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Last Updated: March 13, 1997
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SUBJECT: Caribbean Union College Students to Work as Volunteers in Guyana Jungles
AUTHOR: David Gates, his wife Becky, and four of their five children - Lina, Trina, Carlos, and Kristopher, work together with Becky's sister and family, the Burgdorffs, in a medical aviation program in the jungles of Guyana, South America.
DATE: March 13, 1997
OUR YEARS IN TRINIDAD: During the last three years (93-96) I had the opportunity to work at Caribbean Union College as Director of Computer Services. Part of my responsibilities included teaching one computer science class each quarter. The classroom gave me the privilege of getting to know hundreds of students not only academically but also spiritually.
Each of my class periods began with a 5-minute spiritual emphasis. Sometimes, students from other classes would stay over for the first five minutes of my class just to be there for the devotional. I additionally encouraged the students to focus on service as part of their professional development. The students appeared to be very receptive, but it wasn't until I had officially announced our intentions to began a volunteer medical aviation program in Guyana that those years of spiritual sharing began to pay off.
OUR DECISION TO GO: As the student body realized that we were actually going to give up a salaried position in order to serve as volunteers in the jungles of Guyana, they began to develop a new interest in missions. Their increasing interest became evident as, on subsequent trips to Trinidad, I spoke to the college church about God's faithfulness in supplying all of our needs, and quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it." and Phillippians 4:19 "But my God will shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
ON GOD ALONE: Mentioning how Becky and I had decided not to ask for any donations from anyone. Rather, we would take our needs to our Heavenly Father, trusting in his faithfulness. As resources were provided, we could thus experience God's promises first hand and have the assurance of God's leading. We could also spend more time working in the field. Following this method naturally meant that only God would get credit for any accomplishments. I told the congregation how month after month, God has been providing not only for our minimum needs for food and medical supplies, but also sufficient to expand into new areas such as industrial secondary education. I expressed my conviction that there is only a short time left to work, and that we must "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things" (such as health, funds, government approval, etc) " will be added unto" us - Matthew 6:33. If this is true, then when God lays a God-sized task on our shoulders, it is because He will provide God-sized resources. Therefore, if resources no longer become a limitation, we are free to think as big as God would have us think. "Higher than the highest human though can think, is God's ideal for his children" - EGW. If God can provide for all the needs and more of a family of 7 (their food, transportation, medical, and educational needs), how much more can He provide for a single college student?
Think Big!
ENTHUSIASM ON CAMPUS: As word of God's faithfulness and leading spread around campus, students kept stopping me on the sidewalk to express their desire to get involved. Youth today (most others too for that matter) want more out of life than to simply get a profession and make a living. They want to change their world; to make an impact; to make a difference! The following week, I made an announcement in church that all students desiring to work as student volunteers this Summer or the following year in Guyana should meet me up front after the sermon. Based on the number of contacts I had made during the week, I was expecting about 20 responses. What I got was 35 students. Of those, 3-5 were graduating in June, and wanted to spend a full year of service. I had to print more application forms for everyone. Since then another 5 persons have picked up forms to fill out. I was thrilled (and a bit scared) at such a response. It is quite a responsibility to be in charge of 35 energetic college students. However, again I must learn not to be selfish with God's blessings. Young people today want to experience life and God first hand, and they are right. That is the only way anyone can really get to know about God. Though God might use me to coordinate and direct the work this Summer, He promises to be personally in charge of each one. The applications forms will help me to learn a bit about the background, interests and skills of each applicant in order to match them up with a task. I plan to meet with the whole group again in May for a full weekend to discuss inter-cultural communication, ministry, service, etc. Each student will be responsible for their round-trip ticket to Georgetown. We will then assume the responsibility for their transportation into the interior and miscellaneous personal needs. The villagers where each will work are planning to provide housing and food.
OUR NEED: Please be praying for this great venture. It is possible that the experience and influence of these 35 students will be sufficient to revitalize the full campus. I am praying daily that God will individually prepare and bless each volunteer with a life-changing experience that will prove a blessing not only to those they serve, but to their family and community as well. "Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." John 4:35 . Praise the Lord for the laborers.
Enthusiastically Yours,
David Gates
You may write to David at: gates@andrews.edu
Last Updated: March 13, 1997