Mexico!
Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit Mexico with EBC for a couple days! Besides eating the BEST tacos, I want to share some highlights and a few things I learned through this trip! :)
The purpose of the trip was to visit several ministries and explore options for both short-term and long-term mission work. The first place we visited was Radius International, a missionary training school. They specifically train missionaries for long-term church planting among unreached people groups. This involves language learning skills, cross-cultural adjustment, presenting the gospel cross-culturally, and the realities of life-long commitment overseas. We got to sit in on two classes, as well as have lunch with the students. Being surrounded by people who are like-minded in obeying the great commission and taking Jesus to the nations was SO encouraging!!
Visiting Radius really made me stop and think about what it takes to commit to life-long ministry. This is not something that happens overnight, but rather, over time. It takes time to prepare, to be trained, and to be sent by a church; then time to adjust and learn a new language and culture; then finally, the gospel can be brought and churches planted. It takes commitment through all of this.
After Radius, we visited a school for deaf children called Rancho Sordo Mudo. They provide education for those who are marginalized by lack of hearing, teaching Mexican sign language along with other subjects to provide a better future for the deaf. It was founded nearly 50 years ago and has been in the same family for three generations. Again I was struck by the time and commitment that it took for the school to get to this place.
We spent the night at Templo Elim, a church in La Misión, Baja, and during breakfast we heard from the pastor the story of his church. I learned a lot about American missionaries coming to Mexico, especially the area of Baja. Apparently, Tijuana (just across the border from San Diego, CA) is the most evangelized city in the world! But Americans don't always interact correctly with the Mexican church; often they come with their own agenda, not fully understanding the culture, which actually ends up harming the society in the long run rather than helping. This was eye-opening to see the importance of understanding culture before bringing the gospel, as well as establishing a connection with the local church.
On Saturday we visited Siloé Medical Clinic, which is closely connected to the church. The American missionaries have been in the community for eight years, and the clinic has slowly grown over those years. They built their ministry on a foundation of relationships first, then began providing for the needs of the community through medicine. It was very encouraging to see their connection to the church and love for the community.
Our final stop was Door of Faith Orphanage, a home to over one hundred kids! It's a very well run organization, with both Mexican and American staff. I enjoyed knowing that children are being given a home at such a well-established orphanage!
A theme that God seemed to show me over this weekend is the importance of commitment over time - it takes time to accomplish anything meaningful. One of my professors at EBC likes to say that becoming like Christ is a crock pot process, not a microwave. I think the same idea can apply when thinking about missions; it is not a quick, microwave process, but a life-long commitment. For me right now, that looks like faithfully studying at Eternity, knowing that this training is an important part in the process of my goal to live in Japan.
After visiting Radius, God has also been speaking to me about my motivation to go to Japan. Am I going out of love for the country, or because I desire to do something great and gain glory for myself? Or is my motivation based solely on obedience to follow Jesus' command in the Bible (Matthew 28:19)? What he wants is a heart of obedience.
As I'm considering these things, I invite you to do the same. How is God calling you to be faithful and committed in your life right now? What does it look like for you to have a heart of obedience to the Lord?
Thanks for reading, and God bless :)
