Mission is a two-way street

“Who knew blisters could feel so good?” (Seen on a Habitat for Humanity shirt)

“They are turning the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6).

“You’re going where with whom to do what?” This was the reaction of some of my friends as I explained my recent trip. I went with two Costa Rican Baptist leaders to a conference in the Great Rivers Region (Illinois-Missouri) then on to Baton Rouge, LA to build houses in a Habitat for Humanity project coordinated by National Ministries of American Baptist Churches USA.

Traditionally mission has been viewed as the north (U.S.A) sending people and resources to the south (Costa Rica for example) to share the love of Christ and help with buildings. This has certainly been a blessing to churches here in Costa Rica and Mylinda and I owe our presence here to the generous support of American Baptist congregations. But when the Great Rivers Region and the Baptist Federation of Costa Rica officially entered into a partnership, there was a desire on both sides that it be a two way street, a mutually edifying relationship.

Having seen first hand the generosity and hard work of Great Rivers groups in Costa Rica, Nidia, Cindy and I were glad to be able to do our part and head to Illinois, then on to Baton Rouge. There we would build houses as part of a Habitat for Humanity building project coordinated and sponsored by National Ministries. More than 50 people from GRR participated in the build. We drove nails together, sweated together, spoke English, Spanish, and Spanglish, and ate jambalaya as brothers and sisters in Christ. We met Carlas, the new homeowner (displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina) who was putting in her sweat equity with a staple gun. She was surprised and overwhelmed that people from Illinois and Costa Rica were helping her and her girls build a home. Her smile made the blisters worthwhile.

Pastor Nidia, Cindy, Randy and Pat McNeely and I were honored to open the week of construction with a prayer of blessing and a hand washing for all the workers. On the last day there were hugs all around and some tears and I couldn’t help but think that this is what I’d seen so often as teams had come to Costa Rica. It was an honor. We’re honored to be part of this relationship and thankful to GRR for helping to bring us to be part of a different kind of mission experience. In our own small way we got to help turn the world upside down.

We’re so thankful to the leadership of GRR and especially to Randy and Pat, Dr. John and Laura Rollet, John Grisham and the churches for taking such good care of us. Thanks also to Vickie Goff at National Ministries for her coordination of the project and to Dr. Aidsand Wright Riggins for his servant leadership.

Gracias,

Gary Baits

International Ministries Missionary in Costa Rica