How's it Going?
Friday, March 10th
Late Thursday night, our team met at the church and prayed with our parents over the trip. After a quick goodbye we made our way to the airport!
Once at the airport, we soon ran into roadblocks. It was apparent that the airline workers checking us in were quickly overwhelmed with our group size. Not only that, but the wrong person was canceled in our party and one of the students was left ticketless. Scott led the team through security to the plane while Caleb stayed behind with the student to find him a ticket. We were anxiously waiting on the plane when at the last moment Caleb and the student boarded.
Now that we were finally on the plane, we thought we could finally relax. Unfortunately, the turbulence wouldn’t allow it… Our flight consisted of no sleep, motion sickness, and a poor man who had to run to the bathroom every fifteen minutes do to the turbulence (we know cause we could hear him through the bathroom wall).
Finally, we landed in Denver at 7:00am. We had a forty minute layover which turned into two hours do to a delay. We celebrated at first cause we now had time to eat but that celebration was short lived. The delay turned into more delays until at 3:15pm our flight was cancelled completely.
Although this wasn’t the travel day we expected, it wasn’t all bad. We had way too many food vouchers to use, a free night in a hotel, and Caleb and Scott were able to get all thirty of us on the 7:45am flight the next day. This is just another reminder that although our plans don’t always work out, God provides. We are excited to see what God does on this trip whether it’s in Mexico or in the Denver airport.
-Madi Ball
Once at the airport, we soon ran into roadblocks. It was apparent that the airline workers checking us in were quickly overwhelmed with our group size. Not only that, but the wrong person was canceled in our party and one of the students was left ticketless. Scott led the team through security to the plane while Caleb stayed behind with the student to find him a ticket. We were anxiously waiting on the plane when at the last moment Caleb and the student boarded.
Now that we were finally on the plane, we thought we could finally relax. Unfortunately, the turbulence wouldn’t allow it… Our flight consisted of no sleep, motion sickness, and a poor man who had to run to the bathroom every fifteen minutes do to the turbulence (we know cause we could hear him through the bathroom wall).
Finally, we landed in Denver at 7:00am. We had a forty minute layover which turned into two hours do to a delay. We celebrated at first cause we now had time to eat but that celebration was short lived. The delay turned into more delays until at 3:15pm our flight was cancelled completely.
Although this wasn’t the travel day we expected, it wasn’t all bad. We had way too many food vouchers to use, a free night in a hotel, and Caleb and Scott were able to get all thirty of us on the 7:45am flight the next day. This is just another reminder that although our plans don’t always work out, God provides. We are excited to see what God does on this trip whether it’s in Mexico or in the Denver airport.
-Madi Ball
Saturday, March 11th
After unexpectedly staying the night at a hotel in Denver Colorado we headed to the airport to hopefully catch our plane this time. We ended up seeing the Denver airport “Demon Horse” that they had up for display out side the airport entrance. It’s supposed to represent a bronco, however the red glowing eyes gives it a demon vibe.
We finally made it to our flight, which we should have been on yesterday, to Houston Texas.
After an ordeal retrieving 3 lost bags due to the flight cancelation we loaded up our vans and headed to McAllen for the night. On the way, we stopped in Sealy, TX to pick up some sleeping bags we were storing there and got to eat a bbq lunch at a huge gas station called Prasek’s (everything’s apparently bigger in texas). From there we drove to our next stop in Beeville, TX to pick up more sleeping bags and to load up on snacks and random things we needed for VBS before crossing the border.
Around 10 pm we got to our hotel, the Texas Inn, and got dinner from an amazing taco stand. We used coolers and totes as tables and chairs and stuffed our faces with authentic Mexican street tacos until we were stuffed.
Tonight we are getting well rested for the journey tomorrow and hopefully without any interruptions, we will cross the border into Mexico tomorrow. Finally!
- Z Smith
We finally made it to our flight, which we should have been on yesterday, to Houston Texas.
After an ordeal retrieving 3 lost bags due to the flight cancelation we loaded up our vans and headed to McAllen for the night. On the way, we stopped in Sealy, TX to pick up some sleeping bags we were storing there and got to eat a bbq lunch at a huge gas station called Prasek’s (everything’s apparently bigger in texas). From there we drove to our next stop in Beeville, TX to pick up more sleeping bags and to load up on snacks and random things we needed for VBS before crossing the border.
Around 10 pm we got to our hotel, the Texas Inn, and got dinner from an amazing taco stand. We used coolers and totes as tables and chairs and stuffed our faces with authentic Mexican street tacos until we were stuffed.
Tonight we are getting well rested for the journey tomorrow and hopefully without any interruptions, we will cross the border into Mexico tomorrow. Finally!
- Z Smith
Sunday, March 12th
On Sunday morning we woke up and prepped for crossing the border. We had stayed in a motel the previous night and got breakfast at a restaurant nearby. We then prepped all our gear and organized our items for crossing the border. We met up with Roy and Rebecca, a missionary couple who have a compound in Reynosa, Mexico, and who have let us stay with them in the past.
We met together and switched into passenger vans to cross the border into Mexico. This year we stayed in their church which is just down the road from their compound so after crossing the border we set up our rooms and then went down and joined their church service. During the service we were asked if we wanted to lead the worship so we sang 3 songs that we have learned in Spanish.
