"You paid to do that?" Those were the words that many of us heard as we prepared to go to Mexico for a one-week mission trip. On Wednesday, April 19, 2003, we began our trip from Wisconsin to Cuidad Victoria, located 200 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. The group of 35 were members from many different Wisconsin Adventist churches—Sheboygan, Green Bay, Fox Valley, and LaCrosse—as well as several from Texas. Bob Stauffer, Sheboygan district pastor, and Otoniel Reyes, former Lake Union Conference vice president for Hispanic ministries, led our team.
After a bit of a delay getting across the border into Mexico, we arrived in Cuidad Victoria late Sunday night. Early the next morning, we began our projects: 1) to finish a concrete play area for the local Seventh-day Adventist school, and 2) to put up walls for a new church building in San Jose De Flores.
We formed two teams. Each day we shoveled sand and rock and mixed concrete. We moved the concrete in wheelbarrows and buckets and watched the building grow. Lindsey Shotwell, 13, of Fox Valley, observed, "It was a lot of fun working. It was interesting to talk and work with the local people." Both projects progressed quickly, and by the second day, the walls of the church building were up and one-half of the play area was finished.
By day, the Mexican school children had English classes. We helped the students with their pronunciation. Matthew Klug,14, from Merrill, said, "Teaching kids English and helping level concrete were my favorite parts of the trip."
We held three evening evangelistic meetings and a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program for the children. These evening meetings were the highlight of our trip. Those who didn't preach participated by singing special music and visitation. The average attendance at VBS was between 25 and 30 children. Crayons are rare for them, so they treated them with great care. Felicia Gordon, 16, from Sheboygan, said, "My favorite part of the trip was working with VBS kids and how they looked up to us." Brad Austin, 17, from Green Bay, was amazed at how friendly the people were.
Every day, several ladies from the local churches came and prepared our meals. Charissa Sykes, 15, from LaCrosse, said, "Trying the different foods was one of my favorite parts of the trip."
On our final night there, the people threw us a "thank you" fiesta with food, games, confetti, candy, gifts, and a special program by the school children. We went to serve the people in Mexico, but we received the greater blessing. The words of Pastor Stauffer rang true: "You never feel better than when you are doing something for Jesus."
Laurella Case, Green Bay Church correspondent
