AI vs. Real People: What's the Verdict on "Love is the Mission"?

Love is the Mission- If you are here it is because you have heard of us. Many of you have heard this phrase quite a few times over the last 7 years after that first trip to Playa de Oro Guatemala.  Hopefully you have also heard that this name comes from the First Letter of Saint John (the disciple that Jesus loved) Chapter 4 Vs 19. It was the only way we had to explain how we could love so deeply people we had just met.   If you look up 1 John 4:19 on the internet this is what the AI Overview says;

1 John 4:19 says, "We love because he first loved us". This verse has several meanings, including: 

• God's love changes us: God's love changes our hearts, making us capable of love. 

• God's love is an example: God's love is an example that reminds us to love others. 

• Love is the essence of God: Love is the essence of God and is the driving force behind all God does. 

• Love is how Christians are recognized: Love is the primary way Christians are to be recognized. 

• Love for others is required: Those who claim to love God but hate others are liars. 

After spending 8 days with the people of Guatemala and 6 days with our friends from Playa de Oro, loving them and receiving their love it is hard to explain the feelings and the emotions that you feel. 

I think that Fr Andy summed it up best in his last homily to the group on Saturday evening.  He said there are two options in loving others- one, to close your heart so that it doesn’t break or two, to let your heart break so that it can heal.  In that healing it allows your heart to grow even bigger for the next person who shows up in front of you needing to be loved.  As Christians this is what we are called to do.

As we come back, we are called to love as the mission of our lives.  To love even more in our homes, in our workplaces, in our city and in our country.  What that looks like for each of us is a bit different because of our individual circumstances. But one thing is true for every one of us.  God’s love for us has changed us and by using His example we don’t do this alone- we love well because He has loved us first and completely!  Rhonda Kelsey

"Life changing, great trip, soul-renewing"- all phrases the team identified as a way to describe the mission when asked on our return.  Over the past couple of days, I have thought a lot about these words and how to actually describe my third trip.  The truth is, I cannot describe it in words, at least not in a reasonable amount of words.  Over the last five years, I have watched Love is the Mission transform a village through clean water, healthy food, medical care and education, but what I really believe, is that it is the love shown by Rhonda, Taylor and each team member that travels there that changes the hearts of both the people of the village and the mission team.  

This trip was my third trip as a medical provider in the clinic that we hold in the village school, and while we saw nearly 160 patients again on this trip, I assure you I am receiving far more than I am giving to these families.  On this trip I was blessed to be able to take my daughter who is currently a nursing student.   Watching her experience what I have tried so hard to explain after previous trips, was an incredible experience.  Just hoping the love and hugs from the children can tide me over until we meet again next year!  -Kala Shepherd

Preparing for the mission trip, I was a bit anxious and so I prayed for safety, I turned my fears over to God. Day to day during the mission, my emotions overtook all my fears. My prayers were replaced with hope, love and peace, that the villagers of Playa de Oro be filled with our love for them. No words were understood by most, just our touch, smiles and actions. In Playa de Oro, Love has no borders, no conditions. Love IS the mission. - Nancy Wetering

I was told by members I was traveling with that I would leave Guatemala feeling like I received more than I gave, but that concept was difficult for me to grasp until I was in the village. It was truly an honor and privilege to serve the people of Playa de Oro, and the love I received from them changed my heart. I only pray that I can serve them again someday. -Sam Miller

When Kala asked me to join the group, I felt this was something I needed to do, both for the people of Playa de Oro but also for myself as my drive to practice medicine was waning. I reviewed the previous blogs and pictures but really had no idea what to expect and was pretty anxious about meeting the group, the people from the village, and working in the clinic with very little resources. What I experienced is difficult to put into words. The group was so welcoming and eager to answer any questions or ease my apprehensions. The people we served were very kind and so grateful for what we were able to provide on such a basic level. The children were incredibly sweet, loving, and so well-mannered. The translators were amazing and I am happy to have gained their friendship as well. I have made so many new friends. My passion for medicine and faith in humanity has been rekindled. I hope to be able to join this group in the future! -Eric Curtis

Love is the Mission | Playa de Oro, Guatemala 🩵 January 2025

Reflecting on another amazing, cup filling, unbelievable trip with new and old friends. More of my heart stays in this village with these sweet kids and families each time, and I can’t wait to go back again. -Megan Permann

Playa de Oro, Guatemala | Love is the Mission- Love truly is the mission. Fulfilled is an understatement when it comes to describing this experience. The days were filled with many hugs, lots of coloring, bracelet making, and most important of all, love. Having the opportunity to love and serve the people of Playa de Oro is an indescribable feeling and I look forward to returning again very soon. -Emily Shepherd

So AI vs Real People- What is the verdict? Tell us your answers in the comment section!

