"It's Contagious!"

“It’s Contagious!” has been used to strike fear in many people over the years, maybe even more so in the last few years. When we hear this phrase we try to do everything we can to avoid whatever is being spread. It starts with one, then spreads to others.

Two weeks ago, I led a group to Mexico to do a mission trip. We had 13 people in the group, seven from Saratoga, and five of those were teenagers. We travelled through Juarez and then six hours South into the middle of MX. Our plan was to conduct a Volleyball Camp, work on a Chapel for a camp, and work on The Farm where we grow potatoes, corn, fruit, and beans to distribute to the different ethnic groups. (Side note, there are more than 200 different ethnic tribes in Mexico, each with a different language). We serve about 12 different tribes through our food grown at The Farm.

The Volleyball Camp was successful with about 50 or 60 children and youth attending the three day camp. Our young people from Saratoga overcame some language barriers and really did a fantastic job leading the camp.

But then it happened! The dreaded “Montezuma’s Revenge” that many have heard about and some have experienced. Yes, there was a “contagious” stomach bug that quickly went through (no pun intended) about half our group. Thankfully, this was after the Camp and on a day or two where we could opt out of the activities.

But that is not the most “contagious” thing about the trip. On day one of the camp, there was a group of teenage boys off to the side, vaping, drinking, and who knows what they were saying (It was in Spanish). But our group of young people were focused on teaching others and having fun doing it! They were laughing, smiling, and JOYFUL. By day two, this group of teens were at a closer table, we didn’t observe the same things as the day before. By day three, they were at the table on the edge of the courts. We invited them to join and a few did, but not the leader and his friend. Our youth continued to have JOY, continued to have fun and laugh. And by the end of the 3^rd day, the leader and all the group had joined our teens for some fun, some volleyball, and some JOY.

JOY IS CONTAGIOUS! We saw it in action. Our youth had such joy that they those around were compelled to join, they were sucked in, and started to “catch the bug”. Joy drew them in, joy was contagious and they received joy. Proverbs 17:22 says “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Jesus often taught about love and loving others. Jesus spoke of being connected to Him and remaining connected. In John 15:11 Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

We SAW this lived out from our young people. We SAW the joy being spread, from one individual to another, and, by the end, the complete group has “caught the joy”. Joy is contagious.

So friend, what are you spreading?

Are you spreading joy, kindness, love, respect, grace, forgiveness?

Or are you spreading anger, sarcasm, gossip, disrespect, hate?Can I challenge the parents, especially the fathers, what are you spreading? What is “contagious” about you?

If people are around you long enough, what to they leave with?

Maybe you need to be around someone who is “contagious”. Maybe you need to be around someone who is joyful. It spreads, you can catch it, and you spread it to others.

Jesus said in John 16:24, “Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your JOY may be complete”