Mission Hosororo – God at work

Jesus Explosion’s Coordinator Lesley Taylor Gouveia reflects on their 2023 mission to Guyana’s Interior

Jesus Explosion went on Mission in July 2023 to Hosororo, the third time since 2021. ‘Why the interior of Guyana?’ you may ask. Permit me to provide a bit of history.

Jesus Explosion Trinidad 2019 was Holy Spirit led, as it always is, and we were privileged to have Bishop Francis Alleyne of Georgetown there, which led to an invitation to take Jesus Explosion (JE) to Guyana in August of that year.

Fr Ian Taylor, Spiritual Director, JE, led a 30-plus youth/adult group to Guyana that year. Included were Fr Cornelius Phillip, Michelle De Silva, Ayanna Griffith, former JE coordinator and Atherly Nicholas of Grace Ministry.

We conducted prayer meetings, visited boys’ and girls’ orphanages, and assisted the Missionary Sisters of Charity to feed the poor and homeless. The main aspect of the mission though was the conference, managed mostly by Sasha and Shannon Woodroffe, with help from their parents and Kent Vincent, head of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Guyana.

The attendees were spiritually fed through the preaching of the Word of God and through the many testimonies, especially by Vany, a youth of the interior. She testified to the love of Jesus and how He brought her out of a life of sin.

She challenged the attendees and that led to many asking for Confession, so much so that Fr Ian had to adjust the programme to accommodate the lines of those seeking God’s forgiveness.

The experience was so powerful and life-changing, that Paul Hernandez of Hosororo asked Fr Ian to have a JE conference in the interior.

In 2020, just before the borders closed due to the global pandemic, Fr Ian and Jameke Brown with the blessings once again of Bishop Alleyne, made the first trip to the interior as an evangelistic outreach, as well as to check the facilities to conduct a conference.

On October 12, 2020 Guyana opened its borders and wheels were in motion to have the first conference in 2021 which was well-received. The 2021 team comprised of Fr Ian, Jameke and yours truly.

A second conference was held in 2022 which included Anneliese Kelly as part of the Trinidad team, and the third conference was held in July 2023.

We arrived at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, July 17 at 3.05 p.m., and within minutes of clearing Immigration, Mission began, as we were asked to lead the 5 p.m. prayer meeting at the Cathedral. We have learnt to expect the unplanned. Praise God! We got snacks and drinks at a nearby grocery and headed to the Cathedral. After a prayer meeting and dinner, we retired to our air-conditioned hotel rooms for a warm bath, luxuries that we would not have for the next ten days.

The team comprised Fr Ian, Keith Patrick, Jameke, Monique Romany, Marjeta Campa from Slovenia, and yours truly. Kent Vincent, Gail Vincent, and Oscar Kendall from Guyana accompanied us.

The one-hour flight to the interior saw me saying the rosary as many times as I could to avoid focusing on the vast expanse of dense forest below.

Thank God, we arrived safely! The conference was set for July 21–23, in Hosororo, and the other days were to visit different communities for prayer meetings, and Fr Ian would celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of Baptism.

The conference began Friday evening with the movie The Cross and the Switchblade. A true story of David Wilkerson, a pastor who goes to Brooklyn to share the love of Jesus to two street gangs. It was a strong springboard for the theme of the conference Shine in the world as lights, as you offer them the Word of Life (Philippians 2:15 –16).

Saturday morning, the primary school was packed to capacity with participation growing each consecutive year (90 in 2021, 120 in 2022, and 160 in 2023). The music ministry was led by Jameke, backed by Gail, Monique, and Oscar on keyboards. Praise and worship filled the air.

Keith shared on the theme. He invited us to hold on to the Word of God, read it diligently and daily, and shine as lights especially in these times of darkness.

Fr Ian shared on Acts 10:43, “Everyone who believes in Jesus will receive forgiveness of sins through His Name”. He exhorted us to forgive those who hurt us, and to let go of unforgiveness. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. He said Jesus came to forgive sins and we are called to do the same.

I spoke on Acts 10:44, “The Holy Spirit fell upon all the listeners” and stressed the need to share the Word of God under the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in Luke 24:49, “stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high”.

