Injured on a Mission Trip
Mission Trip
My last blog post was written just before my mission trip to Mazatlan, Mexico, and in it, I wrote about living with severe, chronic pain. I did not understand why I needed to write that, let alone publish that, at a time when I was so busy getting ready for a mission trip. Now I understand much better! I would need my writing to help me through what happened to me during my mission trip!
Let me back up a minute. I need to tell you that before the end of July 2018, I had never been on a mission trip. As a preteen, I had read a book about a nun who was ministering to people in other countries, and I promptly told my Mom I wanted to become a nun. She was horrified and very clear when she said to me, “You are NOT Catholic! You can’t be a nun! Or a missionary!” I walked away sad and let the topic drop. That door was slammed shut in my face before I even had a chance to find out what was behind it!
Decades later I heard about a co-worker who had gone on a mission trip as a nurse. It intrigued me until I found out she had to pay out of pocket for the whole trip. My immediate thought was, “Oh, that’s just for rich people.” That was also before I had a personal relationship with Jesus, so I just let it drop.
El Salvador
Fast forward to the winter of 2018 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My church announced an upcoming mission trip to El Salvador. I turned to a friend sitting in church sitting next to me and told her I wished someone would gift me a ticket because I wanted I could go. That friend and another sitting on the other side of me told me to step out in faith and sign up. I did so with some hesitation.
I had no idea where the money would come from or a trip like this, but I was obedient and filled out the necessary paperwork. My friends were right-if you step out in faith and be willing to be obedient to God He will provide. The funds came through at almost the last minute, but I had what I needed, and I made the trip. It was my first mission trip but also my first time out of the country other than crossing over into Canada just a few miles when I lived in Michigan.
It was a fantastic experience, one that was genuinely heart-wrenching. So much beauty contrasted with homes protected by barred walls topped with razor wire for their protection. There, the women know that every day in their capital city of Sans Salvador 7 or women will be abducted off of the streets each day, raped, tortured, and murdered. Every day!
My first mission trip was not to be my last, and I knew that as I boarded the plane leaving El Salvador. I felt guilty that I had the freedom to get on a plane and fly out of that country with so much need. Almost as soon as I returned home from that trip, I began looking for my next trip.
Mazatlan, Mexico
God did not delay in making it clear where I should go next-Mazatlan, Mexico. Exactly one week after returning from El Salvador I received information about the Albert Lea Vineyard plans to go on a mission trip to Mazatlan Mexico in February 2019. After praying about this next trip for four days, I notified Pastor Matt Hundley that I wanted to join the team.
As I had prepared for the trip to El Salvador, I had been plagued with questions like, “Am I too old? Too crippled? Too weak?” But not this time. I knew I had a mission in Mazatlan. I felt God telling me I was following His lead by being on this trip.
Winter of 2019 turned out to be a harsh one. The long drive from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Albert Lea, MN, and then to Minneapolis to board the plane was far from easy. Roads were terrible, and many cars and trucks were in the ditches. Snow and ice were everywhere! Despite the challenges, the entire team made it to the airport safely.
I have multiple artificial joints so getting through the security in an airport can be challenging. I cannot raise my left arm at all, so the routine forms of screening don’t work with me. It’s frustrating and embarrassing to always hold the rest of the group up while I have to be searched and patted down to get through security. When I went to El Salvador, I had no idea how big of a problem that would be, but this time I wasn’t surprised by any of it.
Getting off of the plane and walking on the tarmac was delightful. Suddenly we were in 80-degree weather with palm trees. The ocean was gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful. 
Injury
The second day in Mazatlan was a work day, spent scraping and painting at one of the colonies. As a photographer, it was important that I capture images to document as much of what we all did as possible.
But I finally realized I had taken enough photos and it was time to pick up a paintbrush and get to work painting alongside the rest of the team. I quickly ran out of paint and needed to have it refilled. I was on the inside of the bars and unable to reach the paint so asked a member on the other side to please fill my paint cup. He brought the entire can of paint around and set it down on the opposite end that I had been on. A tarp had been thrown down on the concrete patio area to protect it from paint spills. I had not been present when it was thrown down. I moved along the fenced in area to reach the paint, but suddenly my foot went down into a hole that was not visible because of the tarp. You guessed it-down I went!
