My time in Mexicali was a true blessing. To be surrounded by so many people from home. To feel love and encouragement from people I’ve never met before. To watch kids be loved on who you can tell have a huge lack of love at home. To watch a church building go up in less than a week.
My personal triumph of the week was interpreting for the first time. Because it was people from home I had a little more courage to make a complete fool of myself. On Wednesday, I interpreted the pastors’ testimonies from Spanish to English. With a good bit of help from Kourtney and only a couple impatient remarks from the pastors it went pretty good. Then, on Thursday and Friday I interpreted the testimonies of the team members at the Bible school from English to Spanish. I know there were a whole lot of grammatical errors but I also know that the message of God’s love and power shone through all of my mistakes.
Every day, the Bible school at Gustavo’s church (Iglesia Vida Eterna=Eternal Life Church) had about thirty kids. And a majority of the kids returned every day to learn something new. It was very unique to see how the people from South Hills bonded so tightly with the kids. Our last night in Mexicali, we went to the first service in the new building that South Hills built. When it was time to say the goodbye, people from both sides of the border were crying because they did not want to leave one another. There was a deep bond of love which I think can only by formed through Christ.
I had no idea the week my church from home was here would affect me so much. They left over a week ago and I’m still trying to get over missing them and missing home. I thought I was so happy here. I thought I could live here forever. But seeing people who I know, who I love, who love me, who get me, who act like me really made me second guess that. And it’s not that I don’t want to be here anymore. I still love it here. I will leave a lot of love here when I go home. But I’m a Vegas girl. I’m not ready to move away for good…YET! 
My personal triumph of the week was interpreting for the first time. Because it was people from home I had a little more courage to make a complete fool of myself. On Wednesday, I interpreted the pastors’ testimonies from Spanish to English. With a good bit of help from Kourtney and only a couple impatient remarks from the pastors it went pretty good. Then, on Thursday and Friday I interpreted the testimonies of the team members at the Bible school from English to Spanish. I know there were a whole lot of grammatical errors but I also know that the message of God’s love and power shone through all of my mistakes.
Every day, the Bible school at Gustavo’s church (Iglesia Vida Eterna=Eternal Life Church) had about thirty kids. And a majority of the kids returned every day to learn something new. It was very unique to see how the people from South Hills bonded so tightly with the kids. Our last night in Mexicali, we went to the first service in the new building that South Hills built. When it was time to say the goodbye, people from both sides of the border were crying because they did not want to leave one another. There was a deep bond of love which I think can only by formed through Christ.
I had no idea the week my church from home was here would affect me so much. They left over a week ago and I’m still trying to get over missing them and missing home. I thought I was so happy here. I thought I could live here forever. But seeing people who I know, who I love, who love me, who get me, who act like me really made me second guess that. And it’s not that I don’t want to be here anymore. I still love it here. I will leave a lot of love here when I go home. But I’m a Vegas girl. I’m not ready to move away for good…YET!
The Bible school throughout the week...
Sunday service on the land before the construction started...
The big party at the end of the week...And the final product!
2 comments:
Ah, wish I could of came with the team! Looks like you all had an amazing week. Congrats on the translation work, must of been pretty nerve racking. May Christ continue to shine through you!
I love this post!
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