Well, this is my first blog so it might be long, and blogging is new to me, so bare through the mistakes or problems along side of me here in the beginning.
08/31/07 – 09/18/07
Hurray for bugs, cold showers, and fold-up chairs!!! Training camp 101!!!
Training camp went phenomenally well, even with the – as we like to call it – ‘rustic’ living style. We were blessed to have available some warriors of Christ to come and share with us there specialty and the vision and direction God had them teaching in their lives. God used these men and women in powerful ways to brake through some very tough issues and stronghold in everyone’s lives and to build us up to be sent out. AIM has bases all around the world, therefor training camp was a combination of the staff and the participants from all the locations. By the end of the training, there were over 160 people who were anxiously waiting to fly out, arrive in their country, and begin what God had waiting for them in their new season of life ahead.
We arrived…but just barely.
The brisk Georgia morning of September 19th at 4 am an old yellow school bus pulled out of the Adventures in Missions drive packed full with tired people and heavy luggage. Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Peru were off to their countries. We arrived at the airport smoothly only to find ourselves facing some difficulties whilst inside, we made it to our gate in time, but just barely, and here we are – in Mexico.
09/19/07 – 90/22/07
Find your own way
Here in Matamoros, Mx your ability to understand and work within the public transportation (peseras) is vital in going to and returning from ministries. Therefor, we staff here in Mexico believe the best way to learn the pesera system is to find your own way. The team split into two groups and had several initiatives that needed to be completed before a certain time. Through some minor confusion and some misdirection, they were able to find their way home in time for supper and a few laughs about the afternoons.
09/23/07
Our first Sunday…
I woke up this morning, walked outside, and at that moment it seemed as if I never left this place that I had come to love two years ago. As if the entire last year of my life was only a blip, a fraction, or a blink in time. I walked outside and looked around to all the people enjoying themselves in the already hot Mexican sun – people cooking, walking in and out of the tienditas (little convenient stores), talking and smiling, greeting one another as you passed by with a “buenas dias!”, or a “Como estas?”. I was overwhelmed by the sense of community that I had come to forget in the blink of last year. The morning moved on, we sang worship in our own group, talked about the past few days here, ate lunch, and then (a typical Mexican services are in the evening compared to the morning in the States) Pedro, Yaneth, and myself started setting up for the ‘evening’ church service – we were the worship band for the night. Church begins at “6:00” which means the people start trailing in around 6:15 – Mexican timing. The service went very well. There were a hand full of Mexican first time visitors, and Pastor Bob preached out of Leviticus 23 and Romans 11:16 . “For you are holy because I, the Lord, am holy.” And how we should be walking in holiness. A wonderful first Sunday to close out a great first week and to begin a even better second.
09/24/07
Ice cream and Pinkfloyd
Monday is our dia libre (day off), and today was our first real one of those since we arrived. Some of us decided to take a pesera, or bus (which really means an old, run-down, gutted, yellow school bus, hot and packed full with people), to the local Soriana – hello air conditioning – and in that process we stopped in an ice cream store where you can get a cup of ice cream for 10 pesos. While we were in there, all the sudden Pinkfloyd, “o-o-oh wish you were here”. It reminded me of all my family and friends back home supporting me to be here, and how it would be so amazing if you were here. Then I remembered how you are here – not physically – but through me. Praise God. So really, we all enjoyed a nice cup of Mexican ice cream and a Pinkfloyd song together. And really, we are all becoming prepared to step out into our ministry tomorrow.
Jason, my life was going nowhere and then I read this blog. I was in the middle of several classics and now I have burned them all and spat upon them violently.
You’re right. My life was drastically changed from reading this blog alone.
hola mi amigo!! i can’t wait to read more! i miss you terribly and wish i was there with you right now!!!
Loved hearing from you and wished I could be there also. Though you are busy it still sounds that this is a place for restoring one’s soul. To see time slow down where one can hear God’s still small voice. Have another ice cream on me. Also wishing you a wonderful birthday. Miss you much!!!