The Hometown Treasure August 2012 | Page 39

Heart of by Karen Unternahrer Missi ns Short-Term Missions Kimberley Streeter serves with Students International in the Dominican Republic ministering to women and their children in the small and very poor community of El Callejon just outside the city of Jarabacoa. More stories from Kimberley may be found at meetingjesusinelcallejon.blog. In the following article, the students Kim refers to are short-term mission groups from the United States: As we pray for the new day and share testimonies, we start to hear giggles. Standing in the doorway, poking heads up at the windows, little ones come. Another day has started in El Callejon. Why do these kids come day after day? We don’t have video games or television. We aren’t giving them money or other stuff. We aren’t feeding them. Why then? Because the students pay attention to them, even with limited Spanish, the students talk with the children, they play with them, they pick them up and swing them around, they cuddle, they laugh, they are happy to see them, such small, simple things. But, for kids whose moms don’t understand parenting beyond providing some food and clothes, whose dads are either absent or ignore them, this love and attention draws them to come. Sometimes people look at the cost of a short-term mission trip and think that the money would be better invested if it was just sent on. There may be ministries where this is appropriate. But, for us, it’s impossible to show the love of Jesus without being here. God showed us how important we are to Him by sending His Son to live among us. His feet got dirty walking dusty roads, His hands full of germs from touching diseased and leprous people. The sun beat down on His head, He became tired and thirsty. He moved from place to place, reaching out, teaching, loving and being present with those He came to save. Immanuel, God-with-us. In His coming, in His being not just for us, but with us, we are transformed. In our transformation, we are able to reach out with His love. Watching the faces of the little ones of El Callejon light up as the students play with them, we see the possibility of transformation. In the students’ love, we see the love of God-with-us. When Jesus left, He commanded us to go out into the world, to be a part of God-with-us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are humbled and blessed that these young women accepted God’s invitation, God’s command, to come and share God-with-us in El Callejon. Paraphrasing the familiar Forest Whitcraft quote: “A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car you drove, the house you lived in, how big your bank account was. But, El Callejon, the Dominican Republic, and maybe even the world, may be different, maybe a little better, because you were important in the life of these children.” We praise God for bringing students willing to come and be important in the lives of the people of El Callejon. When students come and play with the little ones, share their stories, their love for Jesus, they let the precious people of El Callejon know that they, too, are important, important to us, but most of all, important and beloved of God. That has the potential to change the world. Ad Deadline The advertising deadline for the next issue of The Hometown Treasure is at noon on August 24. The deadline for ads that need a proof is two days earlier; noon on August 22. Homestead Window & Door High Performance Quality Windows New Construction & Replacement Windows at an Affordable Price! Gary Bontrager 8070 W 650 S • Topeka, IN 46571 260-593-2558 x2 Free Estimates • We Install! Renew Hope Counseling Inc. , My passion is helping individuals Individual, Family, Pre-Marital & Adolescent Counseling & families find renewed hope in their lives through confidential Available at these locations: Charlene Roth, LMFT Redi-Care, LaGrange Licensed Marriage & professional counseling Topeka Physicians, Topeka and Family Therapist Marion Mennonite Church, Shipshewana (260) 585-7847 Available at these locations: Redi-Care, LaGrange Topeka Physicians, Topeka Marion Mennonite Church, Shipshewana Charlene Roth, LMFT Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 260-585-7847 Mobile Oil Changes! We come to your home or business to change your oil Mobile Services available • Brakes • Oil Changes • Alternators • Belts & Hoses • Tune-Ups • Diagnostics • FREE Estimates! * Also, on-site forklift repair & service * Insured * Credit Cards Accepted OSA on site auto LLC Call Eric Dunithan: 260.376.0044 The Hometown Treasure · August ‘12 +rr3p??