A Change Only Jesus Can Bring
Guest Writer: Delaney Brand
I first learned about Dare For More in March of 2022 when they came to my church. I wasn't able to attend that year due to being induced with my fourth baby, but I remember the ladies in my family talking about how amazing the conference was and how wonderful of a speaker Reba was. I started to look into Dare For More after that and was amazed with their mission to help women and children and hoped that one day I could do something to help too.
Flash forward to January of 2024, my church announced that they would be taking a group of women on a mission trip to Guatemala with Dare For More. I immediately knew that I had to be on that trip. Being a mom of small children I knew that there would have to be a lot of planning to be able to go. Since I am a stay at home mom and homeschool mom I felt like maybe this year wouldn’t be the year for me to go. Soon after, I learned that the trip would be in October and only a week before my third baby’s, who is now in heaven, fourth birthday. I used that for an excuse that maybe I should wait since the month of October is a hard time of year, but I couldn’t ignore the urge to go. After fervently praying, the Lord answered my prayers and money came flowing in for the trip.
We were excited and prepared at four in the morning when we were leaving from Cullman to head to the airport. We knew God was going to do big things and we couldn’t wait to get to Guatemala. Unfortunately due to unforeseen issue we missed our plane and didn’t land in Guatemala until midafternoon Tuesday. Once we got to Guatemala, we met up with the other team members and were able to meet Lisa and Kelly. Lisa filled us in on the couple things we missed but we immediately started on our way to the safe house. She did a great job making us feel like we never missed anything. We were a group of 13 from Temple Baptist Church, two other ladies from different areas, and then Lisa and Kelly that were with Dare For More.
We spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday doing home visits to women throughout the villages. We took them a lot of food that would get them meals for a few weeks. For most of the women that we visited, it was the most food they have ever had inside their homes. Then we were able to listen to Kelly share the gospel with them. Lisa was able to translate to us what was being said, then we were able to join in prayer for these ladies. They didn’t know what I prayed and I didn’t always know what they prayed, but I could feel the Holy Spirit in the home with us. After home visits each day, we would go to the safe house and get to play games with the women and children. We even had the opportunity to teach them how to play kick ball. But being there with them they taught me so much more than what I could have ever taught them.
Going on the trip in October I was afraid that my heart wouldn’t be focused on the trip. Previously, no matter how much I prayed, I still wanted to sink back into depression for the month. But I quickly learned that the trip was going to teach me so much more than I could ever imagine. The women and children taught me that even through the hardest circumstances that it was possible to smile and laugh again.
Guatemala is a beautiful country. They have the most beautiful streets, buildings, and traditional clothing of the most vibrant colors. We were able to experience the cultural of the country almost everyday, whether it was through walking the streets to the next destination or eating the food. But it didn’t take a lot of looking to see the brokenness all around us. If we looked down the streets we could see so much poverty. We watched children as young as three years old walk the streets alone selling things to try to make money for their family. Some would come and ask, while others sat on the streets with little buckets hoping they would get enough money to take home. As I witnessed this, my heart started hurting for these children and the parents. Maybe their poverty was so extreme they felt sending their children out was the only option they had. What if they didn’t have the hope of Jesus to get them through the day? Then I realized that the children were vulnerable enough to be preyed on by people who would expose them to abuse, rape, and trafficking. This is where Dare For More’s ministry comes in. Reba, Lisa, and all the other ladies that are a part of DFM make it their mission to create jobs, create safety, and share the gospel with the women to give them a chance at living a life that would be pleasing to God.
Leaving Guatemala was harder than I could have ever imagined. I learned so much from Lisa about Dare For More and their mission. I learned so much from the cultural differences, the poverty, and the abuse that happens every day there. It opened my eyes to see the things that I have always been blind to in my hometown of Cullman, AL. Since being home, my heart and my passions have changed tremendously. I have a desire to see change not only in my hometown but in all of Alabama, all of America, and in all of the nations. I desire to see a change that only Jesus Christ can bring.
