first person
May 11 was an early morning for me and eight other Bluffton students.
It was 6:30 a.m. when the alarm went off, signaling my need to arise and finish some last-minute packing before our 7:15 a.m. departure for the Detroit airport. From there, our flight would take us to Miami, and then on to our ultimate destination – the island of Trinidad, a small island located 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela.
Several things continually stick out to me about my experience in Trinidad. One is that I was finally taken out of my comfort zone and placed in the minority.
The population in Trinidad is about 40-percent African-American, 40-percent Indian, 8-percent white, and 12-percent other.
We stood out. We got used to the stares, whistles, and even name-calling when we walked down a street or sidewalk. Remarkably, it seemed the only place we weren’t gawked at was in church.
One of the most rewarding experiences was spending time with Trinidad youth from the churches. It amazed me that, even across these cultural boundaries, instant friendships were formed with these youth. I’m a firm believer that this is because our ultimate connector was mutual faith in Jesus Christ.
Our group also performed a variety of service projects for the Mennonite churches in Trinidad. This experience opened my eyes to how much I take advantage of my air-conditioned, cushioned-seated church back home, complete with a band that plays electric guitars and drums. Most churches in Trinidad aren’t air-conditioned, and some even meet in garages or on porches. Most also don’t use instruments, as money doesn’t allot for that.
But, the faith of these Trinidadians was incredible. Despite difficulties, they attend weekly services with a smile on their faces and hope for the future of their church.
I caught a glimpse of this hope after staying in the home of one Trinidad family, the Basdeos. Each Bluffton student was required to spend one weekend in the home of a Trinidad family, all of whom were members of a Mennonite church.
The Basdeos consisted of Raymond and Romina and their two children, Jayleen (5) and Elijah (10). Romina doesn’t work, but Raymond bikes several miles to work each morning because the family doesn’t have a car. The one-story house was not air-conditioned and also wasn’t exactly the epitome of cleanliness. In fact, it was common to sit in the living room and watch lizards and millipedes crawl across the floor and walls.
But, they thought nothing of it. They were content and pleased with what the Lord had given them. Once again, the Lord stopped and questioned me: “How much value do you place on possessions?”
These people have next to nothing, but their hope rests in something far greater than money and worldly belongings. A mentality that’s hard to maintain in our consumer-driven American culture.
But, it remains a challenge for me as I step back into this money-hungry, fast-paced society. I think we can learn a lot from the Trinidadians—by slowing down and really listening, looking at, and appreciating God’s creation and gifts to His people.
I can only hope that I was as much of an encouragement to the Trini people as they were to me. The experience was remarkable, eye-opening, and definitely where I was supposed to go. Two and a half weeks just wasn’t long enough.
Perhaps one day God will grant me the opportunity to return to Trinidad for missions work. Until then, I continue to pray for this country, and thank Him for connecting me with fellow believers thousands of miles away.
