This was my second trip through our ministry’s partnership with Pouring Out Hope (POH) after having missed a trip in between. While we go with a clear goal of building homes in mind, so much more is built in a day … and only the Spirit of God could make so much out of 24 hours. On this trip, I was touched to see the growth of the project: so many more volunteers, more homes than before, so many new churches and business groups (Microsoft), the carnival and games, feeding ministry, and ministry to children as well as adults, each bigger and better than in the past.
But what was most poignant for me this March trip were the words of a new friend I made. Her name is Lourdes. She was the recipient of a POH home back in 2003. She told me how much she loves God, and how much she wishes she could read the scriptures for herself. She also told me how saddened she is to make so many new American friends who God has sent to help her community, but most of whom she never sees again. Lourdes told me she’s often wondered what happened to many of them and has always wanted to personally thank one couple in particular that helped to build her family’s home in 2003.
I believe Lourdes’ words are a personal challenge for me to stay engaged, stay connected and stay committed to this community in the hills near Mañaderos. I am led to do my part to return as often as possible, nurture this and other relationships and help bring literacy as well as salvation to our sister community in Mexico.
Lastly, I want to say that what POH does is not a one-way street, with the Americans coming in to save the day. While we do bring hope in the form of homes (and now a school!), we receive much in return. I, for one feel truly blessed for the opportunity. The people of this town are gracious, kind, loving, and optimistic. Their joyful spirit and resilience in the face of very tough circumstances is a sermon unto itself. I thank POH for creating such an amazing opportunity to connect in the name of Jesus with our brothers and sisters in Mexico.
3 comments:
Gus and the Team,
This was my first mission trip anywhere and I now know what I've been missing. Going to Mexico to serve the Maneadero community was an awesome experience. I was not sure what to expect and was a little apprehensive, but in my life change to walk in faith, not fear, when the holy spirit put it on my heart to go, I went.
The trip was long, but I met some other missionaries from ALFC, a church in Lake Elsinore and a group from Microsoft, share testimonies, worked and laughed and prayed together and the time flew. We made it to the town and right away I went to work painting, building. and setting up for the community outreach activities. We distributed clothes, shoes, toys, household items and food that were donated. The people in the community were excited to have us there and were very grateful for what we had to share with them. What little I did was returned 1000 times through the gratitude I saw in their eyes. The kids played games and were awarded prizes and the smiles on their faces and the fun they were having was priceless. We visited a local church and I was blessed beyond measure as the pastor prayed for us and my burdens were lifted.
The most rewarding experience while visiting was witnessing a little boy that I guess was about 10 years old, select clothes and a toy for his little sister instead of for himself. That selfless act was a God moment for me. I am looking forward to the next trip.
Myrna Cooper
Hello Gus!
Yes we do thank God and thank you too for sacrificing so much. I'll send you the pictures through yousendit.com right after this email. Let me know if you'll still need them on a CD.
I don't know if this is considered a testimony or not, but it brought me to tears to see that God granted me the privilege of seeing into the lives of the little ones there and their Mothers. Of course this is part of our reasonable act of service and obedience however, I have always told God that I love the nations and cultures and I want to be able to share Jesus, talents, gifts, equipment and time with them regardless of language or cultural barriers on their own territory- beginning in my neighborhood, of course.
We built, we painted, we fed, we evangelized, we entertianed, we gave- and we recieved (at least I know I did).
Although Maneadero, Mexico may not seem as far, it was certainly another world- a world I have caught a glimpse of even in parts of my own home country on the other side of the globe. I witnessed a flow that came because of their receptiveness; everything suddenly seemed so easy. Interaction with the children gave me more joy than I imagined. I was shocked to have them randomly love on me... and I wasn't even the one handing out the prizes :). The affection they gave to me was more valuable than the gifts we brought them. God showed me through them areas where I still held a closed fist and still took things for granted and this was no longer excusable. He personally challenged me.
I listened to testimonies (yes, delightfully In Spanish) of a few of the neighbors about the reality of their relationship with Christ even in the midst of seeming lack. One lady's determined declaration that hardships in fact proved to her the reality of her Christian faith blew my mind. She was resolved to follow Christ- circumstances didn't stand a chance on swaying her. She had found the pearl of great price (emphasis, mine).
I could go on about the significance of every little thing that came to me during this mission, but the bottom line is there is no better high that can be compared to this, except of course that which is experienced during ones intimate time with God.
I AM READY TO DO THIS AGAIN, DO IT MORE AND DO IT EVEN BIGGER! JESUS IS SO WORTH IT!
P.S Bonding with fellow laborers was a blast!
