2 Corinthians 9:6-9
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided to in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
As I read this verse, I am moved by the same sentiment as the rest of the team. We have skills, time, and expertise that the people of Guatemala so desperately need. To us, this trip fills our souls, it fills a void that each of us have, and quiets a restlessness in us. To the people of Guatemala, we become the answer to the prayers they have sent to God, the miracles they so desperately need and long for. God wants us to give with a joyful heart. Each of the beautiful people on this team have that joyfulness within them. I see it in their faces, I see it in their eyes. I witness their selflessness as they become eager to help each other, to take care of each other, as well as they care for the Guatemalan people. I hear it in their laughter, feel it in their hugs, and hurt for them through their tears. They all love so much, in so many ways, and give all they have to give. This team becomes family, embedded forever in your identity. The Guatemalan people become your source of joy and humility as they become forever imprinted in your mind. You gain friends from strangers and anticipate seeing them again the following year.
However, as much as Faith in Practice gives to both the medical teams and people of Guatemala, it is not without work and sacrifice. The very definition of sacrifice from the Cambridge dictionary is “to give up something that is valuable to you in order to help another person.” During this week, the team will sacrifice. We will miss our families, use vacation time from work, miss fourth of July festivities, work through long hours, frustration, power losses, and limited resources, but overall, we will be happy, enjoy fellowship with each other, share stories and laughs, and grow closer together. In the end, we will all know the sacrifice was worth it.
Amy Blok, DNP, CRNA
