Epperly Adventures: Our Iowan Invasion!

Team Iowa outside of our Village clinic in Chiminisijuan.

We have just finished a wonderful week with our friends from New Hampton, Iowa. What was initially supposed to be a vision trip for our pastor Cory and his wife Amy, evolved into an unlikely group of six over the last several months. We were blessed to have Cory Orr, Riley Uglum, Dani Wiegmann, Marcy Rochford, Matt Edson, and Diane Lee. This was a group, we joked, that would have never "hung out" a year ago. Although, over the last several weeks, and even more so in the Guatemalan week, God bonded them quite closely together. Essentially, they were here with no specific agenda other then seeing what God is doing and seeing how Iowans may be able to assist with this project in the future. Riley, an optometrist, did bring over 500 glasses and portable eye equipment, and Marcy came to teach 2 neonatal resuscitation classes but all of them were simply here with an open agenda and willing to serve wherever needed.

Eating at a true Guatemalan restaurant.

You would not know by watching this group in action, that it was a first of such mission trips for the majority of them. Any fears of foreign travel, language or cultural barriers, and even food variety did not seem to phase this group. Shea and I were pleasantly surprised to see their heart for service, and obedience to a calling on full display. Each and everyone of them served and contributed in ways that were different and challenging from their stateside routines. They did it all with winsome smiles, hearts full of joy, and compassion to the people served.

Riley quickly realized that his eye equipment and glasses were quite popular. From the first day it was evident that he would not be able to handle the patient load alone. Quickly, our team jumped into service and usually 4-5 of them would take turns helping with eye exams, glass fittings, and patient documentation. It was wonderful to see the 5 others with no optometry experience become a well oiled optometry machine.

Overall, our theme for the week was walking in obedience. Simply put: being obedient to what God has asked of you. For most of us, most of the time, walking in obedience is usually being obedient in the routine and mundane tasks of life. For instance, in Guatemala: house construction, dishes, preparing meals, fixing medical equipment, watching kids, and sizing glasses are all ways I saw obedience with joy on full display this week. At some point in life most of us may have an opportunity to be obedient in what might be considered a monumental task for our Lord. For the most part, we are all asked to be obedient in the mundane things of life. Such as, caring for your children, cleaning your house, serving others at work, serving the poor in your community, and teaching children's church to toddlers with a 30 second attention span.

Obedience in its purest form is described by Christ in John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Team Iowa came with love!