SIFAT Reflection
This summer we took rising 7th & 8th graders for a week of camp at SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) in Alabama. SIFAT is the same organization with which we take mission trips to Ecuador. They experienced what is called a “Learn & Serve” week where they were shown how the majority of the world live in third world countries and how as Christians we are called to help those people.
Here is the reflection of one of those students:
SIFAT had to be one of the biggest life changing events that I have ever been on.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that we have so much that we don’t need! For five days we found out how the rest of the world lives. One of the days, all I got to eat was what we could find and cook. I had one sixteenth of an orange slice, a bowl of tomato soup, and two spoonfuls of rice. That is a privilege to some children in third-world countries! That might be all they get for a week! And everyday we eat a full meal and then dump half of it in the trash saying, “Nah I’m full”.
Those words probably have never been said by the some people. They don’t know what it is like to actually have a full stomach. That can be changed. If everyone left only learning one thing, it was that this whole situation can be changed. If everyone gave up what they WANTED and didn’t NEED, the whole world would have their needs filled.
The most powerful night was the two or three hours we spent in the slums. Each group was made into a family, that was sent into the slums, and had to work for their food, water and shelter. Each counselor played a realistic role. One was a homeless man, one was a drunk, one was a gambler, and many more. The whole situation was viewed as a “game”. As we walked throughout town looking for work, a man caught my eye. He slept on the ground curled up in a ball, with nothing but a shirt and pants. His feet were dirty and bare. He spoke no English, so I had to say, “zapatos?” which meant shoes. He pointed at himself indicating he needed some. I gave them up. It was torture walking on gravel with bare feet. But God’s word says we should give out of love, and I felt my heart tugged with love and pity, so I made a sacrifice.
That same night two men in military clothing came into the village.
A smoke grenade landed at either end of the town. Screams rang out, and everyone was ordered to go to their homes. We ran to our shack in the slums, and as we did, fear broke out from everyone. People were frightened for their lives. The” game” had just taken on a whole new meaning. The military came through every house and asked for the oldest son. Unfortunately, that was me. I was told to put my nose up against the wall, and stay still and silent.
They took eight of us to the woods, and on the march, one of the councilors, playing the Christian man in the town, began to hum. The tune he was humming was “Amazing Grace”. Slowly, one by one, each student added on. The men screamed at us to stop. When we arrived in the woods they blindfolded us and asked us questions about a Christian man in the town. We sold the man out, telling them what he looked like. And he was taken deep into the woods and killed.
The whole thing was a drama. It was an “act” if you prefer. However, this sort of thing happens in real life, and whether you took the game seriously or not, you had to realize, that this is what goes on everyday.
Each and every student was taught how to serve others and humble themselves. The trip trained us for mission trips to come in the future. So as we take our experience back home, we have to help.
There is now a burning passion inside each of us to serve. And I pray that you all will feel it soon enough.
- Evan Newsome (Rising 8th Grader)
