Last post

Hi everyone!

One last post from me, Megan. :( 

I would also like to thank you all for following along and commenting. I loved being able to share your comments and encouragement during our nightly meetings! I was so excited when Christine asked me to write the blog, and I hope I was able to convey all that we did along with the emotions and lessons that came with it. As some of you may know, Mexico is very near and dear to my heart, and to be able to share it with all of you in this way, through words and photos, as well as being a voice for this team, was a huge privilege. 

Here are the last Q and A’s with the team! For all my team members reading, I hope you are catching up on rest! As well, I will be sending out USBs with all the photos hopefully before September, so look forward to that!

Alex

Q: Why did you want to come back to Mexico?

A: Ah, there is so much I can say, so much depth to this question. I would say I came first to serve  God and live out his love. I’ve been learning that this can look like so many things! I wanted to come back to love our friends here in Mexico, the Becerras and their church, Lupita and her family who lives at the church in Santa Ursula. To encourage them and revitalize their lives and their ministry. I acme to support too the youth in stepping out and discovering what it means to live this Christian life, to learn and grow in Jesus, and to serve and love to build His kingdom. 

Q: What was your favourite moment or part?

A: I’d have to say that I’ve loved just seeing our high school students (and recent graduates!) step out in courage and faith and serve tbhe people and community in Mexico. It has been so encouraging to see students stretch comfort zones, sing songs, play games, lead out, and speak a language other than our own with all the children and people to the churches of Huixquilucan and Santa Ursula. To witness God’s work in and through each and every person here is truly beautiful. 

Q: How have you seen growth in yourself since your last time here?

A: I am grateful to be able to say that I’ve seen how God has grown and prepared me in so many ways since my last time here with the team in 2012. I feel I’ve come to understand and really believe more and more that God loves and delights in us for who we are, and that there is nothing I can do or need to do to earn my worth and belonging as his son. God has been teaching me too more of what it means to serve him and serve others, that it is done through his power and strength and out of a place of fullness and overflow of his grace and love. It has been a joy to grow and learn in the Lord since 2012 and here in Mexico once again!

Tyler

I’ve had so many awesome times but the one that stands out the most would be the joy that we bring to the locals. Seeing their faces light up brings me joy and gives me a sense that what we are doing here is actually making a difference. Nothing has really surprised me about being here but I could say that the main differences here are first the poverty throughout the city and how densely populated the city is. Also the language barrier is another very different thing from at home as it restricts how we can communicate. Something that I have learned on this trip is how God is able to use us in great ways when we step up to doing things that are out of our comfort zone. Things for such as taking part in the dramas has shown me this. 

Kyle

I wanted to come bak to Mexico for a number of reasons, but most prominently I wanted to come back to continue to support and develop the relationships that have begun between earlier teams and the locals. I’ve been on a number of short term mission trips however I’ve never gone back to the same place twice. This made this trip to Mexico significant for me as it is my second time. My favourite moment was likely when I gave a photo of myself with a short letter written on the back to a boy named Salvador. It was a blessing to watch him and his mother read it together and see his face light up. Knowing that our team has such an impact on this family was very encouraging. I’ve learned so much about the lies of the enemy at work in my life. In the past, these lies debilitated me, but this trip it was amazing to focus on the truths that God has spoken over me, and call out the lies that I was choosing to believe. 

Ben

My favourite parts of Mexico were play futbol with the kids and also just hanging out with the locals. The kids just love playing no matter how good or bad one is at the game. The locals just loved on us. Writing this one the plane afterward, I already miss them. My three favourites were Luis, Obed and Oscar. There was one game we especially loved to play. We called it “futbol de dolor” or soccer game of pain. It was loads of fun. I was most surprised by how well the children and locals could understand and hold very meaningful conversations despite our limited or non-existent Spanish. I have learned especially that God’s love is the same everywhere. In each and every way it is expressed it remains the same. 

Brannon

My favourite part of Mexico was hanging out with the kids at VBS and making strong relationships with the locals. I was surprised at how the locals would go out of their way to help us out even though they were super tired. I learnt that people notice if you serve without a second thought and it really gets them thinking about why you act that way. 

Jennifer

One of my favourite parts of Mexico was meeting all the locals, and they quickly felt so much like family; they took amazing care of us and showed us so much love. Also I definitely enjoyed bonding with the kids at VBS; it really reminded me how VBS was for me as a kid, and I wanted them to have the same amazing experience that I had. I was surprised how fast the locals drive, it was so thrilling! I learned to step out of my comfort zone, regardless of how comfortable it made me feel. 

Lyndi

Q: Why did you want to come back to Mexico?

A: Where do I start! You know when a song, or a smell, or a certain location will take you through a stream of memories? Mexico always reminds me of the simple and most important things. The family I’ve been adopted into there, and the powerful memories I have from my experiences with them, always encourage me. Being able to return to the place where these memories were made is too good. I’m drawn to the raw faith and love that I see in the locals, and I absolutely love the opportunities I have to partner with them to serve. 

Q: Why did you want to come back?

A: There is never a shortage of laughter — whether it is at the expense of my language blunders or not, I can confidently say a day didn’t go by without a good laugh. On a more serious note, watching our youth collaborate to create and perform a drime was almost too much to process. They responded to God’s leading and demonstrated their desire to share truth with the communities we were serving. It was incredible to see how God moved through them in this. 

Megan

I wanted to come back Mexico City because I value the friendships I’ve made with the locals. I love learning Spanish and I love the culture. It’s amazing to me how much importance this culture places on looking out for each other and helping each other out. It’s also such a nurturing place. When people were sick, the locals took special care of us, from staying up late, giving us tea and meds, to making special meals that were easier on our tummies. Also, every time I looked, the two babies that were around the church complex were contentedly in someone else’s arms (other than their mothers). The phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child” really stood out to me on this trip, and it was amazing to see. I have several favourite moments from this trip. The drime really stands out to me, as something we have done that is completely different than previous years. I also felt extremely proud of the students in it and Lyndi who was the mastermind behind it. Their actions and the song was extremely powerful, and made me tear up almost every time. And as always, hanging out with the locals — Oscar and Luis specifically — has been so much fun. It’s amazing to me how meaningful a relationship can be with the amount of Spanglish (Spanish and English) we speak. We have our good old jokes — some from previous trips, some new from this trip, and I’ve also been able to hear from both of them their dreams and goals. Finally, on this trip I learned that I am more of a leader than I thought I was. Being able to chat and be there for the girls was more rewarding and encouraging than I had thought it would be, so I am so thankful God was able to work through me as I was in that position!