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So this last two weeks have been a really great learning experience, its been hard especially during the time in Mexico. There were hard teachings that I had to sit down and evaluate what they said and what I believe about it. Also, how it applies to me living here in the states and heading in the direction I believe God is taking me. I had a chance to see God work in the lives of our youth and those around us. I would Love to sit down and tell the stories of how God worked in Mexico just find me and say you want to hear about my trip to Mexico.
~Josh~
My name is Jesus Rodriguez, a helper along with my wife Martha (Little Shorty) during the SERVE 2010 trip to Tijuana, Mexico. We had many wonderful and miraculous experiences during this short missions trip to the outskirts of Tijuana. We worked hard with temperatures over 100 degrees hot most days -building toilets, small rooms, floors and roofs for very poor persons who also need Jesus Christ. I saw your sons and daughters play with little children on the dusty roads and telling them about the love of Christ for them. I worked alongside your very courteous and hard working youth like Billy, Cody, Josh, Spencer, Lanh, Hannah, Will, Justin,Tiegen,Katharine and others and am very proud of them! They smiled and made jokes, got along real well with each other and displayed the love of Jesus towards everyone. You have a great bunch of youth who care for one another and are not fake. Seeing them, made me think of what Godly parents you must be to turn your children over to the Lord in a strange and sometimes dangerous country!
Your pastor, Aaron, his wife and children are also a marvelous sight. They work as hard as anyone, model excellent christian behaviour and set the tone for the rest of us to follow. And, the youth leaders of your church that I worked with like Stefano (Steven) and Katy C. are amazingly genuine in their love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and worked tirelessly to encourage, guide and love those you placed under their care. If I did not live so far (Everett) from your church, I would become a member based on the Christ-like testimony of your representatives.
On the personal side, the Holy Spirit was at work throughout those very poor neighborhoods like Altiplano, El Progreso and Cerro Ontiveros where at least 16 sinners repented of their lost condition and received the Lord Jesus Christ as their one and only Saviour! The angels in Heaven and God Almighty are still celebrating the victory over Satan in rescuing these souls---all this because you have been faithful in praying for us, your financial sacrifices, and trusting the Faith leadership with your faithful and beautiful children in a strange land! On behalf of myself and my wife Martha may the Lord richly bless you!!!!
Through blurry eyes I looked down at the mud on the inside of my sunglasses, a mixture of tears and Mexican dust, created through the joy I felt welling up inside as little Kimberly accepted Jesus Christ in her heart. I marveled at the mystery of how God and the Holy Spirit work. Just moments before my heart was breaking as Jesus Rodriguez and I had so earnestly been talking to another Jesus about the Gospel, so desparately wanting this twenty something young man to feel the joy we felt, but he was resisting and rejecting the good news. As we had reached the limit of where we could go with him for now, we realized his niece had been listening to us, and she was ready to accept our Savior as her own. Praise Jesus!! And who knows how the seeds that were planted with her uncle may bear fruit. So how was Mexico?... Very, very wonderful.
~Steve~
For me this trip to Mexico was not only insanely awesome but it was an answer, the answer I’ve been waiting for. People have started asking me what I am going to do after I graduate next year and I haven’t known what to tell them. The last time I aspired to a certain profession was when I was five, a professional cheerleader. I’ve never imagined myself doing something most people would do, such as a school teacher or a secretary. I’ve always felt like being a missionary and going to crazy places, meeting new people would fit my personality. After this week I am certain not only that it’s not only what I would love for my life but it’s what God tells us in His word to do. “Go out into the world and make disciples of all nations.” The answer I was looking for was in the book I have had probably since the days of wanting to be a cheerleader. God works in our lives so awesomely and always surprises us with how obvious the answers we’re looking for are. I’m way more than ecstatic to see how following Christ into the wild will be like; I’m going till He stops me!
