Some thought upon leaving

I asked Dexter what he felt we accomplished together during our week in Trinidad and Tobago. We talked about a variety of things and it seems we did a lot. Here is my summary of what I learned and believe we accomplished:

I learned about the church in T & T and what God is doing there. The church is full of young people, vibrant, energetic, and collaborative. The leadership is highly trained and motivated. They are ready and willing to work hard and do new things to help people in T & T.

A lot of books were distributed to leaders, young people, prisoners, etc. A vision was created about youth organizing themselves into support groups around the word of God to grow into transformed lives in transformed communities.

It would be a delight to check in year after year to see how the “Fire Starters” (young people inspired and trained to lead others in a supportive bible study) get along with that. How many youth get involved and to see if there is impact on there lives—new relationships with Jesus, supportive relationships, improved health, lower incidence of HIV and other STDs.

Ultimately, I would be pleased if youth use the books we brought to find new and transforming relationships with Jesus, had reconciled relationships with families and friends. Within that context, my experience is that the Spirit of God works, transforms. People get second, third, fourth chances. Lives are transformed. Behaviors improve.

It used to seem like it was important what behavior a person participated in that led to HIV infection. Dexter and I talked about this. He never said publicly how his favorite cousin was infected. He told me he didn’t know how the PLWHA we met were infected. Today, I believe that it is un-important how a person is infected. In fact, I recently decided that I would not ask a person how they got HIV. That should come out of a friendship with the person. My job is to love people. Tell them that Jesus loves them and act like it.

I hope that my friendship with people in T & T will continue. I can continue to learn from them. I would like to help the churches there engage their community in a way that leads to transformation. The conversation has started.