EXPLORE COVENANT WORLD MISSION

DAVE SWANSON'S MISSION EXPERIENCE

I got started with short-term assistance on the mission fields before retiring from my work as a mechanical construction contractor.  A Zaire (now Congo) missionary had told about the need for a water system, about 10,000 feet of pipe to serve several schools and residences.  This sounded like an enormous volunteer project to me, but his enthusiasm and optimism were contagious, and we took it on.  That led to another similar project, again in Zaire (Congo), and that one led to  the decision to retire and do more.   I explained to my boss, "I found something I'd rather do than work."  A couple of trips to assist in Alaska and Ecuador, and  a nine month opportunity for both my wife, Ann, and me in Japan further stimulated our appetites.  Then off to two camps in Mexico, back to Ecuador and now we have just returned from our sixth venture in Chile. 

Why?  Initially, the motivation was to fill a need that existed and for which my experience and interest seemed to fit, and we saw that as a call to action.  That still is a component of the motivation, but as we do more of this type of service, we find that we are growing in our own faith.  As we see others working in the church and spreading the gospel of Christ, we understand that each of us has a niche that we can and should fill, something like what Paul was teaching us in Romans 12.  We seldom finish a project, but because it does get done after we leave, we must conclude that we are only a small part of God's overall plan.

In addition to those important ramifications of the mission trips, we find it is just a lot of fun.  We enjoy getting to know the people we work with, both new friends from around the Covenant, and friends we make where we work.   I doubt that you can find any more hospitable and fun loving people than our friends in Chile.  Most of what Ann and I have done has come after retiring from a secular career, but it is also true that many of the people who join us in these ventures are still in their careers.  We recommend it for anyone. I have said more than once that we got started 40 years too late.

DLS