It has been said that it is better to give than receive. A few weeks ago, Dr. Beth Snowden and Dr. Cindy Lassiter traveled to Pucullpa, Peru on a medical mission trip where they provided care to people in several surrounding villages and found that no truer statement has ever been spoken.
Pucallpa is a frontier community 522 miles from Lima, equipped with electricity but lacking paved streets and sewers in many areas. It lies on the Ucayali River in the hot, humid Amazonian rain forest.
“This was my first mission trip and I am so thankful for the opportunity. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our own circumstances that we fail to see those that are truly in need,” said Dr. Snowden. “We are so fortunate to live in this country where resources are practically unlimited. The people we met and treated in Peru were lovely and were more of a blessing to us than we may have been to them,” she continued.
Dr. Lassiter agrees, “The trip was meaningful on so many levels. My oldest son, Judson, was on our team and recruited fellow Auburn students to go. They were an impressive, selfless group of young people. They were looking for a more authentic and personal experience to see God “outside the box”.
Dr. Snowden was joined on the trip by her two daughters, Elizabeth and Anwhitney. “I’ve wanted to go on a mission trip with my daughters for a while. They are both in college and I knew this would be the perfect time to go. I’ll cherish the experience with them forever.”
“We were in Peru for seven days and we offered a medical clinic in eight different sites. The villagers would be there early and would wait to see us. We brought various medical supplies and medicines. We primarily treated worms, parasites, and skin infections indiginous to the area. The clinics really just serve as a platform to attract people so we can share the Gospel and strengthen the fledgling churches,” explained Dr. Lassiter.
When asked about one thing that Dr. Snowden will remember about her trip she says, “We were having lunch one afternoon in an open air cafe. As we were finishing our meal a man and a young boy approached us and asked for our leftovers. My heart broke for him. He was just doing what he could to feed his family. At that moment you can’t help but realize how truly blessed you are.”
The trip was coordinated through e3 Partners. Their focus in Peru is to teach new believers of Christ and establish new churches. e3 does an incredible job training you to articulate your faith and get you out of your comfort zone. Mission trips can provide transformational bonding with your children as you work alongside each other as equal members of a team. Trips like these make for life-long memories and bolsters your families spiritual foundation.
