Moment for Missions

In two days, this time last year I was preparing for a short-term trip mission to Mexico. Unaware of the exact destination and specific things we would be doing, I was so eager to be there. Between the awesome friends that I would be traveling with, my first time to fly on a plane, and the fact that it was all for the purpose of serving God,  I was so stoked!

It all started with the early drive to New Orleans for our flight's departure. It was a good 3-4 hour drive, that mainly resulted in naps and the occasional wide-eyed and bushy-tailed; aka me. I, of course, was already documenting every little thing that happened (which later resulted in 2,000 pictures all in all from the trip).

Upon arriving at the airport, a couple that our church supports, the Trotter's, picked the team and I up, loaded our luggage in the bed of their truck, and started the way to our home for the next week would be. Landing in Guadalajara, the drive was about 45 minutes away. As we were riding out there, the Trotter's caught us up on what had been happening in their lives lately and also a little background on where we were staying. We then found out that we were heading to a little slum-like village in Camichines, Mexico. After getting there, it was evident that this was not the best part of town; homes that should not even be considered a place for living, violently bumpy roads, children without shoes running the roads, and the occasional homeless man made it seem all to surreal.

We got to the orphanage and were greeted by 18 smiling faces, the Acosta family, two summer interns and the children's teacher, and the Hohenberger's. Translated: the precious orphans, the hospitable family who began the orphanage themselves (and houses them all in their home), Isabel and John and Jenny, and the genuine couple who housed the team and I for the week.

A quick, casual welcoming/meeting was held when we first arrived to kind of lay down the "rules" and meet everybody. It was so awesome meeting all of them, yet really sad to hear what some of the children's backgrounds were like. It definitely broke my heart, but it also made me that more excited to meet and love on those 18 cuties; and trust me when I say, we did just that.

Throughout the seven days we spent there, we did a variety of things. For the guys it was more manual labor that needed to be done; mainly the constuction of the second and third floor of the orphanage. For us ladies, our job was basically to love the kids, entertain them, and do random, tedious tasks that seemed to linger around the two homes. We also got to interact with the culture by shopping at flea markets and feasting on the best authentic Mexican food there ever was (thank you Acosta family) and anything in between!

My favorite part was participating in the "prayer chair", daily. It was your usual lawn chair set on top of the roof of the house we were living in; the goal was to have each team member up there for 30 or so minutes at a time, that way the orphanage was lifted up in prayer for hours every day. It was the coolest experience. The thing that impacted me the most was definitely the willingness the Acosta's possessed to live sacrificially. They didn't have a lot, they didn't have bare minimum. Even when times became so tough for them, they always put the children first and glorified God through it all. It had the biggest influence on me to live in just that way. 

It was extremely hard to say goodbye to such beautiful faces and loving people, especially when I looked into their hopeful eyes and told them I would be returning next year. That's why I am writing this post - it is solely dedicated to all of those in Camichines. I hope and pray that I will return there one day soon and continue to learn from the love of God that is so, so evident in that place.

To every child in Casa Hogar, the present interns and teachers, the Acosta family, and the Hohenberger's, thank you.

With His love, Perrin

Ev. Ree. One. <3