I landed on my right side-hard. The fall jarred my shoulder, making it feel like my shoulder blade was being pushed into my neck, but it was my right hip that took the brunt of the fall. The pain was severe, and I had trouble controlling the tears welling up in my eyes.
My first thought was that I had just broken my hip, my artificial hip. And I was in Mexico! After a few minutes, I was able to turn onto my knees and get myself to standing but was unable to bear any weight on my right leg/hip. With a couple of people assisting me I was able to make my way inside and sit down in a chair, which is where I stayed. Another team member suggested I go to the local hospital. I refused, at least for now. I didn’t want anyone to know how much pain I was in or just how afraid I was that I had done some serious damage to my hip. I decided to try to wait for a few hours to see if I would be able to bear weight in a few hours or not. If not by then I’d have no choice but to go to the hospital. The rest of the team came around me and prayed for healing. After a while I was sent back to the hotel room, half walking, half being carried by my helpful companions.
At the hotel, I couldn’t help but think about what had just happened and what it was going to do to my plans to help the people in this area. I jotted in a diary.
“I’m lying here on a beautiful bed in a gorgeous room with The patio door wide open. I can hear the ocean waves and see what looks like a small, rocky island. The sun is shining brightly, and the sky is a beautiful pale blue with wispy white clouds.
There are also City sounds. Traffic, trucks, cars, horns are honking. There is a knocking sound like pipes or construction. Nearby many buildings are under construction. The room has beautiful crown moldings around the entire room painted in beige. The walls are pale yellow, sunny and cheerful. But I didn’t come here to lie in a motel room! I came to make a difference! How can I do that now? It’s frustrating to be in pain, really severe pain, once again. It’s frustrating to have people worrying about me once again! So what is God trying to tell me? I am praying hard that God will help me, heal me, take away the pain, but most of all, to allow me to serve the people I have come to serve here in Mexico.
I thought about Paul. He wrote about what it was like for him when he had to cope with troubles. And Paul certainly faced a lot of difficulties during his lifetime!
Paul writes, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:4-7 NLT).
I know these words written so long ago are valid today as well. Satan may have tried everything possible to keep me from fulfilling my purpose here, but God is stronger than Satan any day. Nothing, nothing short of death, was going to stop me from doing what I came to do.
Reaching the People in the Dump
The following morning I struggled out of bed and down to where the group was meeting for devotions before going out to work with the people in the dump. I was limping, and I was still in pain, but as long as I could walk, I was determined not to be left behind.
Getting into the truck was so painful I could not keep the cry of pain from escaping my mouth. But I did it. And I did go with the team out to the dump. The sights sound and smells there will always be etched in my mind forever. The team prepared and served a hot meal for the people working there. To see these people struggling to find something that might be recycled and of some value was genuinely heartbreaking.
The Children
Seeing the children, hungry children living amidst garbage, with faces drawn in their despair, these are the faces I can never, ever, forget. My heart filled with compassion for these beautiful children.
Feeding these helpless ones was important but showing them love was so much more important. What a joy to see children playing with the team members as each of us loved on these precious ones in whatever way we could.
Hope for the Women
I was blessed to have an opportunity to speak to the women about my own life and how God has taken me from experiences of abuse, trauma, loss, and suffering and brought me into a life of joy. These are things common to women everywhere, not just in the USA. The hugs I received from these women tell me how vital it was for me to be there that day. We unforgettably touched each others’ lives. And by that day I was barely limping at all. Despite the fall and injury and the pain, I fulfilled my calling in Mazatlan. Within a few short days of my injury, I was back to walking normally. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! Thank you, Jesus!
The Future
God had called me to go first to El Salvador and then to Mazatlan, Mexico. That calling has ignited a passion in me for the people of the world who are in real need of the love of Jesus. This is only the beginning. I know the best is yet to come! More, Lord, More! Although I can’t say for sure, I am feeling led to go to Kenya, Africa, next. But it’s entirely up to God where He will send me, for I will go wherever He calls me to go. I’ve learned there are many blessings in obedience to God!
What about you? Have you ever gone on a mission trip? I’d love to hear about your stories!
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