Mexico

About the trip - it was amazing - so much poverty, illiteracy, oppression, and hopelessness, but that is why people need others to bring them a message of hope =) I ate cactus while I was down there, had shrimp that was caught about half an hour before we ate it (we rode to an island to minister and the boat cast out a net as soon as we landed - it was shrimping season), and ministered in such remote locations that it took us an hour off main roads to reach a small remote community. Some of the "churches" we ministered to had no building - we met outside under trees. The weather was warm most of the time - definitely warmer than here =)

All together, our team ministered in six churches over five days. Two of our team members got sick after a day of being there and spent two days at "home" resting while the rest of the team traveled and taught. I got sick toward the end of the trip (last two days) but nothing unbearable. Throughout our time in the villages we handed out over 400 gifts to children, young teens, and adults. It was great to see how eager everyone was to receive something of their very own (considering most of them frequented trash and salvaged what they could on a daily basis).

God ministered to me a lot while I was there - he laid many things on my heart and strengthened my desire for missions: he placed in me a new depth of love for the lost and hurting, he called me higher me in areas of pride and submission, and he refined my ability to be flexible =) Since I was a group co-leader, the Lord also challenged me to step out of my normal comfort zone of sitting back and following. I had to be proactive, make group decisions, and lead a bible study. This was somewhat new to me, but through it all the Lord brought me to a new level of understanding and grace. I also shared part of my testimony in one of the churches - something I have not done for years. I was able to share about the love, grace, and comfort the Lord has poured into my life - restoring many times over what the devil had stolen. Although I am not one for tears, I began to cry as I shared of the grace God overwhelmingly poured into my life - I felt such a burden to share God's deepest desires with these people - my heart ached to see them hurting and hopeless. God really ministered to me as I tried to humbly share some of what he has done in my life. It was an amazing experience.

Was everything exciting and joyful? No - I spent the better part of two days feeling sick, got soaked and cold on a boat ride to an Island church, had little time to rest or have "down time," and endured long bumpy rides on ridiculously pot-holed roads in a rickety old van. Still, I loved being in Mexico. I enjoyed practicing my Spanish and loved playing with the little children - I hope to return for the bible school programs that they hold for closed communities in the mountains. It was a blessing to be there and to allow the Lord to use me to minister to such a people. Again - it was amazing.