In 2011 when Luis Pedro first came to El Faro to serve as a missionary God put on his heart to begin a project to prepare missionaries for their work around the world. That same year he designed a 10-day “missionary group experience” program that he was able to present at different churches and missions conferences in Guatemala City. Much to his disappointment there was little response and the project fell through. However, two years later when he least expected a church in Guatemala who remembered the presentation contacted Luis Pedro to bring a group from his church who were interested in missions so they ended up coming for four days. The following year the same church came again for four days but this time brought 80 people with them.

Luis Pedro realized that’s God timing for the project had finally arrived and just a few months later two youth with missionary callings who had come with the church arrived to El Faro to start their missionary experience.

The purpose of the missionary experience is the give a person the experience so that they can be prepared spiritually, intellectually and emotionally for what is ahead by having different scenarios of what the mission field will look like and be able to solve problems that will happen when they are abroad.

“I think God is about to do something with this project because we haven’t done any publicity and He is sending the people.”

What Luis Pedro is most excited about is that Guatemala is sending out their own missionaries to different parts of Latin America for a short period of time to do missionary work and this will open up spiritual doors for them. “I see this project coming alongside churches, colleges, and missionary agencies for them to send us their missionary candidates for 3-6 months so they can prepare themselves not only in a classroom, but in a field where they will encounter situations that they will have to face in their mission field: a different culture, a different language, a spiritual challenge, disciple making opportunities, living in a close community, live with roommates, etc.

Raquel

I went to El Faro because we believed it was wise to have a time of separation from my family before I traveled all the way to Cambodia. I had never left home before and I am very close to my family. I also went to learn from the different missionaries at El Faro through seeing and listening about their experiences, work, troubles, and spiritual life.

During my time that I was at El Faro I was able to help in different ways with my gifts that God had given mi through education (tutoring and library), hospital visits, Crafts, sports, bible clubs, and most important to me being able to share with young girls and encourage them to grow in their faith.

In reality it was an important time for because God prepared my heart, body, soul, and spirit to be able to serve in Cambodia. It was a time of preparation where God equipped me in the areas that I needed help.

Juanito

It was in El Faro in a youth camp where I decided to follow Christ with all my heart and changed the way I was living my life. It was also in El Faro where I had my first experience getting into missions as a volunteer beginning the first stage of becoming a missionary. I was able to take what I learned in El Faro, a place where the presence of God is present and a place where there is opportunity to serve God in the communities . I can’t think of a better place being surrounded by missionaries and people that love Him and encourage you to serve Him.

During my time that I was at El Faro I had the great opportunity and blessing to help the already existing ministries that the missionaries work in. That included being with kids, bringing food to the elderly in the village. It was time of a lot of work and service to the community where you can see normal people reflecting God’s love to people in need. If I could sum up my time in three words they would be love, service, and friendships

I can’t imagine how difficult my transition to Israel would have been without the preparation that I had in El Faro. They opened up their doors for me to be a volunteer and wanted to help my spiritual life as much as much as for the people in the villages. I experienced times of good advice, teachings, and missionary work that have remained with me during my time in Israel.

Who is the right person for the missionary experience?

Someone who has a calling from God to go to the nations and make disciples, that is strong in his/her faith, and that already has a plan to go to a specific mission field even if they don’t have all the details sorted out yet.

If you are interested in coming down to do the missionary experience or have a calling and want to explore more what that means, please contact Luis Pedro at misiones@fundacionephraim.org