Seeking to have a different kind of vacation, a group of missionaries from Brazil arrived in Paraguay to carry out a mission without borders that seeks to transform lives and communities. They are doctors, church members, students, and teachers from the Adventist Network of Mato Grosso do Sul who left their homes for six days to embark on this adventure of sharing the message of hope and helping those who need it most.
"I became interested in this activity because many times in school, we see videos of mission trips. ‘I Will Go’ was the first mission that interested me. It was there that I felt a connection with God and I received the call to help bring the Word to other people. That desire continues in my heart; that's why I decided to participate in this mission," said Leonardo Kanashiro, a student at Campo-Grandense Adventist College.
Missionaries in Action
The missionaries arrived on Sunday, July 9, and since the first day, their work focused on impacting the community through the vacation camp, medical and psychological care, training, and the cleaning and renovation of the Adventist School of La Paloma, located in Canindeyú. They also visited the neighbors to invite them to participate in the activities while sharing the missionary book The Great Controversy.
Another of the actions that was carried out was the cleaning of the classrooms, restoration of the sports field, and construction of the school's roof, improving the facilities and creating a more conducive environment for the children's learning and demonstrating that love and solidarity know no borders.
Unforgettable Experience
This experience is proving to be unique and unforgettable for the students, as mentioned by Evillyn Santos and Maria Eduarda Lima, students of Jardim dos Estados Adventist School. "By getting out of our comfort zone, we get to learn a lot and internalize lessons for our life. We can also take advantage of our vacations to help others. Here in Paraguay, the people are very receptive; they were very nice. We had the opportunity to talk and pray with them; it was very good," said the teenagers.
This mission in Paraguay left an indelible mark in the hearts of the community, reminding them of the importance of extending a helping hand to those who need it most. "We hope this initiative will inspire more people to join in similar efforts, reminding us that every small act of kindness can have a lasting impact on the lives of others, transcending geographical and cultural barriers," said Levi Leite, Adventist Education director for the Paraguay Union, the administrative headquarters of the Adventist Church in the country.
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Spanish-language news site.