Back to Mexico (Part I)

I'm sorry it's been so long that we haven't updated you on our trip to Mexico! This post is an attempt to cover the basics of the trip because obviously I could write MUCH more. I think most of our readers know how long-winded I can be.

I was planning to bring my journal to help me get the chronology correct, but I forgot it so this is my attempt to remember as much as possible with only our pictures to guide me. That said, we began our trip to Bernal, Mexico on Saturday, June 23rd at 5:30 am at Village Bible Church. Joelle successfully handed off all "Items to go to Mexico" to the team. Some people had an extra checked bag while others added smaller items to their own suitcases. After a challenge/reminder from Ron of why we were going, we prayed and left for LAX around 7 am for our 10 am flight. Getting through the airport with a group of 25 was a bit of a challenge, but we all made it safely to our gate (despite the fact that the departure gate changed when we were nearly all checked in and about half the group was at the wrong gate). Happy & I were able to sit together, which was nice, and we also were served lunch--a HUGE blessing since we didn't have time to get food and were all quite hungry.

We arrived in Mexico City around 3:30 pm (I think), got our bags, and loaded up the bus for our 4 hour drive to Bernal. After getting gas, we were on the road around 4:30 pm and arrived in Bernal around 8:30 or 9 pm. Everyone was really hungry and some were feeling carsick from the long, bumpy bus ride. We had an authentic Mexican dinner of tortas (at least I think that's what they were), got our housing assignments, unpacked a bit and went to bed. I stayed at the house where we ate all our meals (owned by Enrique--who insisted on being called Juancho for some unknown reason--and Yolanda) with 6 other girls, split up in two rooms. Happy stayed with two other guys at the house of our missionaries Richard and Starla. The rest of the team was split up into three other homes. All the people who housed us were part of the church that Richard and Starla planted.

Sunday morning (June 24th) we had breakfast and began setting up for church on the front lawn of Enrique & Yolanda's house. The new sound system that the team brought from the U.S. was set up and used for the first time. With minor glitches and getting used to how it works, the system worked great. The service was a wonderful time of fellowship, as we sang in English & Spanish and we were able to listen to Gadiel (he & his wife Marta assist Richard & Starla a GREAT deal) preach in Spanish and then hear his message translated to English. After church, we prepared some skits (which we never ended up performing) because we were going to go watch and help at a soccer (fútbol) tournament that afternoon. We had a little free time in between though and many of us got ice cream in town :-) The tournament was lots of fun and nearly everyone ended up playing, even me!

Monday began with an 8:30 am breakfast at Enrique & Yolanda's house and then we split up into two groups. Most of us, including me, went to Richard & Starla's house to help with construction there; while about 8 or 9 others went with Gadiel to prepare his new house for it's roof. Happy went with Gadiel. I spent the day grouting the tile in Richard & Starla's new house with Stephen, Stacia and Nathan. We didn't finish before lunch, which was our goal, so several people went back to complete the task once they'd eaten. I didn't return since I had raw fingers, but joined the rest of the team visiting door-to-door to share the gospel and invite people to a social at the new church (the church will be the second floor of Richard & Starla's new house) that night. We split into groups of 3-6 and had several of the kids from church come with the team to help translate. My group was me and 4 guys and we spoke to people at 4 different houses. At one house Ron shared the gospel with an older woman while her daughter (we think) listened behind her. The older woman politely listened, but wasn't really interested in accepting Jesus as her Lord & Savior. Her daughter, however, jumped at the opportunity and prayed out loud right there! Ron & I shed some tears of joy as we walked away. What a blessing to witness the start of a new life lived for the Lord! When everyone met back up again at the church for a social that night, we heard that several groups had people pray to accept Christ that day. The social was filled with songs in English & Spanish, a couple testimonies (mine & Enrique's), games, food and lots of fun.

Tuesday after breakfast we hiked up la Peña. The real top of the mountain is not easily accessible, but a small group of us attempted to climb up after we'd reached the "top" that most climbers stop at. I joined a bunch of guys and, after climbing for a while, we realized that it was unwise to go any higher without ropes so we turned around. Still, it was pretty amazing. I turned around at one point to look out over God's creation and quickly realized that it wasn't the best thing for me to do at that moment. Apparently I have a slight fear of heights :-) After a little time to shop at the base of la Peña, we got back on the bus and returned to the house for a later lunch. I think we had some down time in between lunch and the volleyball tournament scheduled for that evening, but I don't really remember (and I don't have pictures of anything in between la Peña and the volleyball tournament). We spent the night playing/watching volleyball in the pouring rain which came about halfway through the first game and lasted maybe an hour or two. Needless to say, once the sun set, many of the wet people were pretty cold, but it was definitely a fun memory and provided opportunity for our guys to invite some of the Bernal guys to a basketball game the next evening. Plus, many of those watching the game were able to meet some of the Mexicans and help open doors for Richard & Starla. Another late dinner and we were all off to bed. I heard everyone slept pretty well on the trip--imagine that!

This is where I'll end for now. The second (and perhaps third) part of the Mexico trip will be coming soon, especially since I have now caught up with the invoices that had piled up at work while I was gone! It really is one of the most satisfying feelings to move the invoices off my desk because they're DONE. Have a wonderful Wednesday!