Gifts and Graces in July

At the end of July we returned from yet another lovely grace filled Love is the Mission Trip to Playa de Oro, where we went to serve and give of ourselves and the gifts that the Lord has given us. After each trip we ask for some of our participants to share about their experience. Below are those.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

As I sit here reflecting on my time with the Love is the Mission group, I feel that this quote perfectly describes the past week we spent serving at Playa de Oro. As I left the village for the last time and said goodbye to the precious children, I couldn’t help but feel such an overwhelming sense of gratitude, appreciation and love for this community of people I had just met for the first time just days earlier.

As that quote says above, we went there to use our gifts to help others while spreading the word of God. This was one of our driving forces with this mission, to serve the families with our service, gifts and love.

As I reflect more on the quote and my time at the Playa de Oro, I can confidently say that the open arms, love, kindness and gratitude the children gave me was the greatest gift I could ever ask for. This past week I was served in more ways that I can describe from the interactions I had with the kids.

Throughout these past few years, I have had many struggles and one of those being my faith. I personally had never considered going on a mission trip, but an opportunity presented itself and I felt that it was a sign from God. With lots of prayer and consideration, this felt like the perfect opportunity to help me grow in my faith and as a person. Looking back on the months leading up to this trip, I was extremely nervous. Traveling to a new country with many unknowns at a young age and not knowing anyone was definitely scary, but I felt pulled by something higher than myself to go on this mission.

Thinking back on traveling to a country with a group of 16 people I had just met, I could have never imagined the bond that could be created. But we experienced so much together and I will be forever grateful for everyone, their kindness, laughs and memories. 

As we traveled to the village the nerves were building. I wasn’t sure what the kids would think of me. But I quickly realized, the children would forever leave an imprint on my heart and forever change my life. I will always remember as we entered the village, honking our bus horn, we were welcomed with so many children with open arms and smiles. As soon as we got off the bus, hugs were given all around. It didn’t matter that they had never met us, we were instantly loved and adored.

The joy in these kids' hearts is something I will never forget. Even though we did not speak the same language, we found a way to communicate and bond.

It is evident the amount of work that has gone into this mission and the success and relationships they have built along the way. 

As I am leaving this trip, I have a new found perspective on life and have come back a changed person. I am so extremely grateful for this opportunity and the many doors it has opened for me. The Playa de Oro community and the children will forever hold a very special place in my heart. 

Maddy

Love is the mission:

Priests often talk about their calling from God especially in their sermons. I really do not feel that I have known or remember that I was called by God in the past, but I do remember sitting in Mass and reading the bulletin about the next love is the mission trip earlier this year and feeling that I definitely knew I had to and wanted to go.

I was finally in a better work environment where I was able to take this time off and felt that I could have the time, ability and passion to mission to others. I love my career in the medical field, but experienced severe burnout with the covid epidemic.

Now that I have more time to practice self-care that includes my spiritual health, I knew that I was able to share my life mission of caring for people through a mission trip that included medical assistance. I talked to my husband right after mass and he supported me as he always does.

It was a rewarding experience in many ways. I was able to enjoy daily mass that deepened my faith and I hope to continue that in same way now that I am home. I especially appreciated connecting with and learning from Father Dan during the trip and feel blessed that he was part of the mission.

I always joke that my patience is a work in progress. When you surround yourself with like-minded people with the attributes you strive for, you learn and thrive. I enjoyed getting to know my fellow missioners and always learn something from every person I meet including the villagers young and old. We all had unique attributes and worked together to create positive things and experiences for the village in different ways.

