Katlyn’s Mexico Testimony:
The trip to Rancho 3M has changed my life. It became the best week of my life, full of new experiences and new perspectives. But let me start at the beginning…
On the way to the Ranch I was nervous, tired, and anxious to see what I had gotten myself into. I was worrying over how my attempts at speaking Spanish would turn out, and if I’d even get up the courage to say a word. But God exceeded every expectation I had had before the trip, and removed every obstacle I had envisioned.
When the vans finally drove through the little town of Guadalupe and pulled into the Ranch, I began to let myself believe that I really was in Mexico. We got out of the vans to meet swarms of kids, all ages, all curious, and all new to me.
I unexpectedly started tearing up as I realized that this was the real thing. These were real children with real pain, living in real poverty; and we were in the middle of a desert. I was up close and personal with some of the people our world forgets. Sure I’d seen them on tv, shed a tear or two, scrolled through pictures on the five15 blog. But this time I was actually there, about to start an adventure a world away from my comfortable, clean, sheltered life. It became a wonderful week of living in real community and serving in real ways.
I’d never met these kids, they’d never met me. I didn’t know their names, let alone their personalities. They knew nothing about me – I was just another Americana, and that was it. But even knowing so little, these kids trusted. The little girls let themselves be held and rocked by the girls in our group. The boys immediately struck up conversation. A girl named Wendy met me for the first time halfway through the week, yet didn’t hesitate to spend a whole evening in my arms, relaxed and trusting. I have never felt so loved.
They gave what little they had to our group – our group, the ones who had it all! They had so little in comparison to us, but I have never seen such love, trust, and gratitude as I saw in those kids. In these things they were far richer than I.
Little by little I got to know Maribel, the tiny little girl who doesn’t say much at first but has so much to say; Marcos, mi mono, or my monkey, who would come and go, but always find time to give me a hug or tease me; Ana Karen, the first orphan I met, who cried into my shoulder until she couldn’t anymore, and who would often greet me with a huge grin (minus two front teeth), wide eyes, and a tight hug; and Maricruz, one of the oldest girls I met, who mothered several little girls, and hid a gentle sweetness behind feigned indifference. Not only did my affection for the kids grow, but suddenly the language barrier I had feared was broken! God gave me words, and patience, and love for the kids.
He provided for every need; I had been nervous about spending a whole week in another country with a group of juniors and seniors, but this became a blessing as I discovered higher maturity levels, and a deep, deep love for God in our team. I learned so much that week from the examples set by the leaders, servants, and caretakers in our group. Another evidence of God’s grace was that I was placed on the team that organized “Kid’s Club” every afternoon, where I got to spend time with the kids while the construction crews were still hard at work. My mom led the team, filling each day with games, relays, and art projects – though intense and crazy at times, this became one of the highlights of my day. God gave me joy in my work, even and especially in helping the welders and helping in the kitchen. God specifically gave me joy in doing dishes after every meal, which had never been the case at home, and gave me the opportunity to get to know Mrs. Vahle, who tirelessly served our team whether in or out of the kitchen. I am so thankful to have spent a week with this group; each member contributed something different, and each one became a visible evidence of God’s grace.
God performed a miracle that week – he brought strangers together to become brothers and sisters…just as He made us sons.
This love overflowed onto the team as we found ourselves growing closer in our work, in our free time, in our prayer time, and in the time we spent together with the kids.
I personally experienced one example of our team’s growing love for each other. During a two-hour nosebleed, which later resulted in a trip to the local clinic, several friends stayed with me during the crisis, eager to help in any way they could, and were afterwards consistently asking if they could help. I was touched when Steve and some others prayed over me; immediately after this, the bleeding stopped and my nose was completely clear for the rest of the day.
I watched, amazed, as 37 individuals were welded together (sorry, couldn’t resist) into a team, functioning in community. There was no complaining. There was no rivalry. There was no laziness – in fact, I’ve never seen us busier! I observed intense labor in the hot sun, and watched as an iron fence and an office were constructed.
There was a fresh perseverance and desire to finish well. We encouraged each other, and “spurred one another on to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). I’ll never forget the memories made on that trip. Towards the end, I found myself wondering if this was a taste of what heaven will be like. Humble servanthood, selflessness, abounding love and joy, diligent hard work, grace upon grace, fellowship, laughter, and all the sweet little children you can imagine. I can’t think of a better picture.
I saw guys take leadership roles without being asked, teens care for one another, and friendships bloom. Morning worship positioned our hearts for each busy day that lay ahead of us, and several guys took turns leading morning devotions. It made it even more special to hear the insights and convictions of peers with whom I’d grown up – they’ve come so far.
The most meaningful devotions for me were the ones led by Chris Jones on adoption, Jed Shirey on glorification, and the final message by Steve, on making our own lives mission fields, and continuing the work initiated by God in Mexico. Every message was delivered with conviction and love for the Savior, and displayed God-given humility and maturity. These made me freshly aware of God’s great love and provision for us, and encouraged me to press on to the goal set before me.
Before, I had seen pictures of past trips, and had countless times formed in my mind an image of the Ranch and run through the schedule; but it was nothing compared to really being there. Once in Mexico, none of my past plans mattered. They were all swept away by new experiences and a mission to serve the orphanage to the best of our ability, and give all the glory to the One who sent us. I had to lean on God to show me his plan for each day, and learned to wait on him to guide me through each task and interaction.
I think that’s what I loved most – leaning on God. I think too often back home I can pretend that I have it all together, that I know what I’m doing, and seldom rely on God in everything I say and do.
In Mexico, I had to wait on God. He had sent me, through miracles and with the outpouring of many, many blessings; and He alone knew why and for what purpose. He had a plan that was unfolding every day; it was in His hands, not mine.
Before I close, I want to comment on the beauty of Mexico. God let me see another glimpse of His glory with each pastel sunrise spreading over the distant blue mountains, every star-filled sky that far surpassed the dull artificial lights twinkling along the horizon line, and every red rock formation that we met along/on our treks to the cross. This barren landscape was somehow bursting with life. It was beautiful and quiet, undisturbed, and spacious. You felt free; free from schedules or demands, free from time constraints and mundane concerns. We were able to focus whole-heartedly on God’s purpose for our trip. I love how God chose this setting to show me so many things, and to reveal Himself even more to me.
Every prayer was answered, my cup overflowed. It was very hard to leave Rancho 3M at the end of the week, but God gave me two consolations. First, I knew that God held the Ranch safely in His hands. I look forward to the day when Jesus will gather every tribe, every tongue, and every nation to Himself. Then we will never be separated, never be parted. And secondly, I rested on the assurance that our team…assembled by God, now unified and strengthened in Him, the team that I had grown to love…was coming back home with me.
Thank you, God, for sending me to Mexico.
Posted on
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
by Steve Whitacre
filed under