week 5

Editor's note: Follow the story of Bruce Mundell and his team of on mission volunteers who went to West Virginia to provide Disaster Relief - and got more than they bargained for in the way of adventures, lessons in life plus love and gratitude from the people they served in the name of Christ. In the previous article, LET TEARS WASH AWAY THE DUST, he was philosophical, summarizing the lessons he's learned from the culture of coal-mining, hard work - and, frankly - hard times. In the following article, MINISTRY VS. MISSION: MISSION TRIPS ARE ALL ABOUT PEOPLE, he picks up on the story line from Weeks 1, 2 and 3, telling of more experiences with volunteers who went with him to West Virginia and helped residents who were washed out by floods. This is an ongoing series.

Do you know what? When we had to use hydraulic jacks to lift the wall and roof to build a floor under it, I thought that was hard. When we had to erect walls and insulate openings with a high temperature of eight degrees, I thought that was even harder. And when we had to build a floor that had rotted away with no apparent means of attaching the adjoining wall, I thought that was pretty near impossible. But none of these difficulties prepared me for the "people pressures" I experienced on my fourth organized trip to the poorest county in West Virginia.

The greatest challenges don't always come with rotted wood and washed away structures, nor can they always be fixed with new wood and a nail gun. No, the problems that enter on two legs are almost always much deeper than we first suspect, much more delicate to deal with and much more detrimental to feeling the success of the whole trip. They demand priority attention and consume far too many resources to contain. They are, however, a natural part of God's work.

People are what missions are all about, and people are what mission trips are all about. I have often wondered if sometimes we let the mission project become so big that we bypass the people we're trying to help. We have to be certain that we don't sacrifice the ministry to people at the altar of the project that brought us here. In other words, don't get so involved in the work that you forget the people. On this particular trip, God was showing me this clearly.

***

Power tools, hand tools, air tools and yard tools, they are all God's tools to reach people. Jesus used tools to reach people as well. He used the tools of healing and miracles, wisdom and prophecy, humility and leadership. Many tools were in His tool box. Well, we have circular saws and hammers, ladders and nail guns, shovels and wheel barrels. These are tools committed to God and used for the purpose of leading men and women to the Lord. This trip found us working on a house where I had spent many hours during previous trips. The back porch was unsafe - as a matter of fact, the resident had stepped through the floor due to its poor condition. The roof had leaked so bad that the flooring had rotted and weakened. This would be the main scope of this project, but it quickly became very time consuming. The man who lived here, Harry, was eager to see this done. After studying the project awhile, we came up with the idea to rebuild the whole thing rather than use our first plan of tearing it down and rebuilding a smaller portion. This porch was on the second story so some care had to taken in the construction. Harry was very excited at the thought of having his whole porch again. This gave him an area the full width of his house to enjoy the gently passing Tug Fork River. It's hard to picture this casually flowing waterway, almost inviting you in a strange sort of deceptive way, ever possessing the evil to reach out of its banks and steal away the treasures of the innocent bystanders along its relaxed route northward. Yet that's exactly what the Tug has done many times. The Tug represents one of the many paradoxes in these mountains: things which look innocent may contain harmful or even deadly contents.

Harry was looking forward to sitting in a lounge chair out on that back porch and enjoying the gifts that God had given him in the form of sunshine, fresh air and the gentle ripple of the river. He was bubbling with anticipation. It sure made me feel good. Our team got busy with the demolition. The old particle board or OSB sheets were rotted and fell apart as we would touch them. The first day went well, and I thought with the new plan it would actually take less time. It was great when Mike, the missionary who was helping me coordinate these projects, showed up with the needed materials to provide for the new structure. This is going great, I remember thinking.

