Global Aid Network® (GAiN®) intern, Emily Noah, went on her first GAiN mission trip to Guatemala in November 2010. Emily worked alongside a team of 25 people, who partnered with the local schools in Zacapa to distribute food, clothing and shoes to children in the community.
A few days into the trip, Emily and her team distributed CrocsTM Shoes to children at a local school. During the distribution, Emily noticed two young boys, Yanki (10) and Benjamin (8) walking up to the school entrance with lice in their hair and wounds on their legs. Emily and a team translator, Rut, went over to meet the boys. During their conversation, Emily handed the boys Gospel Bead Bracelets and through Spanish translation the boys were able to hear how Jesus wants to have a personal relationship with them. Burdened for the boys, Emily asked, “Would you like to pray and ask Jesus into your heart?” Yanki excitedly responded, “Yes!”
Moments later, the boys’ older sister arrived and began talking with Emily and Rut. She shared how their dad does not allow the boys to leave the house or even attend school. If they do leave home, their father beats them. Emily and Rut’s hearts broke for the boys and they wanted to do more to help them. Rut tried to find a pair of CrocsTM shoes for the boys, but the only shoes left were too large. Rut handed Benjamin a pair of shoes and apologized for the large size. Benjamin responded by saying, “It’s ok. It is better than being barefoot.”
Another GAiN interpreter joined Emily and Rut and shared the gospel with the sister. One of the team members even gave the sister a pair of shoes off her own feet because she saw the need. Emily shared, “I may never see them again, but at least they walked away different. The aid we gave them met their physical needs and provided some relief, but we also gave them what they really needed. We gave them Jesus.” Global Aid Network exists to meet both the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world through the distribution of humanitarian aid and through sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we provide aid worldwide, opportunities arise to share the gospel with those to whom we minister.