In the Pain, there is Healing

I had the opportunity to go to Mexico over Thanksgiving Break for a mission trip with a few friends. When I was asked to go, I was very turned off by the idea of spending my entire break away from my family and my home. First response was a definite no.I wanted to help, but forfeiting MY time and relaxation, not so much. It had been months since I have been home and sacrificing my time with my loved ones was not my idea of a break.



Being that my mom is an optimistic and quite an enthusiastic person, I found myself contemplating the decision of sacrifice after her encouragement to seize the rare opportunity. I finally decided to stop being selfish and give up something dear to me(my time with family and break) and do something for the betterment of Mexico. Immediately after deciding, excitement swept over me.



Reynosa, Mexico. Where we worked was called the "new colonia." It was pitiful. It smelled horrible. There was a clear lack of quality. The way I saw it was that they basically lived outside. I doubt their bare homes could keep them safe from whatever nature brought on. No electricity, running water, or plumbing. Needless to say it was an incredible eye opener. It really showed how much I acutally take for granted. Stupid things even, such as being able to throw toilet paper in the toilet! Where we were staying had toilets but, still not an efficient plumbing system, or what I am used to.



You think you know, but you really have no idea. Not until you have such a poverty stricken image. America's poverty is uncompareable to the outside world. Death is imminent. Corruption a custom. It is unreal to grasp if not enduring within.



While passing out blankets, food, and an occasional Bible, the group I was with ran into a woman who's husband was blind and could not walk. He has been laying in the same bed for 5 years. The wife could not read, therefore she was unable to read the spanish bible we had and they could not hear God's word on tapes because they do not have electricity. Wes, a missionary, translated what the man was saying. He explained how he did not know anything about God, but knew without a doubt that there was a "God of Heaven." He had witnessed miracles. Even though, he cannot see, cannot walk, there is no work, the hope he showed was admirable. The hope of the people we met was amazing. Here I am, living in the country of opportunites, and I still find hope scarce at times in my life. Yet, here are people who have next to nothing and keep faith firm. The children so joyful: happy and full of smiles. They really took ahold of my spirit. I found myself grinning more than I had in such a long time.



Going on the trip really put alot of things in perspectives. I cannot imagine a better way to have spent Thanksgiving break.