Father and Son

 Father and Son

Garretts dad passed away Dec 1 2022.  

Throughout this post he will be named Pa, Opa and Meindert.   This trip for our family was to honor Opa and show the kids how he used to serve and go on mission trips.

After Opa passed away, Angela felt called to take her family on a mission trip.   She looked into going with the organization that Meindert went with, but those were not where God was calling the Prins family.  She looked into going through P.Sam possibilities international, but God said no through 3 different people.  So Angela said “God my desire is to take my family on a mission to honor Pa’s life and how he lived serving You.  Lord the thing is I don’t know where or who to go with.  I leave this in your hands and ask You for guidance and direction.”

About 6 months later God gave Angela the answer, through a friend named Camilla.

One day Camilla randomly messaged Angela and said “have you heard that SEMC goes on mission trips?”   This one question started the journey we are now on.

I went to the SEMC website to find out where I can connect with them and start communicating with them about a family mission trip.

On the website it showed a picture of Pastor Deve.   Angela thought “wait a minute, I’ve met that guy”

Back in September 2023 my sister Nicole and her son James were baptized in Nicole’s pool and the pastor baptizing them was pastor Deve.

So Angela messaged Pastor Deve and started the conversation!

Garrett and Angela met with P.Deve one evening at SEMC.  We discussed our desire to go on a mission trip.  And he was willing to take our family on a mission trip.  He suggested that Garrett and Angela go first to see if we think it is safe, and if we think our kids could emotionally handle a mission trip.   

Off we went in November 2024, with a team of 25.  Garrett and Angela learned new things about God and His character this trip.  Angela specifically learned a deeper understanding of God’s steadfast love.

A week after Garrett and Angela returned to Canada, we decided to”yes” our kids can handle a mission trip.

Then we started planning for a mission trip in April 2025.

We planned on raising funds for one home $3800.  We had a meat raffle, puzzle competition and a bubble gum bubble challenge.  Through all our efforts we were close.  Then we had family and friends contribute as well and God provided enough money plus some for an additional home!   God is our provider!!

Through packing and traveling and flying we have arrived in El Salvador for our first family mission trip.

It has been a really special time for us as we meet the families and build the homes.  Each one of us having a different perspective and different experiences.  Yet in the back of my mind I (Angela ) was asking God on key ceremony day “which aspect of this trip is related to Opa, Pa, Meindert?”

And God showed Angela.

There is this man here, his name is Jose.

Jose is a grandpa, he has 10 children and 16 grandchildren.   4 of the 6 homes were for him and 3 of his children.   

At these build sites Jose came to all 4 and helped build with our team.  He worked hard along side us.  Lifting, carrying, drilling, and serving!  

He specifically helped Garrett.  At every single house Jose was at, he held the ladder for Garrett as Garrett would climb it and drill in the screws.      He would also help clear out the holes with a shovel after Garrett used a pickaxe to break up the ground.   They worked as a unit, as a team.  Like a father and son.   

At this realization it brought tears to my(Angela) eyes.    God cares for us.   God watches out for us.  Like a Father and Son.  He is our Father, we are his children.

Lots of love

Angela Prins

Texaco

 It didn’t necessarily start out this way. But 16 years ago there weren’t very many options for an after dinner snackie. 

Now the visit to Texaco is a necessary and much anticipated part of the week. 

A gas station?! This is often the response. 

“Not just  gas station, it’s Texaco! In San Vicente! It’s the home of pop, ice cream, chips, chocolate bars and most recently some baked goods of undisclosed age “

It’s part of the cultural experience. 

And no trip should be taken without it. 

A Sweet Love

 A number of years ago Rosio was selling candy at her roadside booth.  It’s located along the highway close to the airport. Jorge was a driver of a public transportation vehicle. His route went right past her stall every day. One day he stopped to get some candy. 

And then he did so again, soon after. 

And again, and again. With dozens of stalls lining the highway it’s likely not very common to just choose one, especially when many of them are selling the same things. Unless there is something else happening. 

And there was, until the day he didn’t show up. And then the next day, and then the next day…

Four or five years would pass before she would find out that Jorge had been in an accident that left him unable to drive anymore. He stayed in his community. Until, God would have it, he saw her selling candy again in a small city near his community. 

Rosio hadn’t forgotten him. And he hadn’t forgotten her. And this time they would not be separated again. For five years they lived together. Then, out of a desire to honour God with their lives, and as a response to a newly discovered  faith in Jesus, the chose to get married. That was five years ago. 

There is an unmistakable sweetness to their relationship.  Together, they now sell candy from the roadside booth. And together they are praying for their family members to enter into a relationship with Jesus. People like his brother Luis, whose home we built yesterday. 

They are convinced that the blessing they have experienced in their lives is a result of their growing faith in Jesus Christ and they want others to experience the same kind of blessing. In fact they asked our team if all of us have faith in God through Jesus.  

Theirs is a sweet love. A love that reflects the heart of God for His people, all people. Men and women, boys and girls, of all nations. 

Deve