After the sermon we talked with the people in the community and prepped for VBS the next day until dinner. After dinner we walked through the neighborhood and handed out fliers to people and families and telling them about what we had planned. For the rest of the day we were practicing songs and working on our skits and crafts until the other mission team from Texas arrived that is staying with Roy and Rebecca. Together we sang worship songs and got to know each other well.
-Nivek Thompson
We met together and switched into passenger vans to cross the border into Mexico. This year we stayed in their church which is just down the road from their compound so after crossing the border we set up our rooms and then went down and joined their church service. During the service we were asked if we wanted to lead the worship so we sang 3 songs that we have learned in Spanish.
After the sermon we talked with the people in the community and prepped for VBS the next day until dinner. After dinner we walked through the neighborhood and handed out fliers to people and families and telling them about what we had planned. For the rest of the day we were practicing songs and working on our skits and crafts until the other mission team from Texas arrived that is staying with Roy and Rebecca. Together we sang worship songs and got to know each other well.
-Nivek Thompson
Monday, March 13th
Today was a good, long, full day! We woke up bright and early and got breakfast at the Busby’s. Then, we went to work over at the construction site. We split up into two teams; a construction team that stayed at the house and worked on it, and the team that painted the wood for the house. Everything went well with the construction. We made a ton of progress (almost finishing the entire exterior) and everyone worked hard and worked together very well, putting us almost a full day ahead of schedule on our build.
Then we went and walked around the neighborhood passing out flyers for the VBS to kids and parents we met along the way. The VBS went pretty smoothly. We set up games like corn hole, soccer, baseball, and even a face painting station (which was the kids’ favorite). We cooked hot dogs on a grill and served them to the kids and everybody there and everyone had a good dinner. We did worship and I preached about Love, followed by a gospel invitation. Then, we did our ‘Everything’ skit, which portrays God creating man, and how he deeply desires us to love him above the things of this world. Next we made paper flowers for crafts with the kids, so that they could give them to a loved one, and share their love with someone else. Some of the parents even made their own flowers!
Finally we had a debrief session in the church with just our team, where we talked about the different ways we had seen God move today, and gave others affirmations on ways we noticed them demonstrating Christ's love. After a long and tiring day, we finally went to bed late.
-Cody Kramer
Then we went and walked around the neighborhood passing out flyers for the VBS to kids and parents we met along the way. The VBS went pretty smoothly. We set up games like corn hole, soccer, baseball, and even a face painting station (which was the kids’ favorite). We cooked hot dogs on a grill and served them to the kids and everybody there and everyone had a good dinner. We did worship and I preached about Love, followed by a gospel invitation. Then, we did our ‘Everything’ skit, which portrays God creating man, and how he deeply desires us to love him above the things of this world. Next we made paper flowers for crafts with the kids, so that they could give them to a loved one, and share their love with someone else. Some of the parents even made their own flowers!
Finally we had a debrief session in the church with just our team, where we talked about the different ways we had seen God move today, and gave others affirmations on ways we noticed them demonstrating Christ's love. After a long and tiring day, we finally went to bed late.
-Cody Kramer
Tuesday, March 14th
Today was such an amazing day! We started the same as the day before with breakfast at the Busbys’ (eggs and hash browns) and working in two groups. I worked on the wood painting group. We painted a lot of lumber and had to hurry since it started raining, which delayed our progess. Thankfully we were slightly ahead of schedule.
Then, my skit group practiced our skit for VBS that night. It is about joy and how we get it from God, and can share it with other people. We passed out heart stickers and extra hearts to the kids at VBS, so that they didn't forget that not only do they have God's joy, but they can give it away to anyone else in their life.
We had lunch and checked in with each other on how each other were doing mentally and physically. So far it has been warm and tired from all of the work we have been doing, so focusing on being patient was important during our meetings. We also worked through some problems we had as a group, since we haven't had much time to stop and rest so far. Then I went back to the house we’re building and started painting one of the sides of the house. The little girl who will live there helped me, and we soon became friends. This is the first time in the two years I’ve gone on this mission trip that I’ve truly connected with someone who lives here! It was wonderful to see God working in that way.
Later that night at VBS, the little girl told the others how I don’t know Spanish and she would do charades to tell me what she or they wanted. I’m so glad my hard work of learning some Spanish and praying for God to show me where to help finally paid off yesterday and some real connections were made.
- Tana Steirwalt
Then, my skit group practiced our skit for VBS that night. It is about joy and how we get it from God, and can share it with other people. We passed out heart stickers and extra hearts to the kids at VBS, so that they didn't forget that not only do they have God's joy, but they can give it away to anyone else in their life.
We had lunch and checked in with each other on how each other were doing mentally and physically. So far it has been warm and tired from all of the work we have been doing, so focusing on being patient was important during our meetings. We also worked through some problems we had as a group, since we haven't had much time to stop and rest so far. Then I went back to the house we’re building and started painting one of the sides of the house. The little girl who will live there helped me, and we soon became friends. This is the first time in the two years I’ve gone on this mission trip that I’ve truly connected with someone who lives here! It was wonderful to see God working in that way.
Later that night at VBS, the little girl told the others how I don’t know Spanish and she would do charades to tell me what she or they wanted. I’m so glad my hard work of learning some Spanish and praying for God to show me where to help finally paid off yesterday and some real connections were made.
- Tana Steirwalt
