Mexico

Emily Singh

Kaylene Calva Moreno

Jadelyn Garcia

Participating in this mission trip was more than an opportunity to volunteer, being in Mexico

allowed me to be a blessing for the children and bring them joy and it allowed me to be a vessel

for God's kingdom. This was an experience of a lifetime that will forever change my life,

perspective, strengthen my compassion, and deepen my understanding of service. Before the trip,

I was eager to be a part of a mission trip and be able to make a difference in the world. The Lord

has been pulling me toward missionary work. I was ecstatic, motivated to be part of this project.

I quickly realized that the experience was much more valuable than the volunteer work. Through

engaging with the students and people from other backgrounds, witnessing the spiritual

challenges they face, and working alongside fellow volunteers, I gained priceless lessons about

trusting in the lord, gratitude, and being adaptable at what life throws at you.

This experience encouraged me to reflect on the importance of trusting in the holy spirit

and inviting him in my lessons and in everything I do. On the other hand, Mexico opened my

eyes to see how important it is to serve others with humility and love, even if you're going

through your own battles. With that being said, this mission trip showed me what I can not

control and things that I can control which is, trusting the Lord with all my heart and soul. And

not caring what others say or think of me as long as I am clinging to the holyspirit. My strength

comes from the Lord not by my own power and might. No matter how difficult the trails may be

or how small the obstacle is, The lord will still show his face and he still reigns. Being a teacher

for the remainder of my trip in Mexico, the students taught me something without them realizing

it, and it was to let the holy spirit guide me and take over the class. This paper reflects on the key

lessons I learned during the mission trip, how this opportunity changed my worldview, and its

connection to broader social issues and how I plan on applying these lessons in my spiritual,

personal life.

Throughout my time in Mexico, I participated in a variety of volunteer activities that

challenged me physically, spiritually and emotionally. Whether it was teaching the students from

the puebla community, creating lesson plans, assisting with projects, or supporting the children in

the hospitals , each experience taught me important lessons about patience, empathy, trusting in

the holy spirit, being confident in who I am in Christ and the value of giving back. Those kids

were a blessing in my life as much as I was to them. The students I was teaching were ages

14-16 years old and it was challenging to teach them while It was frustrating to express my

emotions being able to teach in Spanish. Some of my students were making fun of me on the

first day or 2 of me teaching. I tried my best not to let my nerves get the best of me. Until one

day I started my class with prayer and invited the holy spirit to flow and make his presence

known and felt in the classroom. After that day my lessons started to become smoother and

easier for my students to understand. Grades 4-6, blessed me by seeing their smiles and hearing

their laughs and seeing them worship the lord with all of their heart and soul, that alone was

really touching and sentimental to me. The children are living breathing testimonies of an

example of the joy of the lord. It was such a wholesome and beautiful experience when all the

children gifted me and my teammates drawing, snacks and words of encouragement. There were

some trials along the way, including trying to create lesson plans that were geared towards my

students' age group and brainstorming ways to make the class more interactive. Those are

priceless memories that I will cherish forever. Looking back. I was also able to pray for my

students and bring them hope and peace that only comes from the Lord. Looking back on the

mission trip, I realized that my greatest takeaways weren't the tasks I completed but rather the

personal growth I experienced along the way.. The opportunity to serve others and bring smiles

to the children's faces helped me develop a greater appreciation for teamwork, resilience, and the

importance of approaching every person with the love of Christ.

Omaria Serrano