Heather D
When I first heard about SERVE, I was totally against going on it. I wasn't very excited about how the living conditions would be. But when my family and friends started to push me into going, I gave in and wrote up all the papers that day that they were due. As I look back at my rebellion agains the attending of SERVE, I only see how foolish I was in rejecting SERVE. I have been in downtown Tijuana before, but I was only able to see the suffering and misery from a distance. As we were driving from the border with our escort to "Tent City," we passed over a massive concrete drainage canal. I looked at the canal and saw that was home to many people that were cleaning, washing, and bathing in the raw sewage. I thought to myself: "Can 250 + or - people cause any change?" A few days later, I got my answer. We were at our second work site and our translater, Jesus (Hay-zeus) came in front of everyone and told us that two young women accepted Christ. The next day four more people accepted Christ. I was AMAZED!!!! I never thought that it could happen so easily. I took time and analyzed the situation. Americans have everything but people in Mexico have a lot less and are more willing to listen and understand. However, because we as Americans have everything, we don't believe that we need Christ. Other factors that also play a huge part are pride, lust, wealth, etc. It's so sad to see ourselves have everything yet nothing. The people we preached to have nothing but now they have everything. I can only hope that because of this Mission trip SERVE 2010, myself and the other 218 students can bring the word of God to the darkest abyssmal places in this world. May God guide us for his will. This is Will Amodei Signing off.
~Will~
Mexico this time around was such a different experience than the time before.I was younger three years ago and didn't really take in the message being brought to us in Mexico. Going in this year I was more mature and understood the world a lot better. Go out in to the world and find the lost sheep God commands, the message brought to us in Mexico again and again. What I have learned in Mexico was prayer is not at all insignificant. This is something I have been struggling with throughout high school. Wondering why we prayed if God knows what we want or why a lot of my prayers seemed to not get answered. Before going to Mexico the team and I would pray that the Lord would prepare the hearts of the families we would be building houses for. I didn't really think anything about it and kinda blew it off like it didn't matter. Oh was I wrong!!! Today there are going to be 6 more people in heaven because God answered our prayers and prepared the hearts of many. Overall, this trip I learned the extraordinary power of prayer and trusting in the Lord and listen for His calling, especially next year as I go to college and start the next chapter of my life and God's plan.
~Cody~
Mexico really taught me a lot. I learned before we left in California how important it is to have a pure heart and be a willing servant for God. Down in Mexico God really opened my eyes to something I haven't seen and that was the poverty in Mexico but also how they live throught it and are still content with what they have. And how it's not about stuff but relationships down there. Also down there we were being taught about how God wants all of us to be sharing the gospel with the world and how there are areas without the gospel. I started to think that maybe I just need to stay in the U.S.A. and I was holding on to stuff that I just wouldn't want to let go of if I did leave. As the week went on I realized I just need to let go of those things if I really want to live for God. I am still not sure where I will be going but I know God wants me to always be sharing the gospel where ever I am and now I am considering going to places that have no way of hearing the gospel otherwise. God did a lot in me as I was in Mexico showing me I need a pure heart and I need to always be willing to serve and be willing to give up everything to follow Him and go share His word anywhere I am.
~Billy~
Where to begin… First off Mexico was a pretty life changing experience. I went into the trip thinking how great it was going be to help the families in Mexico and didn’t even think about what God had planned for me on this trip. The speakers in Mexico really made me think about where I was at with God and whether or not my life was fully and completely His. I am the type of person that likes to have plan for the future and a couple back up plans just in case. During this trip I was really challenged to just “let go and let God”. This will be difficult for me but I am going to try my best and I know with God’s help I will be able to. I can’t wait to see what God has planned for me and where He will take me in life. Whether it be the mission field or a stay at home mom.
~Alicia~
This trip has been so amazing, Glory to God. God definitely worked in the people in Mexico and in me as well. He won hearts and brought them to Him. The people are so caring and open to helping anyone and everyone. It didn't matter if they knew us or not, they treated us all with the same respect. It was a major learning experience to me as to how I can better myself as a servent not only to God but to others as well. It was amazing to see how God had prepared the hearts of the people and the relationships we were able to build with them because of that. Our teams were great and it was a joy for me to see my brothers and sisters in Christ growing in God and strengthening their relationship with Him. This trip has been life changing and I have learned what God calls me to be as a man after His own heart. I cannot wait to get home and start my missionship there.
Gaelan
Mexico was a learning experience. Everyday God opened my eyes to something glorious. One of the things I learned was about missions.
I always knew about missions and that it was important but God commands us to go and spread his gospel. I really want to go and to unreached people groups.
There are still souls who have never heard Jesus's name and have no Bible in their language, it is just astounding. I also learned to give God my whole life and not just a part. I am not my own and I need to give God full control even if that means giving up my future and letting go of tough things.
The people of Mexico also amazed me especially a little girl named Nicole who was 6 and completely content with her life even though she has less than most Americans have. I got to spend tons of time coloring and playing claps games. It was awesome to see the joy and love radiant from her. I know that Mexico has changed me forever and God has taught me so much and I pray that I continue to grow in him and keep pursuing missions.
~Lanh~