Jameke shared on Acts 13:47, “I have made you a light to the gentiles that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth”. He underscored the need to read the Word of God, which strengthens us to be lights, through love, to those who do not yet know Christ.

New Testaments were distributed, which the attendees were thrilled to receive, and pledged to read daily.

Monique and Marjeta gave powerful testimonies how the Word of God guides their lives. Monique said the Word of God is her daily bread, while Marjeta shared how His Word confirmed for her to be part of this mission.

JE is evangelistic in nature, Holy Spirit driven and Eucharistic centred. During the Blessed Sacrament Ministry, the Lord Jesus ministered as only He can, with many being healed of hurts, low self-esteem and unforgiveness. Others experienced God’s touch and were slain in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was moving mightily.

The conference ended with Holy Mass on Sunday afternoon. It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces of the participants as we celebrated Jesus and all He had done for not only them, but for us all.

Before the final blessing, Fr Ian asked if anyone wished to give a testimony. With thanksgiving in their hearts and a song of praise on their lips, they encouraged each other to keep the faith, thanked God for the Bibles, and said that their faith had been renewed. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” John 10:10.

During our time in Hosororo, Region 1, the women stayed with the Missionary Sisters of Charity and adjacent, the men stayed at the priest’s presbytery, though there was no resident priest for over a year.

The Sisters joined us on all our visits to the various communities as they do much work with the communities. When on mission, one must have the mind and disposition of service; you are called to live in the present, recognising that comforts normally enjoyed, would be on hold while there.

The red dirt roads are riddled with potholes, resulting in bumpy rides that requires one to hold tightly to the seats. The Sisters were always charitable as they gave us the choice rows. The back row was not one to rush for, as that was where the bumps were felt the sharpest.

At the communities of Barabina, Mabaruma, Hotoquia and Hobodeia, we were welcomed with such love and joy. There was Praise and Worship, Mass, and Baptisms.

How easy it is for us here in Trinidad to choose which Mass we will attend, morning or evening, Saturday or Sunday. But in Region 1 Guyana, those choices do not exist as there is no priest. There are Services given by the lay ministers, so you can imagine how happy they were to receive Fr Ian and his team for each Mass scheduled.

Gratitude and excitement were clearly seen on their faces as they participated fully in the celebration of Mass and fellowship of God’s family.

No distance was too far for a people who have no cars, paved roads or public transportation as we know it. Day after day, they attended meetings even if it ended in the night. It was wonderful to see God at work.

They came out in their numbers. In Barabina, there was no standing space and at Mabaruma, when 15 babies and young children were baptised, moms, dads, and grandparents honoured the Lord with their finest attire. What a joy to receive 15 young souls for the Kingdom of God.

Our final two visits were to Hotoquia and Hobodeia via an engine powered boat on the Aruka River. The residents though rowed their shallow canoes to get there. The energy, enthusiasm and joy that filled the wooden structures where Mass was celebrated emanated from the hearts of the families that attended.

Once again praise and worship rang loud and clear. The children were delightful as they sang with every fibre of their being, clearly having learnt all the songs from the Sisters.

Fr Ian preached on the gospel of the day, and engaged the children by asking questions and hearing their collective responses that Jesus loves them. We gave out the remaining Bibles, religious tracts, rosaries, and prayers cards.

The last night of Mission was back in Hosororo – Mass and testimonies. It was a time of hugs, kisses, requests for prayer, and exhortations ‘not to forget us’ and ‘when are you guys coming back?’. The love of Christ was all around.

Missions like this remind us of what we have: accessibility to Mass, Confession, prayer meetings. They can’t even do Zoom meetings as there’s no internet. There are no hot water baths, no gas stations, few have private vehicles. But what they have is generosity of heart, simplicity of love and an eagerness for the Word of God.

Jesus Explosion’s mandate is to “Go into the whole world; Preach to every creature” – Mark 16:15 and we continue to spread the message of salvation, under the power of the Holy Spirit, in season and out of season.

Jesus Explosion Trinidad and Tobago

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