While transitioning out of their farming career on the prairies of North Dakota, Kent and Vickie Gussiaas wanted to do something significant with their time. With deep roots in agriculture and a shared passion for missions, they’ve found a meaningful purpose through volunteering with Convoy of Hope’s Field Teams.
Convoy’s Field Teams serve people in the U.S. and around the world through short-term projects that tackle construction, agriculture, and more. These opportunities connect team members with longer-term goals of sustainability and with efforts to impact children, families, and communities by providing hope and help to people in need.
“Having been involved in short-term mission trips for two decades, Field Teams felt like a natural fit,” Kent and Vickie said.
Willingness To Serve
Since 2018, the Gussiaases have served on 21 trips with Convoy — and seven of them just this year! Over the years, Kent and Vickie have accumulated a wealth of memories from their trips. “In 2018, we trained and served on our first trip to Haiti, which was quite memorable as the culture is quite different from our life on the prairies of North Dakota,” they said. Another standout trip was their first “solo” trip — to Jolo, West Virginia.
“The team scheduled to go eventually dwindled to two members,” they shared. “But we discovered that God doesn’t need a lot of people to accomplish much. He uses those who are willing to serve!”
Each time Kent and Vickie return to Jolo, they see the shelving system they built on a trip for Hope for McDowell Ministries still servicing the community’s storage needs. They drive by the new steps and covered porch they built for a couple in need — before this build, the couple wasn’t able to navigate their crumbling steps to leave their home.
Kent and Vickie have a special relationship with Ray of Hope Church in Jolo. The church was destroyed in a flash flood a few years ago. The Gussiaases delivered foundation blocks two years ago and helped construct the loft in the new church.
Moments That Matter
Some of the most impactful moments have been the unexpected ones. “The moments that stick out are the ones that happen spontaneously,” they said. “We encourage our team members to be willing to be interrupted from the mission. When we stop and ‘see’ people, God opens doors and conversations happen.”
Kent and Vickie’s flexibility and willingness to be interrupted come from their years of farming experience.
“On the farm, I end my day with a plan for tomorrow and wake up and do what needs to be done instead. I need to be willing to be flexible without letting emotion impede the decision-making process,” Kent said. “Planning needs to be forward-thinking with a vision for the next month and next year, not just the next day or week. We are able to multitask without losing our vision for the bigger picture. We can see the forest as well as the trees.”
“From my perspective,” Vickie said, “you need to be organized and prepared as resources are typically 15 miles or much further away. A willingness to be flexible and pivot when what you had planned for the day needs to take second place to an urgent call to run to town for parts or to drop what you’re doing to bring a tractor and tow rope to the field. There is always a need to be fluid.”
Serving with Field Teams has profoundly shaped Kent and Vickie’s perspective on people and purpose. Honoring people is important to the Gussiaases, no matter where they are. Whether it’s their waitress in a restaurant, their cashier at the store, their neighbor, or the people they serve on trips with Field Teams, Kent and Vickie want people to know they truly see them.
A Word of Encouragement
For those considering a Field Teams trip, Kent and Vickie offer this advice: “Don’t let your expectations derail your experience. If we are not fluid and willing to do the next kind thing, if your expectations are to build houses but [you] miss the opportunity to build relationships with team members and residents, we miss the call to ‘go and make disciples.’”
Their experiences have been life-changing, not only for themselves but also for the teams they’ve accompanied. “It is a joy to see team members realize that what they do on a Field Teams trip can be duplicated at home. The mission field is in their own community, on their street, school, job, or wherever their feet are. It brings us the greatest joy.”
A Lasting Investment
Reflecting on their journey, Kent and Vickie couldn’t be more grateful. “Our investment of time with Field Teams and team members has been by far the best investment we’ve ever made! We are honored to spend our time this way.”
