I just got back from Ciudad Morelos, B.C., Mexico! God is so amazing, and we had a great, safe trip. Why did I go you ask? Well, let me tell you all about it.
God ignited a passion for missions in my heart when I was in high school (some time ago now). I was able to travel to Mexico with Christ's Church of the Valley in San Dimas, CA, and have been itching to return ever since.
I received the opportunity through Water of Life Community Church in Fontana, CA to travel to Mexico with a small team of individuals with servant hearts. I crowd funded and was able to receive the funds needed to get my passport and pay for my traveling fees. The trip got postponed, but the time finally came this past weekend.
We had an amazing time. God provided beautiful sunrises and sunsets, a remarkable lightning storm, and most importantly: intimate time with Him and the beautiful children that call Agua de Vida Orphanage their home.
It's such a blessing to be used by God; to sense a need and be able to fill it. Seeing the joy on the faces of those precious children and the pastor and wife who care for them day to day was priceless. We stayed on the grounds of the orphanage and catered to the needs of all who lived there. Our goal was to give Pastor Mario and his wife Veronica rest, and to create big brother/sister relationships with the children. We did just that. We cooked, we cleaned, and we did yard work. We played, we prayed, and we had tons of fun. This experience was both fulfilling and eye opening. Children have so much joy! Its particularly interesting because they have far less than the children here stateside are used to, however, they have far more joy than our children do. The sense of community is overwhelmingly beautiful. They are living, walking, breathing testimonies, and I'm so blessed to have been able to visit them for the weekend. I look forward to going back as soon as possible, and I truly hope I can make that happen in December. Continue to pray for those beautiful people.
I am typically pretty good with kids. I've been working with kids since I was a kid, and now I'm a pediatric nurse and I have a pretty great track record. None of that crossed the border with me. It was difficult for me to draw these kids out of their shells, especially because my Spanish is extremely rusty. One of the things that stuck out for me was God's prompting me to relax, to not force things, and to just go with the flow. I don't believe that was a lesson that was intended to stay in Mexico. Where I feel I may be good at something, God continues to humble me so that I realize where my gifts and talents come from. One of the sweet leaders for the trip confirmed what God was speaking at the end of the trip, so that was really cool.
Soon after this revelation the kids warmed up to me, and we had an amazing time- even amidst the language barrier. A great heart and a warm smile is transcendent.
I'm so grateful for these kids and the team that I traveled with. These types of experiences put life into perspective- and you know how I feel about that.
Life is beautiful, especially if you choose to see it as such.
♡