Originally posted on December 18, 2008.
International missions is something that has always been
close to my heart. In high school, I took my first trip to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico for a week one summer. Pretty much every summer after that, our youth group was back in Mexico. I think this helped spur on my love of missions and the Hispanic people and culture.
I moved to Mexico completely alone with four 70 pound bags containing everything that was "important" to me. I remember them containing clothes, shoes, decorations for my home, books, Pop-Tarts, macaroni and cheese and various other comfort foods. When I stepped off the plane, waited HOURS through customs and stepped into a crowd looking for a family I had never seen, my journey began. My assignment was to reach college age students by doing English classes and having Bible studies.
I had just spent 2 weeks at home after spending 6 weeks in training with other people who were sent around the world as missionaries. I arrived in Mexico City right before Thanksgiving. It was quite a change to go from having family around to being with strangers during this holiday and Christmas.
I had some crazy times and some great times. One of my favorite days started out on a really bad foot. There was a group in from Texas working with me to meet students on a local campus and invite them to English night at a local restaurant. I must have eaten something bad the night before because I woke up very sick. After drinking half a bottle of Pepto Bismal, we got on the bus to go to the campus. Surprisingly, we made it without getting lost (since I had only been at my current location for a few weeks).
Upon arriving at the campus, we passed out flyers and tried to talk to the students. I then added a nice pink hue to the rose bushes at the front of campus and felt much better! We then walked over and met some more students who had watched me get sick. These students became some of my best friends in Mexico and started taking classes with me. I am still in contact with one of them and she plans to come visit me in Texas some day! I was amazed how God used this to bless me with friends.
I was able to go to Toluca and reach college students thanks to gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The IMB does not require its missionaries to do fund raising, but they are fully supported through the offering. (Here is a little page I made about Lottie Moon.)
This was almost two years of my life that made me grow and change in so many ways. I am thankful for the time I spent in Mexico, now that I look back on what I learned. While I was in the process, to be honest, it was a very difficult time.
I love that I have friends all over the world who are doing mission work. If you're interested in praying for them, here are some of their names:
Russ
Lynn and Sandra
Kary
Trent and Lindsey
Erick and Colleen
Kevin and Brigitte
close to my heart. In high school, I took my first trip to Ciudad Acuna, Mexico for a week one summer. Pretty much every summer after that, our youth group was back in Mexico. I think this helped spur on my love of missions and the Hispanic people and culture.I moved to Mexico completely alone with four 70 pound bags containing everything that was "important" to me. I remember them containing clothes, shoes, decorations for my home, books, Pop-Tarts, macaroni and cheese and various other comfort foods. When I stepped off the plane, waited HOURS through customs and stepped into a crowd looking for a family I had never seen, my journey began. My assignment was to reach college age students by doing English classes and having Bible studies.
I had just spent 2 weeks at home after spending 6 weeks in training with other people who were sent around the world as missionaries. I arrived in Mexico City right before Thanksgiving. It was quite a change to go from having family around to being with strangers during this holiday and Christmas.
I had some crazy times and some great times. One of my favorite days started out on a really bad foot. There was a group in from Texas working with me to meet students on a local campus and invite them to English night at a local restaurant. I must have eaten something bad the night before because I woke up very sick. After drinking half a bottle of Pepto Bismal, we got on the bus to go to the campus. Surprisingly, we made it without getting lost (since I had only been at my current location for a few weeks).
Upon arriving at the campus, we passed out flyers and tried to talk to the students. I then added a nice pink hue to the rose bushes at the front of campus and felt much better! We then walked over and met some more students who had watched me get sick. These students became some of my best friends in Mexico and started taking classes with me. I am still in contact with one of them and she plans to come visit me in Texas some day! I was amazed how God used this to bless me with friends.I was able to go to Toluca and reach college students thanks to gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The IMB does not require its missionaries to do fund raising, but they are fully supported through the offering. (Here is a little page I made about Lottie Moon.)
This was almost two years of my life that made me grow and change in so many ways. I am thankful for the time I spent in Mexico, now that I look back on what I learned. While I was in the process, to be honest, it was a very difficult time.
I love that I have friends all over the world who are doing mission work. If you're interested in praying for them, here are some of their names:
Russ
Lynn and Sandra
Kary
Trent and Lindsey
Erick and Colleen
Kevin and Brigitte
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