Mexico Mission Trip 6/21/07

Today was an interesting and different day. Rick Owens took us to what he calls "the real Mexico" to spend the day with a church and community about 2 hours south of Saltillo. Part of the travel was about a 30 mile on a dirt road...

This was a very poor village. Rick said that these people live off the land and that is how you survive. I added a picture so you could get a taste of the area.



When we pulled up to the church we were greeted by many people. We had lunch, played soccer and volleyball, and just enjoyed the day experiencing life in real Mexico. This was a sobering experience.

On the way home Barry told us that the church's contribution was $15 a week. Most of this money went to help out with the poor people in the community (the rich were the ones with the goats, bulls, and pretty much any farm animal). So we took up a collection on the bus and people gave what they wanted from their spending money. As Barry said tonight in 5 minutes, 52 Americans (mostly teenagers) collected enough money to help the poor for a year in that village (about $800). As Barry said again, "to much that is given, much is required".

The experience of the day ran through our heads throughout the rest of the day whether at dinner or at devo or in conversation. This experience today was a life changing one.

Tomorrow we are leaving in the morning around 7:00 AM to head back to San Antonio. we plan on stopping at a market in Neuvo Laredo and having lunch there with Paco and his family (the minister of the church that we went to on Sunday).

Pray for our travels and safety tomorrow and if you would begin (or continue) to pray for Rick and Sherry Owens (the missionaries we are working with) and Mexico. This week we have experienced the good of Mexico (standard of living wise) and also the "real" Mexico. We are a blessed people but as God called to the Israelists, the same words echo today: you are blessed to be a blessing. To much is given; much is expected.