It was rewarding to be the person to do that as well as watching other missioners do that and feel their joy and satisfaction in helping others. That being said, because I left the ground running and returned to the ground running the fast-paced American style, it is also very tiring so I feel I am just getting back to feeling like I am caught up. Thank you for making me feel included in the mission, Heather

My experience in Playa De Oro was like nothing I’ve ever done before. I went in with an open mind and heart and boy was I blown away with the kindness and gratitude I received. . While I was able to share God’s love with the kids and the village and help them, I gained so much more in return. The residents were so welcoming. I instantly felt connected and comfortable - and loved all the hugs!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to witness the beauty God created while doing what I can to help. Watching the kids get excited over socks with grips on the bottom at Sky Zone and watching them laugh and have fun in puddles after the rain are some of the simple things we take for granted that made me smile so much during my week in Guatemala.

I will definitely be returning in the future and look forward to seeing the children’s faces when the bus pulls into the village again! If God is calling you to experience the love the village has to offer, and to share yours with the people, I highly encourage making the trip to Playa De Oro. The people will change your life.

Miranda and Adam

This Love is the Mission Guatemala Trip has taught me more than I could’ve ever expected going in to it. But I can for certain say that all of the fundraising and the challenges that came with it for prep was outweighed tremendously by the overwhelming positivity.

Going down the first day I could sense the excitement that we all had. And stepping into the village was one joy I will never forget.

I’ll never forget the joy of the kids that have so little running about and being reckless. The way they live in such tranquility makes you reflect in a way not possible if it weren’t for this time away.

It brings in to your perspective values of yourself and how to improve as a person, whether it be from taking things for granted, seeing joy in little things, or just learning how to love, I can assure that anybody who goes on this journey will no doubt come out a infinitely better and more well rounded person.

Realizing that this mission trip was not only the most fun I’ve had in years but also the educational aspect makes your heart fill with hope. This trip shows how important it is to love on every level, how to make others feel joy and how to achieve it yourself.

To put it simply the trip to Guatemala was certainly a blessing for my faith, love, and heart. I can surely say that going is sure to be recommend for the out-right joys that come with the journey. Surely something I hope to embark on again in the future, Aedan

My Love is the Mission trip to Guatemala was not only an opportunity to help others but it also helped me to understand what I was lacking and how to improve my life. I learned to slow down and love the person in front of me. I usually don't give my full attention to people.

This mission trip showed me the reward that comes with having a real connection with people. The people of Guatemala have a lot more struggles than I do but they have better connections with people, and I believe this is why they radiate joy. While working with the children I saw the excitement they received when you had the patience to help them one on one and gave them your full attention.

I learned that true wealth isn’t in material possessions but with the connections that we have with others. From this trip moving forward I will try to be less preoccupied with my own schedule and ambitions while I’m with others and love the person in front of me, Mike

Love is the mission and as you can see the gifts and graces that we go to give, we get back double, even triple fold in return! In Him who first loved us, Rhonda 1 John 4:19

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Sorpresa!

This past week, my mom and I took a quick (too quick) trip to Playa de Oro, to surprise the students with a gift from my Alma mater, Bishop O Gorman Catholic Schools! It seems like such a small thing to us, but these children having their own lunch trays is huge. They have not been served lunch in school before. This year when the program started in February, they had to bring their own containers to eat out of.

Of course, the trip was not just to surprise the children with this gift, that was the bonus, but we had some business to take care of as well as we begin to plan the building of the San Miguel Center in Playa de Oro.

We had some practical things, like opening a bank account and meetings about the land and construction, but even more importantly we needed to know from the families, what is their desire for our on going presence in the village? See, we never want to go in and say, here let us do this for you, because this is what we want or feel you need, but we ask what do you desire for your community and how can we assist in that.

The common answer to that question was assisting in the education of their children. And that is exactly what we were hoping the answer would be. Education in the village is limited and has not always been a priority and for some, it is still not and that is ok too, but to hear that same answer from many was very promising.

As we continue this journey towards the San Miguel Center, pray with us through the intercession of Mother St Frances Xavier Cabrini, that we too may persevere in our desire to be resourceful, to find people who would donate much needed in support and labor and have faith that if it is of God's will our prayers will be answered!