Heleena wrote:
Wow. What an amazing experience. In the weeks leading up to the Mexico trip, I was becoming really excited. I was looking forward to the work, the time with our team, and getting to know the kids at Rancho 3M. I was excited about it all. But when we arrived there, another group was getting ready to leave that same day. As I talked to them about their week and watched everyone playing with the kids, I knew something in my heart wasn’t right. I prayed about it and realized that though I was willing to serve and wanted to, it was conditional. I didn’t really want to do things that made me too uncomfortable or were too hard. I was willing to peek out of my comfort zone, but I resisted the idea of going any further. But God changed all of that. When that first little kid hugged me, all those barriers broke away. Before, I hadn’t been willing to speak any Spanish. I only knew a few words or phrases and didn’t think it’d help. I was so wrong. Suddenly I was using every Spanish phrase I could think of just so I could communicate! I wanted to do jobs that were hard. I was willing to play games that were silly or embarrassing just because the kids enjoyed it. I could see the changes taking place in me and I was amazed. I was pushing myself to do things I thought I never could. I’ve always been a shy person, but in Mexico, I had to face every fear that still remained. Rather than just stepping out of my comfort zone, I felt like I was taking a running leap! With that, my confidence grew. There were times I thought, “is this me?” – And it was, only a different me that felt more real because my heart was where it needed to be – fully willing to serve wherever I was needed.
However, it wasn’t just me – everyone was working hard and serving. In that service, there was one thing that stood out to me. It was the joy that came with it. People worked hard and sacrificed with joy. And it wasn’t just the team. I was struck by the joy of the children at the ranch. They didn’t have the newest toys or gadgets, but they were happy. One image has stayed in my mind: Seven-year-old Lupita found an empty water bottle. She filled it with dirt, rocked it in her arms, and smiled at me as she pointed at it and said, “Baby.” This little girl was happy just to pretend to have a baby doll.
My love for those kids grew stronger with every day. I especially miss ten-year-old Gilberto who I nicknamed Champion after he beat me at close to thirty games of tic-tac-toe! When it was time for us to go home, he wouldn’t stop hugging me and I didn’t want to stop hugging him. Yet I realized that my love for him, as great as it is, is only a fraction of God’s love for each of those children. It was a comfort to leave them, knowing that God had placed them in a palace where they’ll be taken care of physically and spiritually – a place where the gospel will always be preached.
I thank God I could go on this trip. I learned so much and grew in so many ways. I’ll never forget the love and joy that our team and those kids had. It was an incredible, God-glorifying, life-changing week that I will always remember.
Posted on
Sunday, May 3, 2009
by Steve Whitacre
filed under