Mexico Mission Memories

by Brian Bill
Published August 5, 2008

Having recently returned from a ten-day mission trip to Mexico, I want to share ten lessons that I learned.

1. Mexicans are amazing people. Sometimes people in our country look down on Mexicans and label them inaccurately, but we were impressed with how hard they work, we loved their culture, and the food was fantastic. One student on our trip commented that the work ethic of Mexicans kept him working when he wanted to take a break.

2. Teens are terrific. Along with three other adults, our team was made up of five teenagers. I was totally impressed with their willingness to work, their ability to embrace a new culture and their great attitudes. In addition to our team, another Pontiac Bible Church group made up of several teenagers served in Mexico in June, a group of three teens served for six weeks in Five-Day Clubs throughout Livingston County, a college student served in the Dominican Republic for seven weeks, another student ministered in Belize for a week, another is in China right now, and Pastor Jeff led a team of 35 teens on a mission trip to Nashville this past week.

3. Worship is more than singing. One of the things we learned is that when we serve the Savior with unselfish hearts, we are really worshipping. What Jesus wants is a surrendered life that is wholeheartedly devoted to Him. In fact, Romans 12:1 defines worship as the offering of our bodies as living sacrifices. This realization helped us to persevere when the work became hard or when things were moving slowly.

4. Lots of life can be wasted by worry. One of my favorite Spanish phrases that I heard several times was “Ni modo,” which roughly translated means, “Whatever. Don’t worry. It will all work out.” I experienced this first hand when I mentioned to the manager of our work site that I needed more paint to finish the steel doors. He went out and bought two more gallons. To my chagrin, when he returned an hour later I realized that I didn’t need the two extra gallons. When I asked him if he could return it, he said he wasn’t sure if the store would take the paint back and then he shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, “Ni modo.” I need to practice a bit more “Ni modo” in my own life.

5. The American way of life is often easy but not always better. Having traveled to several different countries, I always return a little more thankful for all that we have here and more humbled by how little others around the world have. As one of our summer missionaries said, “People don’t need a lot to be happy.”

6. Missionaries are real people making a real difference. Our team got to see first-hand that the missionaries we support in Mexico are doing a super job. They love the people they are serving, they have willingly sacrificed comfort and the closeness of their extended families, and yet they are real people. This was refreshing and serves as a reminder that they need our encouragement and prayers.

7. Hospitality is a lost art. During our time in Mexico we stayed in the homes of two different missionary families. The hospitality we were given was amazing.

8. Sermons don’t have to be short. During our last Sunday in Mexico, the preacher spoke for 75 minutes! While I haven’t hit this milestone (yet), I told our team that they can’t complain when I go a bit long. One of the teens replied, “We won’t complain; we’ll just fall asleep.”

9. God is a global God. God loves the whole world and wants us to think beyond our borders and boundaries. It’s easy for us to become ethnocentric and to focus only on what we can see. Look for ways to expand your view of what God is doing around the world.

10. Jesus changes lives everywhere. We loved seeing the excitement in the lives of Mexicans who had just become Christians. They were filled with joy because of the freedom they have found in Christ. As we listened to stories of how Jesus has changed them we were both encouraged and challenged to make sure we are open to God’s work in our lives. Some of the final words of Jesus are to take the gospel to all the nations (see Matthew 28:19-20) and His message is for Livingston County as well. Have you responded to Him and received Him as your Savior and Lord? That’s a question you can’t answer with “Ni modo.”

Viewed 99 times