Sowing seeds

Wow! Two years have gone by so quickly! I remember when I first started with Global Ministries and I was told that my term would be two years instead of one. I couldn’t help but think, what a long time. I had a lot of doubts and remember thinking “How can I do this!” but here I am two years later in the beginning of my third year. Now I can’t help but think how blessed I have been for having this experience. In the past two years I have met many people and have had many experiences showing me how God has been working in other parts of the world.

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain…” Matthew 13:3-8.

During my two years here in Paraguay I have been working with the social services department in the Misión de Amistad. Several times during the year we have camps for the street children. In these camps we try to build trust and leadership so that they might have a chance to do something better with their lives.

In these camps I always sit back for a second to watch them play as their faces fill with sheer joy and I have often thought… as we sow seeds, are they falling in the good soil or like the rest of the world would have us think, have our seeds of compassion, goodwill, and justice fallen through to the rocky soil where for short periods of time you can see your grain, but when the sun shines through it quickly withers away. As soon as I had started asking, God had my answer. In the following camp that we had with the street children, there were two new leaders that were coming with the children that I had not yet met. When I arrived at the camp I found out that the two new leaders were two youth that used to be part of the group of street children and went to many of the camps that the Misión de Amistad had when they were in this group. Now they were at the camp not as campers but as leaders, examples to the children that they can do anything with their life. The choice is theirs.

These two youth are examples that the Misión de Amistad is sowing its seeds on the good soil. Thank you for all your support and prayers.

May God bless you always,

Erin

Erin Larsen serves as a Global Mission Intern with Colegio Internacional based in Asuncion, Paraguay. She serves as a teacher’s assistant and helps with the school’s outreach programs to the community.