I have always tried to let God choose the team He wants to go, realizing that He has lessons for us as much as He has for the families we are helping. He had impressed seven of us to participate during this trip, four men and three women. Most of these had gone on previous trips with me, but we also had two newbies. I have always kind of watched the team form with a nervous anticipation, always being a little apprehensive watching God tug on some hearts and releasing the tug on others. I guess a person with more faith would just give it to Him and jump in the van on departure day and look to see who God invited, but I'll confess I struggle with it at times. I remind myself throughout the process that He's always sent just the right team for the opportunities He had planned for us, and I know that's exactly what He had in mind for this one. I've also never put any kind of time restrictions or requirements on the teams. Every trip I've done has seen people who could only participate for part of the week and then return or people who couldn't arrive until day two or three and stay the remainder. I have found that these people are some who come every trip and get such a blessing, because we've provided an opportunity for them to participate and experience the reward that comes with the gift of their time given to God.

The flooring was thick double sheets of plywood generously nailed and very opposed to our prying, hitting and pulling. It was taking way too long it seemed. The second day came and went with very little noticeable progress on the porch. The floor was going slow, very slow. The ladies had made their way into a new room inside and began finishing drywall and laying down flooring because the narrow six-foot-wide porch didn't allow for a lot of personnel. Harry was smart and even though his health prevented him from physically helping much, he was able to guide the ladies with the intricacies of fitting the luan board around the nooks and crannies of the room. What a neat opportunity for the ladies to allow him to participate in our mission trip, even though we thought it was to minister to him. It does a man like Harry a lot of good to feel needed.

***

Realizing that it's not realistic to bounce into peoples' lives, spend a few hours with them and expect them to change, we started day three checking in on families who we'd helped on previous trips. Our plan was just to stop by to remind those folks that we are still thinking about them and praying for them. We started with the Mullins up Horse Creek. This is a family we'd spent three days with on the last trip. We made a lot of progress not only on their house, but we noticed some openness toward God as well. Sherrie, one of our team members, had encouraged her ladies group at church to provide some help with clothing gifts for them last Christmas. It was good to be able to see them and notice that their kitchen was now useable, because it now had a solid floor. It wasn't that way before we arrived last year.

The next stop was Vincel's up Coon Branch. I remembered the directions well. Go past the third cemetery and take the next road to the right. This happened to be a dirt driveway-looking road that quickly deteriorated into two mud ruts through the grass. We arrived to find progress made since our last visit, although there was no one at home. This is one of the West Virginia peaks among the seemingly thousands. You can see for miles from here, and it felt a little out of place not having the constant mountain-sided barriers that you get down in the valleys. It had rained earlier that day, and it restarted while we were there. They had only lived here for a year or so, and there was still evidence of unfinished construction. It was obvious however, that something was here before. We passed an old trailer just down the path a few hundred feet and there was also a grave behind the barn. Many mountain people bury their loved ones on the property. This one didn't look all that old, and it was obvious that it had gotten recent attention. As I started to turn around with the van, it began to feel like a barge on the river without the benefit of a tug boat. The huge 15-passenger people hauler sunk in the soft wet soil and there we sat, the three ladies and I. We worked for a few minutes trying to release the Coon's grip but saw only limited success. I knew the rest of the men had gone on to Harry's by now, so I was able to get a call on a cell phone out to them. Remember I said I always encouraged anyone who felt they should to come? Well, it just so happened that Kevin had gotten up and left home at 4 a.m. that morning. He was there with his brand new four-wheel drive truck ready to spring into action. Is that God or what? They quickly made their way to our rescue.

You know, one of the highlights of my mission experiences has always been watching God get a grip on the hearts of people to participate in what He is doing. You could call them volunteers, and they certainly are. Or you could call them team members and that's also true, even participants or partners, but I think of them as missionaries, ambassadors for God, and - most important - representatives of Christ. They are examples of Jesus and have a desire to come away leaving the impression with folks that it was really Jesus who helped them with their problem. We always pray "let our hands do what Jesus would do if He were here," that people will look at what we did and thank God that He helped them.

***

Even though work was progressing, there was a feeling in the air that kind of disturbed many of us. No, it wasn't rain or even a March snow. It wasn't the feeling you get just before something bad is about to happen, nor was it the feeling of useless, wasted time - we knew we were making progress even though it was slow. The feeling was personal, a little like the uncomfortable feeling you get when you have to do something you really don't like to do. Yet this really wasn't it either (because we all enjoy helping people), but this definitely was a "people" feeling. I couldn't put my finger on it.

