I just returned from a last minute mission trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico. Someone from my home church of Southbrook cancelled and I agreed to take his or her place. The mission was to be mostly construction in nature and since I have only participated in medical missions in the past I was hesitant to make the trip. I also was not a fan of large group mission trips. And this trip was going to have at least 30 people combining from two different churches to make one large team. The other church was Sunnybrook Christian Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma.  I honestly enjoy going in smaller groups where there are less personalities and more direct mission work and of course more control. (I might have control issues ? ).

The last several mission trips have been just my husband and I or our children traveling to Africa completing animal and human medicine in the bush. It is a very personal experience and it has worked for us and hopefully for the people of Swaziland, Africa nicely. I know by now you are saying to yourself that mission trips are suppose to be about being the hands and feet of Jesus and not about who goes with you or how they are organized and all I can say about that is I have a lot of growing to do in this area. And hopefully God is working on me to better understand my purpose. I certainly was exposed to several wonderful Godly group leaders on this trip who have helped me move forward and I will tell you about them in a moment.

It is a huge logistical challenge getting large missionary groups transported around the world.  And then to direct them in various task, to make sure everyone is where they need to be, to keep them on schedule on a daily basis is almost impossible. The volunteers who lead these trips are saints in my opinion. They need to account for the team safety, food, shelter and water, which in some parts of the world is very difficult. And this all needs to be provided before anyone can start the first project or serve the first underserved.

Before leaving I began my prayer of patience, and self-control as well as prayers for a successful mission. I also tried to leave all expectations at home and let God lead the team and me where he saw fit. My best friend Mel was going with us this time. This was her first mission trip and I was super excited and grateful to spend a spiritual week with her but also nervous that a huge team may be a huge disaster. I did not want her first trip to be a disappointment. There was also a good friend of mine leading our Southbrook team to Mexico to help us join up with the Sunnybrook church team. Her name is Cindy and she is one awesome women!  She is a spiritual mentor, organizer, prayer warrior and an amazing church leader. So I needed to pray extra hard that I did not disappoint or embarrass her with my intolerance of large group chaos.

The Southbrook team arrived in San Antiono and drove three hours to cross the Mexican border in Piedras Negras without incident. The Mexican border was nothing like I expected but that is another blog for another day. When we arrived at our final destination we were welcomed with smiling faces from the Sunnybrook Church team, the Crossroad’s mission staff, the local Mexican staff and a huge scrumptious authentic Mexican dinner created by sweet grandmother named Yaya. After dinner we gathered in an unfinished room for evening devotions and instructions on what to expect of the week.  Ok here it goes, pray for patience Julie, you are here to serve not to be served. As we gathered in a circle of 30, two guitar players from Sunnybrook and a local Mexican with a harmonica began to sing and play asking everyone to join them in song. The harmony that came from this team of 30 + strangers was beautiful. The music was one of the best parts of the week. After the music Jim the pastor from Sunnybrook gave a five minute-ish lesson that was intellectually stimulating and spiritually fulfilling. He gave a phenomenal spiritual lesson every night that we were there.  Jim, if you are reading this thanks for the short, stimulating borderline genius message you delivered every evening. It was another special part of each day. I look forward to pulling up your podcast and listening further. After praise and worship we were introduced to who would be leading us through out the week. We were introduced to Amada, Rob and Judy all Crossroad team members. And all extremely devoted to the mission.

I particularly LOVED Judy. I loved her the minute I met her! She greeted everyone with a smile and a bubbly personality. She had a warmth and spirit about her that was instantly appealing. When she spoke you listened because she seemed sincere and thankful for having us there. She also mention several times about each of us having the experience we wanted while serving in Mexico. It was apparent from that moment that it was about connecting and using your own special talents to serve the people of Piedras Negras. She seemed to concentrate more on what you may want from your experience than what she wanted. Hmm great leaders do this don’t they? They allow you to use your gifts to complete tasks they need completed.

Then there was Ryan the man in charge of ALL the construction projects and there were a lot of construction projects. He rattled off all of the things we needed to complete during the week none of which I had any idea how to do. When it came to drilling concrete I thought I wonder how you do that? And as I was thinking this might be a super hard task my friend Mel raises her hand and volunteers! Oh my I thought, she is not even five feet tall how is she going to drill hundreds of 12 inch holes in concrete? And before I knew it I raised my hand thinking she would need help. After raising my hand I looked over to Ryan, our construction leader and wondered if he was panicking inside. Two women drilling concrete was probably not what he had in mind I am sure he thought there is no way this will get done and quite frankly I thought the same thing. But instead, Ryan said sincerely thank you for volunteering and accepted these unqualified volunteering women with great respect. I thought for a quick second, “Wow he really thinks we can do this, how cool!” It must be how a child feels when someone really believes in them. At that moment I thought I can drill this concrete because Ryan looked like he thought we could. And I watched him accept 30 other men’s, women’s and young adults help for projects they had never done either. He was calm, cool and sincere with everyone. What a wonderful lesson in leadership.

And as the week continued I watched Ryan and many others show simple and sincere kindness to one another and the community.  Through their leadership style I was able to see the gifts in others. Had Ryan and Judy not given us the freedom to bloom spirituality and physically on this trip we would not have realized the gift others and we had.  I watched so many wonderful things happen. Mary and Cindy washing 50 loads of soiled laundry from the Children’s Home for the mentally challenged (that took fortitude), Nick fixing and repairing everything (Nick is one awesome young man), Kelley, tiny little Kelley laying concrete sidewalk’s  (Kelley is a great spiritual example too), Matt, who instantly was loved by EVERY child that met him, plus the hard physical labor he did was incredible and Dick and Dave working at the orphanage day after day so there would be bathroom facilities for 27 precious orphans who loved having them around. And the construction projects were only half of the mission. The other half was serving the community of Piedras Negras though helping at the city hospital, orphanage, home for the mentally challenged, and the local school.  I wonder if there are many corporations in the world who could have executed and completed so much in one week from 30 of their finest employees?  What do you think?

One final note to the Sunnybrook group and the Crossroads staff, you all rock! Truly, you are a crazy fun, spiritual, hardworking group of folks! And to Chris Tidwell, our new drilling cement for God partner, thanks for making the last and final day of drilling the best day of our project! I think we scared a few termites away!! Adios!