From Pond to Waterfall

By: Yerys Amador

During Discover Missions in Kenya, Africa in June 2024, I heard the testimony of one of our young people exploring a call to missions. He used a phrase that is perhaps understood in many parts of Latin America, but is especially known in the Dominican Republic: he said that he wanted to be “a waterfall and not a pool.” In the end, I asked him to write more on the subject…

I have been serving as a volunteer in the ministry of Work and Witness since 2016, and have lived many experiences, so many that I could say that I know quite a bit about some cultures.

However, I have recently realized that I’ve been receiving knowledge and just keeping it to myself. I had never intentionally decided to use it to serve the Lord, until I was confronted to do so in Africa.

During my time at Discover Missions (another awesome event, full of learning and multi-cultural experiences!), I realized that I was actually a pond (a tub, a pool): I was just receiving and receiving and never purposely helping others with the knowledge I had.

You know what? I’m tired of being a pond that only receives water and that has fish that are fed every so often, when necessary.

Let’s make the analogy clearer:

• I am the pond.

• The water represents the opportunities I have.

• The fish are the different places or ministries where I live and work.

• The food for the fish is the workshops, training and other things I’ve received.

I’m tired of being a pond. It’s time to become a waterfall. The waterfall is high up and receives water continuously. When that water falls into the river, it begins to move in different directions. I want to become that: a place from which the fish can reach their destination.

I am determined to hear the voice of the Lord, but this time not just to hear it, but rather to move from being a hearer to a doer.

If you identify with me, I invite you to say: “Behold, I am no longer a pond; I now choose to become a waterfall!”