Some of our team members were not real happy with what they were doing or the attitude with which they were asked to do it. This request didn't come from one of the other team members but was from another "interested party." They had to redo jobs that they had already done before. One of the folks we were helping began to get a little irritable about how things were going. The project was taking longer than we wished it would and with other commitments ahead we were forced to create a logical stopping point, when there really wasn't one. This didn't seem to sit well with the resident. Something had invaded our mission team, and it left us all wanting something, not really knowing where to find it. All of the distractions were related to people and really more than one distraction and more than one person; it was hard to put your finger on it. There were times when I felt the frustration from my team members but couldn't take the time to address it, because of the pressures I had placed on us with other commitments. As the leader I was supposed to fix it, but I not only didn't know how, I didn't even know what the problem was. How big does the effort for God have to be before Satan takes an interest? Had he noticed the small efforts of seven people in Roderfield, West Virginia, and did he decide to pay a personal visit? It's questions like these which we're not smart enough to answer. I do know that the devil opposes anything done for the Lord. Had he snuck into our little group and started spreading rumors? It seems so spiritual just to blame it all on Satan and not learn the lessons intended for us. I was searching for answers, as were the other team members, but somehow I felt the answers wouldn't come right away - probably not before we were to return home. Feelings can mess up a good mission trip, especially hurt ones, so I tried to stay focused on the project at hand. 

***

Jeff had to pass the baton to Kevin, because he had to return to his busy landscape business back home, but Kevin jumped right in with the progress, not skipping a beat. By the middle of the fourth day, we were wrapping up our work with Harry. We had managed to arrange a temporary stopping point with plans to complete the work at a later date or by another team. Even though he had only been there about 24 hours and even though he had gotten up at 4 a.m. the day before, Kevin needed to return home at midday. One of my highlights of leading mission trips is to watch God work in our lives. Jeff and Kevin both had legitimate reasons for not even going on the trip, but they said "God wants me to go and I want to go, so I'm going to give Him what He asks." You know, God doesn't need us to be obedient to get done what He wants done; we need to be obedient to receive all that He has for us. God doesn't need us to give in order to meet a need; we need to give in order to be what He knows we can be and should be. It's for our good that we give our time and money to God's work. God could provide for the needs of these West Virginia people through some other way, but He chose to use us. Many times we take far too much credit for what God would do, whether we do it or not. With God's request for us to meet these needs also comes a promise that He will help us through the process and show us some of the things He knows will mold us into what He has planned for us to be. The book of I John in the Bible talks of when we take a step toward God, He takes a step toward us. That means every step toward God is really two steps closer to where He wants us to be, so it's very important that we place our step every place that God shows us He wants it.

***

A family near Gilbert Creek Church where we were staying also needed some help. Ellen had lost her leg to diabetes, and the handicap ramp in front of the house was too steep for her husband to get her up and down it. Preacher John was the pastor of the church where we were staying and had come up with a longer ramp to help with this project. This was our job after leaving Harry's that day. It was approaching 4 p.m., and I felt we could get it done before dark. We launched into it. After taking a few measurements and planning a few adjustments, we were pleased to find out that all we needed to do was take out the old ramp and put the new one in its place. This went fairly well, and I needed something to go right. When darkness arrived we were loading the trailer and heading "home." Ellen's husband was very pleased with the new ramp.

***

I had told our ladies that they would love Barbara, and she didn't disappoint me. She was a warm friendly lady with plenty of down-home West Virginia mountain ways to make you feel welcome and appreciated. What a healing salve for our injured consciences. There are sometimes when I get so focused on the project at hand I find myself almost guilty of the rule I stated above, "Don't sacrifice the ministry to people at the altar of the project that brought you here." I was aware of Barbara and Gene, but I knew the ladies were taking care of them, and Rick and I had a roof to put on a porch. Reba took special care to spend time with Barbara to talk and, more important, to listen to her. It seems they had lost a son a few years ago, and she needed a listening ear. Sherrie and Melaney were very important support as we made quick progress on the roof. It was a very busy day physically and a very rewarding day intellectually. Barbara and Gene were reminding us of why we came and what we were really doing. God takes special care to bring to our attention that He knows where we are. Little things like using their daughter to go and get us pizza for lunch, guiding the building to go quickly and accurately, even giving Sherrie (our animal lover) a few cute dogs across the road for her to admire. God was healing some hurt feelings. They weren't healed yet, but that was on the way.

