A dedicated group of 30 volunteers from the SAGE Ministry of the Washington Conference recently returned home following a successful and inspiring mission to Paraguay with Maranatha Volunteers International. SAGE stands for “Seniors in Action for God with Excellence,” a ministry that empowers this experienced age group to connect with each other and bless the world around them. The team made a profound impact on the local community of J Augusto Saldivar, near the capital city of Asunción, with a range of projects that addressed both physical and spiritual needs.
The mission, which spanned nearly ten days, was a testament to the power of coordinated volunteerism. The SAGE 2026 group successfully built a new church structure for the J Augusto Saldivar Seventh-day Adventist congregation, providing a permanent place of worship and community gathering. Beyond construction, the mission extended vital healthcare services, seeing more than 800 people for medical screenings, and distributing 1,500 pairs of eyeglasses to those in need. The team’s outreach also included educational components, as they conducted nine evening health education lectures and led engaging Vacation Bible School activities for local children.
Reflecting on the experience, volunteer project leader Rick Serns, of Winlock, shared a deeply personal perspective: “It is always a blessing to see how the volunteer activities give inspiration to both those that are on the receiving end and those that are on the giving end.” He added that he “felt inspired by the bonding among the group, and of our group with the local community,” highlighting the reciprocal nature of the mission work. The collective sentiment among the volunteers was one of spiritual enrichment, with all participants sharing feelings of spiritual growth throughout the journey.
Like any ambitious endeavor, the mission faced hurdles, though none proved insurmountable. According to Serns, the biggest logistical challenge was “coordinating the transportation needs for all of these projects,” which is often complex when juggling multiple, simultaneous community efforts. However, this challenge was tempered by fortunate circumstances, as the team was “blessed … with fairly good weather throughout.”
The volunteers noted numerous instances of divine intervention, seeing “God working” every day through “[great] attitudes and customer service from vendors and local recipients.” This sense of providence reinforced Sern’s faith, affirming that in every challenge, “God always comes through.”
Maranatha renovated a church building in Paraguay from 1988 to 1989 and built more church structures and classrooms from 2001 to 2002. This work helped lay the foundation for Paraguay’s Adventist Church expansion to roughly 15,000 members. In response to this growth, Maranatha returned again in 2024, and is now nearly finished with 25 churches during this current effort.