By Brooke Orozco

My family and I were living in Paraguay, South America for two years, serving as missionaries with the Lutheran Church. On the initial plane ride to Paraguay, we traveled with a team of North Americans making their way down to Paraguay, as well. They were connected with MOST Ministries and heading down to conduct an Eyeglass Clinic for one week.

We stayed in the same hotel as they did for the first few days before we took our own trek across the country to the city we were going to call home for the next two years. During our time together, we got to know them as they had morning and evening devotions, breakfasts and dinners. It was a great stage-setter for us, heading into a long-term project, to see them in action during these days.
It was a great stage-setter for us, heading into a long-term project, to see them in action during these days.
Over the next few years we were able to be a part of two more of their trips to Paraguay, as the “hosts” in that foreign country, which had become our home.  Every time a MOST team came, it was an encouragement; a real proverbial shot in the arm.
Every time a MOST team came, it was an encouragement; a real proverbial shot in the arm.
They brought an excitement that ignited us and the pastor-and-wife team with whom we were serving. It gave us a perspective on our own progress with the language and the culture as we realized we had a lot of information to share with them about how to interact in order to best serve the Paraguayans. We were even given the title of “translators” after only 7 months in the field!  It was incredible!
  
You see, even though the people on the MOST teams varied, the same service was offered with the same organization: MOST Eyeglass Clinic. There was never a shortage of people who needed help, and to the ones we had to turn away, we were able to say they’d be back next year.
There was never a shortage of people who needed help, and to the ones we had to turn away, we were able to say they’d be back next year.

When we canvassed the neighborhood to invite people to the free clinic, some of the people we talked with were patients that had been served the previous year. We heard stories of thankfulness and changed lives. Each time MOST ran the clinic, a clear, Biblical “plan of salvation” was shared by the local pastors with everyone who was examined.

Hundreds of people came each time; families and friends of those who came the first time; and all the while the Gospel was spreading, and people were receiving physical help. When they left, we had a list of names of people who’d been to the church that we could contact for future events and invite to worship. It was SUCH an effective tool.

We observed their “team time” that first week in Paraguay. The next two times they came, we were a real part of the hosting church and were able to serve right along side of them.
When they left, we had a list of names of people who’d been to the church that we could contact for future events and invite to worship. It was SUCH an effective tool.
We recently returned to the United States, and now we have hopes to travel with the team to Paraguay as short-term missionaries someday. The whole experience with MOST from our perspective as the host country was an incredible blessing and we want to be a part of it from the other side, too. God really uses this tool to strengthen His people and change lives.

MOST is celebrating 25 years of ministry this year. There will be a Celebratory service at St. Luke on April 12 at 2 P.M. with a dessert reception to follow. Please RSVP to Lynn Wrightson at 734.994.7909 ex. 14 or lwrightson@mostministries.org by April 1.

Read Sharing Jesus with the Nations by Steve Shaffer to hear about MOST Ministries from a team member’s perspective.