The family that prays together stays together ? and goes together.
A three-generation family of eight from Independence Township recently returned from a two-week trip to Foz Do Igua’u, Brazil, where they helped in the second stage of a two-year school construction project.
Clancy and Doris Thompson were Free Methodist Church missionaries in Brazil from 1958 to 1971. After 15 years in the pastorate of Clarkston Free Methodist Church, the couple returned to Brazil from 1986 until 1997. After a few year working at the denomination headquarters in Indianapolis, Clancy Thompson ‘retired? in 2002.
‘I flunked retirement,? he said with a laugh, and helped organize short-term mission trips to Brazil and Chile.
The couple’s son, Mark, was born in Brazil and did not live full-time in the United States until he was 10 years old. He, too, now lives in the Clarkston area with his wife, Bev, and three teenagers: Bryce, 18; Tori, 16; and Brittany, 14.
A General Motors executive, Mark Thompson has been able to arrange his vacation time each year to help with the international projects. As their children have grown, they have taken advantage of the chance to join their parents.
This year, Feb. 28-March 13, was the first time the entire family served on a work team.
‘It’s a wonderful experience to go to a different culture,? Mark Thompson said. ‘These kids had been to Brazil a few times when they were a whole lot younger, but now to have them on a work team sheds a different light on it.?
As part of a 19-member group from Clarkston Free Methodist Church, the Thompsons lived with host families and reported for work each day, doing manual labor such as helping transport bricks to the building and moving the hard red clay from the work site.
They also assisted with the Foz Do Igua’u church services on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday during their visit.
Bryce, a youth worship leader in the Clarkston church, played guitar and trumpet and led in worship and praise music in his ‘broken? Portugese (the native language of Brazil).
‘Through our common bond in Jesus Christ and through our knowledge of praise and worship music, we were able to work through that,? he said.
Tory sang and Brittany helped with sign language translation during worship services.
‘It really impacted me that it’s the same God here and there,? said Tori, especially noting the Brazilians? style of worship. ‘It’s not held back. Whatever they’re feeling at that moment, they’ll let it out.?
While their father gave up vacation time for the trip, the teens took time off from school, which also had consequences.
‘Some [teachers] were more understanding than others about what this was and the relative importance of going on a mission trip for two weeks rather than school,? Mark Thompson said, but, ‘All the teachers signed off on it.?
School attendance policies and academic requirements did not change, however.
‘It has been difficult for the kids to make up two weeks of work,? Mark said. They had two to three extra hours of homework each evening, and they understand there will be no time for sick days for the rest of the year.
‘They knew there would be a lot of makeup work. The thing that concerned us is will it affect their grades and their GPAs?? Mark said.
The teens said most of their teachers and peers showed both understanding and curiosity about their international adventure.
‘Some people thought I was going on vacation, but when you come back you tell them what it actually was,? Tory said.
Upon their return to school, Brittany said one teacher spent the first 10 minutes of class asking about the trip.
‘As I’ve gotten older, my peers have respected it a lot more, and my teachers as well,? said Bryce, who now has two mission trips under his belt.
(Mark Thompson prepared a video with highlights of the trip for his kids to share with those interested in learning more about missions service.)
All three teens said the foreign travel helped them better appreciate what they have in America. Foz Do Igua’u is located near the intersection of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. The family described it as a ‘crime-ridden area? where the church stands out from the norm.
‘It’s definitely a learning experience. The people are very loving and kind. They accept you for who you are,? Brittany said, voicing amazement because, ‘you look around the city and see how poor they are, considering how rich the United States is.?
‘The thing that always seems to hit me is the joy and the love the people exude everywhere,? Bryce said, ‘especially compared to our lifestyle, what they live with.?
The work, which began at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 5:30 or 6 p.m. each weekday, was tough but fun. Bryce talked of ‘bad old shovels, hoes and pick axes,? but there were also jokes about the style of ‘brick throwing? to workers on the upper level.
Besides, the host families kept everyone well fed with native dishes. The Thompson family has no picky eaters, and they raved over their hosts? generosity and cooking skills.
‘They fed us very well. My [host] family probably had four or five meals a day,? said Bryce, noting that the Brazilian pastor’s wife had a side job as a caterer. ‘She wouldn’t let us go two hours without eating.?
‘They love cooking down there,? said Brittany, who has a desire to study culinary arts and lived with a host family which included a chef.
On Saturdays, the group engaged in sightseeing (which some said was ‘as hard as work?). The area has the world’s largest hydroelectric plant based among beautiful waterfalls.
On occasion, there was also opportunity to experience Americana by visiting McDonald’s.
The major difference with McDonald’s in Brazil? The group responded almost in unison, ‘Banana pie,? a dessert as common there as apple pie in America.
This may be the last year for a full three-generation missions trip, as Bryce will be headed for college next year. This year’s experience will be unforgettable for young and old alike.
‘That’s one of my biggest thrills, is that my kids have a heart for missions now,? said Bev Thompson, noting one of the primary reasons for sending people rather than just money. ‘God does so many things. We’re changed by the experience and the relationships, and people will come out of curiosity to see why Americans would come. Many times they will join the church.?
‘It’s like going home for us,? said Clancy Thompson who, although he has no immediate plans to give up international travel, is happy to know another generation will take up the challenge.
‘I’ve been wanting to go back for eight years,? said Brittany, who said the experience was better than a traditional spring break trip. ‘I love Brazil, and I love helping out in any way I can. There’s no way I would not go back.?