Passing of the Baton

Last month, Larry Benson officially “Passed the Baton” of the Mission Encounters International (MEI) Helene & Roatan site director role to Reed Dillahunty, an MEI team member who has been serving in the United States. As the site director, Reed actively engages in discipleship, oversees the properties on the islands of both Helene and Roatan, and coordinates short term mission teams.

Reed’s wife, Donna, also a US based MEI team member, will join Reed on-site full time after her retirement. Donna is in charge of curriculum oversight, teacher training, & serves as an advisor to the HCES school board.

After 18 faithful years in the field, Larry and Sheila have returned to the US, where Larry will continue to serve as the MEI Executive Director. Once settled, Larry and Sheila look forward to visiting MEI supporters, meeting with new partners, and assisting with prospective Short-Term Mission trip teams.

Reflections from Larry:

It is hard to reflect in a moment on what you have learned in a lifetime on the foreign mission field. Every norm and thought I grew up with, has been challenged. Some thoughts were quickly worked through, some took years to justify, and some have never been settled. None of these thoughts or challenges leave me with the feeling that it was not worth it; it most certainly was. Life was not easy, but it was worth living.

Even though Sheila, my wife of 47 years, and I lived on a small, isolated island in the Caribbean, I never considered the work small. I considered it as a gift from God. It was a place of honor that He allowed me to serve. The greatest joy was with the people: deeply emotional people who love fiercely, are devoted to family almost to a fault, experience anguish with every death on the island, and take time to celebrate in honor of the one who just passed away.

We were included in all of their culture and customs, so we were never considered outsiders. After serving there for over 18 years, we were deemed to be more islanders than US citizens. I cannot imagine never going there or not having the opportunity. Jesus just made it happen. Going was not my plan, it was not on my radar, but God had plans for us and I love that about God.

Sheila and I are back home in the United States, and now we get to return whenever we want for short visits. So I am working as the Executive Director of Mission Encounters. I have always been the Executive Director from Helene, but now from the United States. Sheila and I are in need of your prayers as we seek God and work to move MEI forward from a stateside position.

Anchored in Christ, Larry and Sheila.

Click for a snapshot 30 second video of the passing of the baton.