Mexico Mission Trip!!

I was invited to go on a mission trip to Mexico with another Acton school, ofc I said yes! So, I ran two babysitting businesses and earned $800, which allowed me to go! This mission trip was with an organization called Mission Ministry. They are so so cool. They are located in Juanz, Mexico, which is a really sketchy town with a lot of needs. Their main service is that they have groups (like us) come down and build a house for a family who is living in a 1 room cardboard box house.

My Friend was going to come, but couldn't bc of work, so my cousin Clara came with me instead. And I am so, so glad that she did.

DAY 1:

I flew to Colorado and drove down to Mexico in a big van for 15 hours. Our car broke down, so we played games at an abandoned gas station. Slowly, we were introduced to different people, and relationships started growing.

We drove through Juarez. It was an awful sight. There were thousands of pieces of trash scattered in between the desert bushes. The main road has like 3-4 little shops selling hammy down clothes. We then turn down a side street that is dirt with giant indents, so we are bumping all around. This was a real 3rd world country experience.

We turn into a compound-type place with legit walls, security guards, barbed wire, and broken glass walls. This is where we stay. Inside is a basketball court playground surrounded by our little apartments that are painted in different colors.

We took a tour of the compound and what they do there, and it was truly inspiring. missions ministry started small and just keeps growing. They now have free medicine and a nurse who gives them free medicine that gets donated. They have a center where moms can come and get free diapers and formula. They have a school where kids can come and get tutored a few days a week. They also have a library where people can read books and enjoy themselves. Lastly, we saw a building where teenagers are taught a trade, enabling them to start a business and make a living. They teach haircutting, sewing, car mechanics, woodworking, and musical instruments. As we were seeing this, I imagined I was a child who had very little, living in crummy conditions, and felt hopeless. If I were able to come to a safe, clean place to learn something that will help my future. That would be my lifeline. It is amazing that the missions ministry is able to provide that for those teenagers.

We were able to meet the family that we were going to build a house for; they had a little 5-year-old girl, and the mom had been on crutches for the past 4 years. We spent all 3 days that we were there with them, and even though we didnt play, talk, or really interact with them. I felt a dee,p godly love for them by the end. The little girl gave us all hugs that obviously broke our hearts.

DAY 2:

So we start on the house, you have a hammer and nails, and you build. They lay out the walls and put xs on where we hammer. You would be surprised by the power of a hammer. You get so, so much better the more you do it. In like 20 min, you have all the walls done and you're gluing them to the ground. They had a specific system of us lifting the walls up.

Everything was organized to be as quick and effective as possible. Clara and I volunteered for doing installation. It felt really cool because it's the biggest blessing for the family, as they get an installation. bc they don't have AC or heat, so that makes a big difference to them. But it was wild. It was hot, and we were wearing masks, and the glass was all over us. So it was a sacrifice, but so worth it. i can now say that i have fully insilated a house.

We get home and into the shower as fast as we can. Then it's free time, and we're playing cards and basketball. This is where the bonding happens. i am so greatful to the group i went with. they were so fun. and i felt so comfortable with them i could talk to anyton weith it being weird. I loved it, and my cousin and I could have inside jokes with each other. and laugh i loved it.

Journey Academy (the group i went with) has been going on this trip for a really long time so we rwent and visted the familys that they have built a house for in past years. We went to meet them, saw their house, and they prayed over them. they did a tye of prayer i havent seen called popcorn prayer. where anyone can say something and you simply take turns, everyone addresses god in a different name, and then we end in amen again. i want to do that. but idk if it matches what god wants. But I felt the spirit in those prayers.

The biggest takeaway from seeing the houses that we gave them is how they changed them to what they needed after we were gone. One family connected 2 of the houses. Another added a bathroom. They took the blessing and made it into what they needed.

That night, we had a youth group in the compound. So many youth from different churches come up to 100 of them. We played basketball, volleyball, and all sorts of games with them. Even tho we couldn't speak the same language, we found a way to communicate. what i learned is everyone's sounds and emotions are the same so you communicate that way with laughter and embaresment and thumbs up and down. you would aks their name and slowly try and learn more about them like their families what sports they play etc. i was able to make some awsome friends. I got one girl's phone number, and I met all of her friends. It felt so good to be connecting with God's other children. We then participated in worship, which involved singing Christian pop songs accompanied by live music and listening to the pastor's sermon. I cried so many times. one of the youth that were from journey gave their testamony kinda like a talk and it touched my heart i was pouring tears.

After the youth group, we paint pictures for the family's house with bible scriptures on them, to give it a personal touch. When we visited the houses that journey had built before, they had kept every single one of the paintings and treasured them.

DAY 3:

We come back to the house, and the construction workers have put metal roofing on and are ready to paint and put up drywall.

I was in charge of the mudding, so I could cover all of the cracks so air couldn't come out. And we were done!! So then we furnish it all, we give them all of their furniture. The girl gets her own bed

We dedicate the house with popcorn, praying for them and the house. They then gave us a message, and they were presented with the keys. We looked through the windows to see their reactions. The little girl jumped on her bed, and her joy filled my heart. I could imagine her as a teenager and how much having that room would mean in her life. the family made us one f their mexican meals with their own budget. There are 30+ of us, and they made us Mexican spaghetti with chocolate that was actually kinda good. They said it was the way for them to say thank you and give back to us.

After free time, we visited one of the prettiest churches. we brang them nacos, crafts and an easter egg hunt. There were little kids who just wanted to be played with. So we did. We made paper airplanes and played passes and torpedoes. Even tho we couldn't quite communicate, you felt your hearts connect. I played with this little girl who was five and had older sisters. We played pass with the paper airplanes, and I love her as a little sister.

That night, we went to church. it was all in spanish so i kinda just sat there. But we did wave and send hearts to all the little girls there. And we exchanged jewelry. and gave hugs. They play live music. A learner from Journey played his fiddle, and it was beautiful.

I miss Mexico so much. Once I walked out ot that church, I just wanted to be with them and grow a relationship and play and learn Spanish. But we only had 2 days. This simply reinforces that I want to go on a mission as soon as possible.

Here is a video from our trip!!

https://youtu.be/Rrh99Qv7vBU?feature=shared