Mexico Mission Trip Part 1

I'm back from Mexico. My homecoming wasn't what I expected, but I'll talk more about that later. It's hard when you come back from a mission trip because you don't really know where to begin. I spent all week excited about telling everyone about my trip, but now that I'm back and it's time to talk about it, I don't know how to put it into words. I don't feel like I can accurately explain my trip.

Flying to Cancun

We had so much luggage

Exchanging our money

One of the vehicles loaded with luggage

Another vehicle loaded with luggage

The driving was so scary!

On Saturday, we spent all day traveling. We flew from Raleigh to Charlotte to Cancun. Then, we had a 3 hour drive to Tizimin. We had a 4 vehicle caravan. The riding experience was a little scary. There aren't really any road rules. People pass a lot! It was way after dark when we finally made it to the center where we were staying.

The DCI center has two campuses. One is in Belize and the other is the one we visited in the Yucatan. These centers are run by missionaries Bill and Kathy Craver. Here are some pictures of what the center looked like:

This is the view from the road.

The room I stayed in. We had to bring air mattresses. All they had was the bed frames.

This is looking the other way in the same room. We were in the biggest room.

We had a sink in the room.

We had a shower in the room.

This was inside the bathroom.

The shower in the bathroom

We made signs for the doors so that we could remember what door was what.

The eating and hanging out area. The doors on the left go to the rooms.

This is a sink area and where they kept the purified water.

The kitchen area

Looking at the dining/hang out area from the back

This is the back of the center.

The first day we were in Tizimin, we ate breakfast at the market. Then, we attended a church service. Of course, the service was in Spanish. During preaching, we had a translator, but the rest of the time we were lost. The service lasted 2 hours. During the afternoon, we sorted through the items we brought to donate and the things we brought to do with the children. That evening we went to a village outside the city. In this spot, a church has been set up for children. This was our first night going to this spot to play with the children. It was a real eye opener. 

The market for breakfast

Market

Market

All the restaurants at the market. We sampled food from many of them.

Meat in the market

This place did not smell good.

The church where we attended Sunday morning service

sorting through the stuff

All our crafts and goodies for the kids

Packing donation items into suitcases

We painted fingernails.

We painted faces.

We decorated bookbags.

We colored.

We hung out and loved on the children.

We played ball.

They were so precious.

 Even after the first full day of being there, we were exhausted. I don't think any of us knew how we were going to make it through this entire week.

The story will continue tomorrow...

1 Day to Mexico

I leave for Mexico tomorrow.

I'm going to be honest with you. I don't feel like writing this blog. I also don't really feel like going to Mexico tomorrow.

It's been a rough day.

Last night, Lee was complaining with his stomach hurting. It got better, though, so I didn't think much of it. His stomach hurts a lot.

Around 2 this morning, he said it was hurting really bad. 

We ended up going to the ER around 3:30 AM.

We left the ER around 9:30.

When we got home, his stomach started hurting again and progressively got worse.

We came back to the ER around 12:30 and that's where we are now.

I won't go into all the details of how I feel. This is a very emotionally draining situation. 

I've had 3 hours of sleep max. 

Lee's parents are driving up so that they can be with him while I'm gone.

I keep trying to remind myself of what I said in this post from another ER visit.

I think the hardest part is going to be being in another country and not having easily accessible communication.

I must remind myself that GOD IS IN CONTROL.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose." -Romans 8:28 (His purpose, not ours)
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." -Colossians 1:17 (God is the creator and the sustainer of the world.)

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." -Isaiah 43:2 (God is with us always)

***

As I prepare for the trip. I pray that God will lay on all the members of our team a giant amount of patience. 

We live in a microwave world. We are not naturally patient. We want things and we want them now. Technology is constantly making our lives quicker and easier. We're always in a hurry.

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit's help to have patience. 

On this trip, we will have to have patience with one another. We are coming from different homes and different lifestyles. We are being forced to live and work together for the next week. 

"Be patient, bearing with one another in love." -Ephesians 4:2b

We must be patient in our daily schedules. We aren't sure what we're going to be doing. The plans could easily change. We may not get to work exactly where we want or eat when we want. We're not going on this trip for ourselves, we're going for God.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." -Colossians 3:12

We must be patient if we don't see any results of our labors. We are only responsible for obeying God. He is the only one that can produce results. 

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9

We need to remember how patient God is with us. God is holy and just. We are sinful. We continue to sin over and over again. We deserve God's judgement, but he is patient with us. 

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." -Psalm 86:15

I will not be blogging for the next week. I hope to be able to prepare a blog soon after I get back to share what God will do on our trip.

Please keep the 23 members of our team in your prayers as we set off to Mexico tomorrow and do His work in the Yucatan Peninsula next week. 

Please also keep my husband, Lee, in your prayers as we continue to deal with and try to figure out what causes his stomach pains.

Thank you for reading and I hope you have a great week next week!

2 Days to Mexico...

...& The Last Thing Thursday

I decided to combine my countdown to my Mexico mission trip and the link up for The Last Thing Thursday.

 

For those of you just visiting from the link up, I'm going with a group from my church to the Yucatan Peninsula for a mission trip. This is my first time out of the country. 

The Last Thing I {Mission Trip Edition}:

Stressed About: The fact that I have to pack for my week-long mission trip and my week-long beach vacation because we are leaving for the beach less than 24 hours after I get back from Mexico. It's so much to think about!!!!

Here are my bags as I am picking up where I left off on Monday.

 Was Happy That I Bought: My Green Eggs and Ham pajama pants. I love all things Dr. Seuss. Green Eggs and Ham is my favorite Dr. Seuss book (after The Grinch). These pajama pants will be perfect for wearing to sleep in in Mexico.

Was Impressed with: The fact that I managed to fit all my stuff in one bag to check, one carry on suitcase, and one small backpack. I still have some extra room too.
 

Here's my bag to check and there's room under the blanket if I need to add something else.

Here's my carry on. Amazingly, you can fit a lot in a carry on suitcase if you roll it up. I still have a little small space if I need to add something else.

Was Relieved about: The face that I'm basically done packing (for Mexico at least). I just need to add a few things the day of my flight (you know those things that you have to use right up until you leave). I also resolved to worry with the rest of my beach packing when I get back Saturday afternoon.

Packed & Ready

There's my stuff

  Read in Preparation of my Trip: My mission journal's preparation lesson. Today's lesson was on humility. As we prepare to go on this mission trip, we should remember that the world does not revolve around us. I have to remember this in order to get along with and serve alongside my team members. I also have to remember this to love and serve the people of Mexico.

 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

""I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:1-3

Watched: This video was sent out as a reminder to all females going on the trip to remember that we are representing the Lord and we should dress modestly. My hope and prayer is that we would remember this every day. This video was very challenging. I encourage you to watch it.

 What Guys Think About Modesty from sharethemessage on GodTube.

Was Thankful for: Everyone who is lifting me, my team, the Mayan people, and this trip up in prayer. Your prayers are greatly appreciated and they are an essential part of the success of this trip. As we were reminded last night in our prayer service, all we can do is be obedient to God. The results of the trip are up to Him.