A Can of Coke and an Unfinished Mission
One of the most remote villages I’ve ever visited has a Coke truck-but not a church..
A lot has happened since I last wrote from the Connections House in Rosarito. We traveled farther south to Mazatlán and then up into the mountains to the Cora tribe in San Gregorio. On August 4th, we flew back to Rosarito to debrief for a few days before our summer missions school officially ends on August 9th.
Our travels began at 3:00 a.m. on July 23rd. We left behind our routine of classes and schedules for the hot, humid climate of Mazatlán- similar to Belize, but believe it or not, maybe even hotter!
After we landed, we helped with the church's two-day VBS, which was such a blessing because I really enjoy serving with kids.
Staying at Calvary Maranatha was definitely an adjustment. Our entire group stayed in the church, sharing a single shower and sleeping on air mattresses on the church floor.
Every night we experienced intense thunderstorms that shook the building. One night I woke up around 2:00 a.m. to discover water beginning to seep into the church. We quickly moved our beds and belongings, and by morning the church was literally surrounded by feet of water.
With no power, breakfast was delayed and there was no air conditioning. Thankfully, our schedule for the day was already to clean up after VBS, so we simply added flood cleanup to the list! The power came back on around 11:00 a.m., and, like clockwork, the water was shut off for the rest of the day.
The whole experience reminded me to be grateful for the little things that really aren't so little. It also taught me the importance of being flexible and taking each day as it comes.
We were so blessed by the families from the church in Mazatlán. We spent extended time visiting with them, and their hospitality, kindness, and fellowship were incredibly sweet.
We also met Pastor Manny, who is planning to move to Spain next year with his family. It was so encouraging to see such a strong church-planting mindset lived out firsthand. It felt like watching the very things we've been studying come to life.
From there, we prepared for our mission trip into the mountains. The drive up and down was a little rough, but besides the brakes overheating, knocking our heads on the roof a few times, and losing the back bumper, we made it up relatively smoothly!
We joined a team that visits the Cora tribe twice each year.
Once again, many comforts were stripped away. Air mattresses became two blankets on a concrete floor. The spacious church floor became tents, and our tent had eight girls sleeping shoulder to shoulder. Our one shared shower became no showers for three nights.
During our time in the village, we led children's outreach, went door to door praying with families- many of whom prayed to receive Jesus- and helped provide haircuts and basic medical care.
One child in particular captured my heart. His name was Kevin. He spoke Cora and wasn't able to join the other children in the games because he has some physical challenges. So instead, I simply sat with him. I pray that the Lord will watch over him as he grows up in the mountains, where access to medical care and other resources is so limited. Kevin is one of many faces I won't soon forget.
Ironically, we saw a Coca-Cola truck driving through the village. Earlier this semester we read a story in the book Radical that suddenly became much more real. It recounts the experience of a missionary serving in a remote village in Southeast Asia:
"Soon thereafter he found himself in another remote village with people who had never heard the gospel. They were warm and hospitable, and they invited him to share a drink with them. One man went into his small shop and reappeared moments later with a classic red Coke can. Immediately, it hit home with my friend. A soft-drink company in Atlanta has done a better job getting brown sugar water to these people than the church of Jesus Christ has done in getting the gospel to them."
Seeing that Coke truck drive through such a remote village made those words feel incredibly real. Even in places where basic comforts are scarce, global companies have found a way to reach people. It challenged me to think about how much work still remains for the Church to bring the hope of the gospel to those who have never heard.
During this past week, we've also been reading about Hudson Taylor's life. It has been both inspiring and challenging to read about someone who sacrificed so much for the sake of the gospel- comfort, family, and safety. His story has been pressing heavily on my heart.
One account from the book especially stood out to me:
"At that point Hudson went on to recount that painful conversation with his Ning-po Christian friend, Mr. Ni, when the ex-Buddhist leader had asked, 'How long have you had the Glad Tidings in your country?'
Hudson had to admit, 'Some hundreds of years now.'
And now he told that assembly of Christian leaders about Mr. Ni's pointed response: 'Hundreds of years- and you have never come to tell us? My father sought the Truth, and died without finding it.'"
Reading that conversation challenged me personally. It made me ask myself what role am I willing to play in reaching people who have never heard the gospel. It reminded me that missions isn't just something we study in a classroom- it's a reality affecting millions of people today.
On Sunday we held one final church service before leaving the village, and we actually ran out of seats because so many people came. It was amazing to see such eagerness, but it was also difficult to leave knowing they don't yet have a local church.
Every day, approximately 174,000 people die- many without ever hearing the gospel. What are we doing about it? Are we sending missionaries? Are we supporting missionaries? Are we praying for nations that have never heard the good news?
This semester has opened my eyes to the incredible need for the gospel around the world. More than anything, the Lord has been teaching me that the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. I don't know exactly what the Lord has planned for my future, but I do know that I can no longer ignore the need. My prayer is that He would continue to shape my heart for His harvest wherever He leads.
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" - Matthew 9:36–38
This is my last newsletter, at least for now.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me, encouraged me, and financially supported me throughout this semester.
As I head home, I would love if you continued praying:
That a church would be planted among the Cora people and that the gospel would continue to spread throughout their village.
For Kevin, that the Lord would watch over him, provide for his needs, and continue to work in his life.
For Pastor Manny and his family as they prepare to move to Spain to plant a church.
That the Lord would continue to guide me as I process everything I've learned this semester and seek His direction for what comes next.
If you have any questions, I would love to answer them over email, text, or in person. Don't hesitate to reach out- I would love to share more about what the Lord has been doing in my life. Also, if you would still like to partner with me financially for the Calvary School of Missions, you can do so through the give button below.
Blessings,
Abigail Plett
Login To Leave Comment