A 4 am wake up call excited to leave, a long 12 hour bus ride with 51 loud, excited high school kids. Crossing the border was a breeze this year, with the exception of teaching them how to fill out immigration forms and not make mistakes, but we are always cautious taking the kids over the border, then simply grateful when we are done crossing. Then onto the Ranch for our 6 night stay, in bunk houses with 15 roommates, which makes for such great sleeping... not so much!! A blend of not so much sleep and a lot of activity and strange germs that can take you down in a blink of a sneeze (been there done that). To our 6:30 wake up call to some very fun music lifting us from our cozy sleeping bags.
This year was very different in many ways, changes to pastoral staff and changes to the ministry itself. It was a time to be flexible and open to many changes. It was absolutely wonderful! My team "Periferico" as we have nicknamed it, was an amazing team. Serving one another, serving the church and the afternoon ministries together as a unified team was a true treasure. This team was different I believe because of the student leadership and what was required of them before we left to go. They were ready, the hearts of the students were prepared to serve, they were determined to be a team, and a strong one at that. The high school students came along side my son who is a Jr. High student, as a fellow leader not looking down upon him, but requiring him to step up and join them in the work load and the accomplishments. Nick will be forever changed from serving on this team.
Onto the day we will go. Serving the church that we were assigned to doing our Vacation Bible School with puppets, drama, crafts, music and snack. All in Spanish... did I mention I don't speak Spanish? So I am blessed to have a translator that was simply wonderful this year, she was so willing to help me in any way she could. After the morning routine, we were taken by the city bus (they are rented just for us for the week) to The Refuge, this is a home for about 75 elderly that have either been left on the streets by family or abandoned at hospitals with no where to go. Our ministry there is multiple layered, the church sends a medical team to take care of wounds and illnesses but my team, we feed them, sing to them, bathe them, and wash their feet. Seeing my young man of a son serve in this way rendered tears to my eyes, his willingness to come along side a timid senior to help her serve in such a way that she was stretched beyond her normal comfort zone. We were able to serve on the Sports Camp Team in the afternoon, come along side another church to help with their vacation bible school that served the kids the entire day, and also enjoy a Fiesta! In my opinion our church is the best! Then again I've served on this church team for 11 years, and I might be biased, I have only served on one other church during my years going. The carne asada tacos are the best!
Listening to the worship songs sung in English and spanish at the same time, was astounding! It might be what heaven sounds like! Truly my heart was bursting, my emotions on high alert, this was the time to make sure I didn't have the Mission Mountain Top High. Maybe I came home with a little... but that's normal right?
After serving on this team for many years, I have grown to love the Pastors Wife Eunice. When we greet each other, its like sisters hugging and laughing. But there is one huge issue, she doesn't speak English and remember I don't speak Spanish. Over the years we have promised to try and study so we could sit and talk someday. And then another year passes and neither one of us manage to get it done, we laugh about it and try to not take up the time of the translator for our personal benefit. But its hard. I want to know so much about her, to know what it is her heart desires, to know what to pray for her for or about, to hear her just talk to me. This year was different, as we were saying goodbye I suggested we email and just trust google translate to help us, knowing that it was going to be rough but promising to always see the good in the email, I was resolved to get to know her once and for all. Then my sweet translator Ruth, helped us. She patiently and kindly spoke for each one of us, telling each other our hearts, and dreams and where we were going to serve in the next months. At the end, both Eunice and I were in tears, we finally heard each others heart. I asked Ruth "how in the world, did you get through that without crying?" her response was classic "it was really hard, I almost lost it a few times, but needed to keep it together for you two" This was our first real conversation. I truly love this woman as a sister and can only imagine how we will grow as we can get to know one another on our own.
So another 4 am wake up call, up the hill to the buses we walk, to load up and head back over the border. The border crossing was uneventful this year of any grand stories, but the stories we had on the trip are never ending. Another 12 hour bus ride with the same 51 loud teenage kids that now kinda smelled bad... I'm sure I wasn't a fresh flower either.
Coming home from a Mission Trip is always sweet. It's home and I love it here. That first night home in my bed, after a yummy dinner my hubby makes me, is delightful. The very long and hot first shower after a week of quick, sometimes cold showers that are still very refreshing and much needed. Yet despite all of these creatures of comfort, still I cannot wait to pack up and to go back again. In the meantime, time to figure out google translate....