In the New Testament, James appeals to Christians to “look after orphans and widows in their distress,” calling that the essence of “pure and faultless” faith.
A group of Christians from Stettler is taking those words to heart as they prepare for a weeklong trip to serve at an orphanage in Guatemala City in July.
Pastor Scott Whitford of the Stettler Alliance Church said a group of 24 locals would be making the trek, including people from other area churches.
“It’s a chance to fulfill the mission that Christ gave us, to love our neighbours as ourselves,” said Whitford. “It’s a great chance to follow his example in meeting needs and loving others.”
The group will travel to Guatemala from July 4 to 11 to serve in Dorie’s Promise, an orphanage located in the country’s capital, as part of a trip organized by Forever Changed International.
Amore du Toit, who is organizing the mission, said she, her husband Francois and their three sons visited Guatemala City last year to offer their help to the less fortunate.
“It’s always been my No. 1 (entry on my) bucket list to go with my family before my oldest son graduated,” she explained, adding that she also wanted to challenge the culture of entitlement that she sees in North America and help her children to appreciate the blessings they have.
They learned about Forever Change International online and discovered that it offered short-term missions trips, ideal for families.
The family went during spring break last year as part of a group of 11 visitors. There, they served in the orphanage, teaching and playing with the kids who lived there, and helped with other mission projects.
These included building a path in the squatters’ community of Linda Vista, delivering donations from abroad, lending a hand with other construction projects and serving meals to the needy.
To some communities, they delivered filters that would help provide clean drinking water, while to others they brought concrete sinks that could be used for bathing, washing or cleaning dishes.
du Toit said the group visiting Guatemala this year may find itself doing similar things, but will go “wherever God leads them to work,” adding that they will seek to use their gifts to meet the needs they encounter.
Each of the participants must raise about $2,100 to cover the cost of the trip, including airfare, meals and accommodation.
The church has held several fundraisers over the past few months, including a movie night earlier in February. A dessert auction will be held on April 25 and the group is looking at other fundraisers, including a possible bottle drive.
du Toit said she hopes their efforts will have a ripple effect, explaining, “You start something and other people get interested.”
Whitford, who previously took a youth team to Mexico when he was a pastor serving in Nipawin, Sask., said he’s looking forward to sharing this experience with his 14-year-old son, Christopher, and interacting with people from a different culture.
He also said he hopes that service to others will be an ongoing focus for his church and others, that the trip would set an example of meeting needs locally and globally.
For more information on Forever Changed International, visit www.foreverchangedinternational.org.
Anyone interested in supporting the upcoming trip may contact the Alliance Church at 403-742-1135.