 That night, when we got back to supper at the church where we were staying, I asked everyone what was the highlight of their week. The number one response was today at Barbara and Gene's. However, the conversation digressed and folks started venting their frustration. I was glad they felt at liberty to do that. There was some disagreement on what the actual start of all the irritation was and some disagreement as to what kept it going, but it was apparent that there was some.

When everything is said and done I don't even think I will remember the "problems" from this trip. What I hope I remember are Barbara and Gene's smile and thanks for what we were able to help them with. I want to remember the warm feeling about helping that husband make a way to get his wife in and out of the house without fear of failure. I choose to remember Harry when he was bubbling over about having his whole porch and being able to joke with him about the lounge chair and putting some artificial turf down for him to play golf on. We all laughed a bit about that - I don't think he's ever played. I hope to remember the time of prayer on top of Coon Branch when we prayed for Vincel while stuck in the mud. I'll remember watching and listening as Harry was trying to explain to the ladies the intricacies of cutting the flooring to make it fit right and thinking what an important memory they were providing Harry to actually not only help with his own construction but also the feeling he was getting by teaching them something of importance. I want to remember the fact that Jeff put a major account on hold to allow him to go, and Kevin placed enough priority on it to drive almost seven hours each way just to do what he felt God wanted him to do. I choose to remember Reba listening to Barbara and also to Harry as they needed that ministry. I know I'll remember watching Melaney and Sherrie as they laughed together on the floor trying to get the "stupid joints to line up right." Cooking hot dogs over an open fire in an old wash tub at Harry's will bring back good thoughts. I'm sure Preacher John and his availability to the folks there in Gilbert Creek will always stay in my mind. I know he made at least three trips to hospitals - not to visit members, but to take neighbors to the doctor - plus, Savanna, Dillon, Joshua and the other eight kids who "Preach," as they call him, transported to church. No, the problems were small when put into context, and all I need to remember about them are the lessons I've learned by realizing that mission trips aren't exempt from "people problems," because people are involved in them. For the most part construction problems are a lot easier to fix.

 Driving up there this trip I noticed somewhere in Kentucky a fresh dirt hillside that had little grooves all through it. They were paths that the water took in making its way down the slope, and I thought of how our lives parallel that illustration. As we travel the trek which God has laid out for us, it rarely goes straight. There are usually many turns and adjustments that are needed, but the plan is for us to continually make progress toward our appointed goal of being exactly what He wants us to be and accomplish our designated task. Psalms 37:23 says that God orders our steps and that makes Him happy. Just as the rainwater flows down that slope making the necessary adjustments to reach bottom, our lives should travel down the path that God has laid out, and we have to make the necessary adjustments to reach His intended goal for this appointed time. They may come in the form of better ideas as in the case of Harry's porch. They may come in the form of getting stuck with the van. They may come in the form of conflicting opinions or disagreements, but they will make us better if we let them.

We can go away again with the confidence that God accomplished something. He allowed us to take part in His ministry to these people and allowed us a little closer look at the intricacies of mission work. He left His hand-print in West Virginia that week. There is a couple in Gilbert Creek who can roll up the ramp that Jesus provided; Barbara and Gene can enjoy the benefit of a roof over their front porch that God wanted them to have; Harry always mentions how good God is to allow him to enjoy the sunshine and warmth of the day, and now he can do that from just outside his door on the porch that Jesus gave him. Preacher John and Mike the missionary can remain encouraged that God still knows about the needs around them and that He will send help. The Mullins family knows that the God who sent help last year is still there and knows where they are.

What a great trip we had.

Editor's note:  Next week join us for Bruce Mundell's story, GOING GOD'S WAY.