Missions Trips & Projects
- Due to COVID-19 all planned missions trips have been postponed. Our Missions Committee continues to work closely with our global workers to support any special projects and needs.
Guyana mission trip
Feb. 20-24, 2020
Dr. Yajaira Gomez
Lifegiving Ministries
Having travelled on an overnight flight from Toronto, Canada to Guyana, South America, I was comforted by the fact that so many people were supporting me. My nine-month-old baby Benji was so quiet on the plane that several passengers commented that they did not know a baby was on the flight! Thank you for sending us and praying for this!
As soon as we arrived in Georgetown Guyana, Bishop Joseph and lady Diane Persaud greeted me outside the airport. Joseph is the national overseer for 71 community churches in Guyana for the organization called New Testament Church of God. Friday evening, we headed to Georgetown, where Harvest Time New Testament Church of God was celebrating their final day of a 40- day fast with a Fire Service. There, I experienced spirit- filled worship with a cultural dance group, was welcomed warmly by the congregation, shared the gospel message, and prayed for the sick among various other needs. It was a memorable evening of God‘s power touching lives that night!
Update: the Guyana churches are still unable to meet in person. Please pray for Rev. Joseph, his family, health and ministry as he leads to churches through online video teachings.
Feb 22, 2020: western side of Demerara river in Guyana
Saturday, my gracious hosts Joseph and Diane, and I worked on the itinerary for my follow up trip in the fall of 2020 ( pending Covid restrictions). After lunch, P Adrian and his wife took me to drink pure cane sugar juice, then for a driving tour of downtown Georgetown to meet their family and rest with Benji in their hammock. The campground I was to scope out for a future training site was unavailable for visiting. So we visited Uitvlugt church where speakers and chairs were donated by my home church. That night I was dropped off in Parika Village, where I devoured my hosts’ homemade chicken pumpkin roti, a traditional Guyanese dish!
Update: Please pray for P Adrian’s ministry and for new partnerships.
Feb 23, 2020: Bonasika Village, Guyana
Sunday was a full day of travelling and ministering to the Bonasika villagers in the hinterland community along the Essequibo River. I had been overwhelmingly warned about travelling on this river since it can get quite rough and become a danger to those riding small boats (like the one I was on). Thankfully, because of supporters like you who pray for me, me and my nine-month-old had a magnificent time riding the rough waves during the pouring rain, and made it safely to and from Bonasika Village!
Once on the Bonasika Island, you could hear the incredible sounds of worship and praise coming from the church that made me want to jump off the boat dancing! After bringing the gospel message, and altar call, we handed out the mini bags of gifts that your generosity allowed me to carry over: toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss (Rehoboth Dental Care); stationary, clothes; and shared a hot lunch with the congregants.
Pastor Parminand end and Mahadeo (picture with church) have been shepherding the Bonasika congregation since they lost their adult daughter to cancer. Interestingly Parminand said it has been therapeutic helping others through their traumas as that has brought him healing. He is an island farmer, and his wife is the lead pastor of another church in town. Their sacrifice to travel on Sundays to Bonasika is helping to church grow as they are thriving in kids and use numbers!
Update: the week before Covid shut down Guyana, Reverend Joseph had just paid for the building of a boat ($1000 US) and installing a $2000 engine so that Pastor Parminand who lives on Wakanam Island could easily get to Bonasika on Sundays. Before this, he would have to go to the port to rent a boat which made his weekly Sunday journey very long. Permanent praise God for this boat blessing that he can drive weekly to church!
Once on the Bonasika Island, you could hear the incredible sounds of worship and praise coming from the church that made me want to jump off the boat dancing! After bringing the gospel message, and altar call, we handed out the mini bags of gifts that your generosity allowed me to carry over: toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss (Rehoboth Dental Care); stationary, clothes; and shared a hot lunch with the congregants.
Thank you
The total budget spent on this trip was $1854. Thank you to Kingsview community church for covering my airfare, and to my Canadian brother and friends who sold prayerfully and financially into this missions trip. Thank you Mission Director Mike Persaud for organizing the itinerary. Thank capital YOU for believing in sending me so that lives can be changed with Christ’s hope and love.
Follow up: as a non-profit organization, we are partnering with NT Church of God‘s desire to bring discipleship resources to its 71 churches in Guyana, and supporting the village coastland and island churches. In Bonasika, we are committing to contributing towards the construction of its church, as it has zero washrooms installed, and needs a new roof. Also, the church requires training resources such as Sunday school literature and youth ministry, because there are lots of young people there. Bibles are needed for all Hinterland churches and Sanpit Church (Coastland). YHWN will ship large print Bible’s and send Christmas toys and kids clothes (barrels $40 USD)
