When Dan Henry's brother, Dave, spoke at Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church (MOPC) earlier this year, he stressed the importance of setting aside preconceived ideas when aiming to help people from other cultures.
"We don't want to do things our way," Dan said. "It is better to follow their directions."
Dan related that Dave, who is a Presbyterian pastor in Jefferson City, Mo., and the leader of annual trips to a sister church in Tamshiyacu, Peru, explained that point by using the example of a painting project in Peru.
"The project lead dumped paint thinner into the paint bucket, and then he dumped in more. We asked why, and he said the paint had to be thinned or it would never dry in the high humidity. If it had been up to us, we would have just started painting," Dan reported Dave as sharing. "Can you imagine kids running around and bumping into walls covered with wet paint?"
Dan and his wife, Boni, began visiting the Presbyterian church in Tamshiyacu in 2006. Sometimes teams of a dozen or more people from MOPC have traveled there, and other times, it has been only Dan and Boni. No matter the size, the group typically joins with Dave's parishioners and other folks he has recruited. Dan noted that when he and Boni first started going to the remote jungle village of Tamshiyacu, they were happy to help with construction projects. Age, however, has slowed them down, but that has actually been a blessing that has turned the traditional missions trip model on its head.
"The team does pay some people to help (with construction). In some ways, we help them more by hiring local men to do the work," Dan said. "We buy materials locally too. By buying in the village, it helps them out."
On earlier trips, MOPC members collected flip-flops and other items to distribute to people in need in Tamshiyacu, but they have since opted to purchase those items in the village, benefiting the local economy. Additionally, the teams buy anti-parasite medication in a Peruvian city for distribution to residents in and around Tamshiyacu.
Along with meeting folks' physical needs, the mission teams have aimed to meet spiritual needs as well. Dave has mentored the church's pastors, and typically, the groups host Bible schools for children during their visits.
"We usually start with about 50 children, but by the end of the week, it's popular, and we have several hundred. It's organized chaos, but they love it," Dan said.
The next trip to Tamshiyacu is set for Friday, July 5, to Saturday, July 13. Dan and Boni will be traveling with a group from Jefferson City. They plan to host a Bible school, do some touchups on the church building, and renovate a house for the parents of the church's current pastor, Jhony.
To raise funds for the trip, a yard sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at MOPC, 1199 Valley Road, which is located 4 miles east of Quarryville on Route 372. The event will be held rain or shine. Items collected by the church and a variety of food and beverages will be sold indoors. For a small fee, members of the public may reserve spaces outdoors to sell their own things. Tables will not be provided.
"We had about six to eight (vendors) set up last year," Dan recalled. "Most of them seemed to have a good day."
The church will continue to accept donations of items for the sale. Already, handmade birdhouses, lawn furniture, and other craft items have been accepted.
"I know we do have an air conditioner down there (in the storage room). Also some tools left over from the consignment sale," Dan said. "It's the normal array of what you usually see at a yard sale."
To reserve a space or donate items, readers may call MOPC at 717-786-3402 or Dan at 717-381-9947.
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