Mexico Mission Trip 3/28
What an honor and privilege it was to go and serve the Lord Jesus Christ on a mission trip to Mexico. It’s hard to think on where I can begin. It was strange how it all happened. I wasn’t able to go to the pre-build on March 7th so I did not think I had a chance on being able to attend the trip, but something in my heart was tugging at me to ask if there was room would I be able to go. I put it off for about a week and my spirit continued to get stirred up every time I read an email from Gus about the preparation of the trip. On 2nd Sunday of March, while working at the Outreach kiosk, out of the blue one of my friends asked if I was going to go on the Mexico Mission’s trip. I explained to her how I did not attend the pre-build, so I didn’t think I could go. She told me her dad was going to drive so maybe there would be room for me to go. I got excited, but still nervous to ask. So sometime during the second week of March I decided to email Gus just to see if I had a chance. His response was what I expected, however, it gave me hope that I might be able to go. He stated I would be put on a waiting list until all those who were at the pre-build responded on whether or not they were going. I prayed all that week for the open door to go, and if it was in the will of God for me to go, I knew it would come to pass. The following Sunday I saw Gus, and he told me I was able to go and wanted to even involve me to help with setting up a carnival. I was so honored that God would give me such an opportunity to serve and be His extended arms, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
Thursday, before the trip on Saturday we prepared separating clothes, beans, shoes, snacks, toys and games for the kids and mother’s we would be serving in Mexico. It was so awesome just to imagine the excitement on the children’s and mother’s faces when they seen all God had to bring them. I was so excited for them, as I’m sure we all were. We closed the night in prayer, and met up again early Saturday the 28th of March at 4 am. with the whole group. I was so excited I wasn’t even tired. When arriving in Mexico at the build site, I was amazed to see the shacks that people actually lived in. Till then I only imagined how places like these looked, and now God has brought me face to face with reality. As I painted the house I was so happy to know that I was here being God’s extended arms to the community of Banaderos. A servant God has allowed to go out and labor for those who were less fortunate than I. I was so humbled, seeing that I have been so ungrateful with all God has given me here in California. Taking for granted a toilet that flushes, a house with carpet and rooms with a bed to sleep on, my parents being able to put me in elementary school to get an education, air conditioning, running water for a nice long shower, a trash can that gets picked up every Tuesday by the city, grass, flowers, restaurants, and all the luxuries I have overlooked to be thankful for EVERYTIME I come across one of these things. And then it hit me, these people have none of what I have, let alone a couple of boards and plastic bags put together to call home, and I’ve only come for Saturday, and I will be home Sunday, but these people live here with a life we see as hardship. Some will grow up here, other's maybe move to another spot in Mexico, I don’t know, but to the kids, it’s just a normal life because they have known no other way of life. We may be sad, but they look with innocent eyes thinking what’s wrong. They run around happy, are so grateful for used clothes, shoes and toys; and look at them as though they were new. Then, I reminisce of some things I received that were even new and although I said thank you, in my heart God knew I was dissatisfied and ungrateful. I seen my heart looking at these kids.
Although we went to minister to those people with love of building and giving, I was ministered to a lot that day as well. Certain things in my character and view on certain areas in my heart I have overlooked in life were revealed to me. Although, I have been raised to be thankful of the things and people I have and then coming to Christ and being so thankful for what He has done for me; God took it further and made me look deeper at myself. He revealed things to me I did not know were there about myself. Asking myself do I really count all things as loss in order to gain Christ? Or am I still holding on to a few things, or am I still being ungrateful and non content about the place I live in or things I have? As a couple of us walked around and passed out gospel tracks to the families around I seen how everyone was so close as though they were all family. There were even these little kids hanging out in front of one of the new houses at the end of the road, with a 10 year old being the oldest watching his 9, 8 and 6 month year old sisters while there parents were out working. Life there was about taking care of each other there, no matter what the circumstance. God checked me that day, and made me realize that it’s not all about me and should never be. Reminding me we were created for His glory and for His people, for we belong to one another. We are of one flock, and I have been brought to a broader picture of just how big God is.. I have come back more thankful than before with every little bit I have, because there are people out there who dream about the life I live. I am just so thankful, and look around with contentment and hopefully now have the ability to minister to ungrateful people out here with a more genuine heart because of what God has allowed me to see. I am humbled and hungry to go back to serve again in any way possible. For when much is given much is required. For much has been freely given to me, so I must freely give to those around. I know our labor was not done in vain, because it was done unto the Lord for His people, and the Lord says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58. So, I am left with this, a more extravagant thankful heart, people and places out there I can labor in prayer for and a revelation of a bigger picture of just how big and awesome God is. To the Lord, Jesus Christ, be all the praise, honor, glory, and power. In Jesus name. Amen.
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