Meet Walt Chapeau: he spent a summer serving overseas that led to an opportunity to serve here at home.
You’ve been traveling and serving internationally since you were just twelve years old. How do you feel that being exposed to missions at such a young age has impacted the man you’ve become?
Since I was twelve, I have been to Tijuana almost once per year to serve along with Spectrum Ministries, almost nine years now. I believe my experience with missions has shaped me into the man that I am now.
From a young age, I have been exposed to poverty and hardships. I have been taught by my family to love others where they are, despite their circumstances. This has shaped me into being more humble and thankful for the things I have been blessed with throughout my life.
After several short-term trips to Tijuana, you spent a summer interning there. How did this long-term service change your perspective on short-term trips?
This past summer, I spent three months with Spectrum Ministries, and I was the first intern they have ever had. While in Tijuana, I would help to lead groups around the city and translate for them.
When each group came, they would do a variety of activities. These include visiting an orphanage, building a house, feeding an entire neighborhood in a day, going to the city dump to feed the people there, and hosting an activity day, where we bathe and clothe the children as well as give food to the adults. The staff does these activities weekly whether there is a group that week or not.
My trip was a real eye-opener for the importance of short-term missions. I learned that short-term mission trips are a huge encouragement to the missionaries that are working long-term in the field. Without this encouragement, missions can feel like a “job” rather than serving the Lord and helping people. The people than came to serve on the short-term mission trips would inspire the long-term missionaries to continue their work.
Before my time in Tijuana, I thought short-term trips were to help people and leave, but I have learned that there is also a greater purpose for them. Short-term mission trip teams provide opportunities for the long-term missionaries to build relationships with people in the field. These relationships are what lead people to Christ and healing in the neighborhoods.
What’s one thing you wish everyone knew about international missions?
I would say one thing I wish everyone knew about international missions is that the best way to really connect with people and lead them to Christ is by creating relationships with them.
The bad news? Creating a relationship that will lead someone to Christ will almost never happen in a week. With that being said, short-term mission trip teams are more than likely not going to go into a country and fix everyone’s problems right away.
But, the repetition of groups going to serve and the perseverance of long-term missionaries will begin to show the people what Christ looks like. The relationships that the long-term missionaries create will be what leads people to Christ. Short-term mission trips make it possible for long-term missionaries to lead people to Christ through relationships.
What would you say to the person who wants to go but is scared to step out of the comforts of home?
To the person scared to step out of the comforts of home to serve, I would say you can always start small. Missions doesn’t always have to be across the world in a different country. You can start by volunteering in your community or state, and then work your way up to serving internationally.
I would also say that missions aren’t always comfortable and easy. Many times, they speak a different language than you, look different than you, and have a different culture than you. That doesn’t mean they aren’t children of God though.
I see missions as an opportunity to challenge myself. When I go on mission trips, I know that I will be put into the “battlefield” to spread the word and love on others. I know that it can be tiring and hard, but the Lord will provide a way to do it and He be with you every step of the way.
How has your life changed since spending the summer serving internationally?
To answer this question, I am going to talk about the Fund The Nations shirt that I sold to raise money for my trip. When I began designing my shirt, I wanted to find song lyrics, a quote, or a bible verse that people would wear around. Something that meant something to me. After thinking long and hard about what I should put on the shirt, I made an impulse decision to put Isaiah 6:8 on my shirt. The simple version of this verse says, “Here I am. Send me!” This is sort of a cliché verse for missionaries to use when they are first entering the field. I didn’t know why I chose this verse, but I just went with it.
I sold shirts and went on my trip to Mexico, but it wasn’t until I got back that I realized the real meaning of the verse. After reading more of Isaiah 6, I found out that this verse doesn’t just mean send me to Mexico, Africa, or some other third world country to serve. “Here I am. Send me!” means go into the world and be a disciple of Christ and spread his word wherever you are in the world. It means “Here I am. Send me!” right into the city that you are in to serve.
When I returned, my roommate approached me with the idea of starting a worship night on campus at the University of North Georgia. I immediately felt the Lord speaking to me. I was being put in a position to live out Isaiah 6:8 and lead students to be able to worship. We started a club called The N.O.W. (Night of Worship) that hosts a worship night three times per semester on campus. Now, I’m an Orientation Leader, and I can spread the word about The N.O.W. to all the incoming freshmen. We hope that The N.O.W. continues to grow and that we can continue to lead students to the Lord.
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