he served us with his hands and he challenges us to do the same. 

It’s been a while since my arms ache like they do, not with pain, but with longing to serve some more; to embrace the ones who need embracing; to feed the ones who are hungry; to show love to those who have experienced little of it. And it doesn’t just happen in Guatemala or other places considered missions, but also right here in Newburgh, in neighborhoods, in schools, in businesses. We have hands and arms and hearts that are aching to serve. It’s why we have them!

Peace ><>
Pastor Chris

PS: Watch and listen for the pictures and stories our Mission Team will be showing and telling in the next few weeks. We have experienced much and cannot wait to share it all!