Trinidad! What a
blessing to be part of a mission’s trip to this country; what an incredible
honor to be used
by God to share His message of love and salvation; and what a
privilege to partner with those at Trinidad and Tobago Urban Ministries as we infused
an unreached community with the Word of God!
There are many things
about Trinidad that we will not soon forget:
fresh mango, mosquitoes, cold showers, Roti, the rainy season, gated
properties, colorful homes, left-sided driving, stray dogs, Fry Bake, tamarind,
the obvious displays of Hinduism (flags, gods and temples), fearless bus
drivers, Nuggle candy bars, our new friend Pastor Bachew, rapper Young Noah,
and the smiling faces of many Trinidadians! It was a tremendous mission’s trip that could
be summed up in the use of three words:
relational, adaptable, and economical.
Relational—We had a group of 36
individuals, ages 8 – 70, with varied abilities, personalities, backgrounds,
and experiences. This was an advantage
as we ministered together to people who were equally diverse. We enjoyed building relationships with one
another on the team—getting to know each other and each other’s children at a deeper
level. However, each of us were
encouraged to find one or two Trinidadians in whom we could invest and build a
rapport, so we sought out some of the same individuals each day. As relationships were established, we were
able to speak to their personal needs as well as their mutual need for
Jesus. Building these relationships
gave us a stronger platform for speaking about Christ and deepened our
experience in Trinidad, but made it made leaving difficult! After
exchanging hugs, pictures, and contact information, we left Trinidad with
images of our new friends imprinted on our minds and a burden to continue
praying for spiritual growth in these newfound friends. We will also remember to pray for TTUM as
they continue to minister in that community.
Adaptable—From the beginning of
our preparations to the end of our trip, flexibility became our mantra. While we thrive on organization and
scheduling at home, being flexible in Trinidad was a necessity. Due to rain, instruments getting lost on the
flight to Trinidad, folks operating on “island time”, equipment not ready when
expected, tent locations being moved, food poisoning, adjustments in sleeping
arrangements, carting all VBS supplies to the site each day, guest musicians
not showing up when expected, etc. we needed to adapt and move forward with
whatever was taking place at the moment.
We were over-prepared and ready to be used if called upon—not knowing
what would be needed—and found that we could relax in the knowledge that God
would be ordering our steps each day. We
were obviously not the ones in control! 
Economical—One of our team
members commented on the efficiency of our trip. We were able to use our resources, our time,
and our team members in a most economical manner. Each day was filled with ministry and an
appropriate amount of rest. Our mornings
were spent with children at VBS, our afternoons were devoted to mercy
ministries—young men at a detention center, folks in elderly homes, and
children in an orphanage—and our evenings were spent at the crusade meetings with
adults and children alike. With a
variety of gifts and abilities among our team, each member was able to
participate in these ministries according to their strength. The money we raised was also used in an
efficient manner as Bibles were purchased and given away, t-shirts, crafts and
snacks were given to children, supplies were purchased to take and develop
photos of families, buses were rented to drive us where we needed to go, some
of our own clothing, sheets and supplies were left with the mission, along with
all extra money to be used for the ongoing ministry of Trinidad and Tobago
Urban Ministries.
“I’m
forever grateful, to you. I’m forever grateful for the cross
I’m
forever grateful to You. That you came, to
seek and save the lost.”
The lyrics
of this song speak of Jesus’ gift to us—for which we are most grateful. We are
indeed forever grateful! Grateful
first and foremost to God who gave His Son, for the privilege of being His
ambassadors, for the blessings of growing as we serve, and for the prayers and
financial contributions of you who made it possible to serve Him in Trinidad. We are sincerely thankful.
With a
grateful heart, Team Trinidad
(written by Tammy Shondelmyer)
