What is it about new cultures that impacts us?

The initial glimpse of a village is a moment to savor. When we visit particular areas often on mission trips, their defining characteristics blend into the background. Their uniqueness fades just a bit. Nothing compares to the first time we enter a community and relish its culture, its atmosphere, and its people.In February, photographer Addison McElveen visited the Cultivadores del Reino Coffee Cooperative in Siguatepeque, Honduras for the first time. There, he met and filmed the farmers from whom Kingdom Growers buys coffee. He spoke with us about his experience, and it might compare your mission trips. Did you observe any of the following? Do those observations  and memories still affect you today? Pride derived from work well done“They really took pride in their work, and they were just ecstatic to show us their plants. They were taking us to specific parts of their farms and making sure we saw specific plants because those looked really good. They took a lot of pride in it, which was cool because there are people in the U.S. who make 10 times more money than they do, and they sit in their cushy offices and they complain about their jobs. And these people are working really hard.”Opportunities for evangelism“These communities are pretty much revolving around the coffee. … It’s the perfect opportunity for a group of believers to come together and create a Co-op to not only make sure they’re treated fairly in their business but also hearing the Gospel.”Love and sense of communityWhen one Cooperative member’s wife fell ill, other members offered him support and brainstormed ways to harvest his field.“It was cool to see their willingness to help out and to pray.StrengthOne of the Cooperative’s agricultural trainers continued working and serving others, even after the recent death of his infant son. “That guy had an ear-to-ear smile on his face all the time. And everywhere we stopped, he was helping the farmers.”The vastness of God“I knew there were Christians around the world, but it’s way different when you’re sitting there and talking to them and seeing the churches that they worship in. It just shows you a little bit more how big God is and how He cares for His children all over the world.”