Following is a short article from Rachel Cook, one of our short-term missionaries who served this summer on the church’s mission trip to Indian Bible College in Arizona to assist Hal and Pam Givens – missionaries that LifePoint has supported for over 25 years.
Because I have never had the privilege of going on a mission trip, I had little understanding or expectation about what the trip to Arizona would involve. I have, however, had plenty of opportunities to see God provide just what I needed just when I needed it, and felt assured He would remain constant.
Before departing, I was a little nervous about the opportunities to help with massive, heavy duty projects like roofing, for which I was pretty ill-suited. Instead, God had prepared for me some other ways to help the people on the Indian Bible Church campus. I felt a peace that I couldn’t explain, outside of God, when I arrived. I was able, through my artistic abilities, to hand letter some of the bench seating on campus with different promises of scripture for the students at the IBC campus to contemplate while sitting. Four individual benches are now places on campus that share the word of God. I also loved the work I was able to do with the children in the Kids’ Club on the campus of the college. I am passionate about telling others, especially children, of the love their Creator has for them. It brought me such joy to be utilized in this capacity. Through the making of crafts, singing and storytelling, which I have done at LifePoint, I was able to connect with the kids and teach them more about Jesus. Even though there was only one child who showed up from one of the Sunnyside neighborhoods, it was such a blessing to be able to pour into her life. We were blessed beyond measure by our interaction with her. The rest of the children were children of the president of the school and students of the school. They reminded us how important it is to keep nurturing children who already have a background in the Bible and the stories found there.
Outside of the opportunities with the children, I was able to meet other artists. I met a Hopi woman who worked with the same art pens I use. She designs artwork using pointillism to capture her tribal heritage. I was able to talk with her and form a relationship based on our shared love of art, but also our love for the Lord. It is interesting and so sad to look at how our European culture has treated this culture so poorly and are in no small way responsible for what has been created within that culture: darkness, repression, and even a sense of tension and distrust towards those outside individual tribes. The deep-rooted tension, although prevalent, was also something a unity in Christ helps heal. I am grateful I had the opportunity to experience a trip where God so richly blessed me. It is my hope and prayer that because of our work there, His kingdom on earth will be furthered through the work of this little Bible College in Arizona.
-Rachel Cook