1999 Mexico Mission Trip

(The following notes are transcribed from a journal I kept on a mission trip to Mexico over Spring Break of 1999) [At the time I was the college minister for Emerald Bible Fellowship, which went down every Spring for a week-long mission to support several ministries there. The main area of activity was a compound used to hold camps for area churches. We would annually make improvements to the compound and assist local pastors by holding VBS, medical clinics, building houses and churches, etc.]

March 1999, Day 1, Road to Yreka, CA.
The crew of our van is mostly seniors (HS). Nate, Jesse, Reed, and Sam all graduate in June. Kyle is only a freshman. Reed wants to go to Western Culinary Institute in Portland [OR], but Nate will probably stay and so will Sam. [My sister went to Western Culinary.] Its frustrating to try to get to know these guys knowing I'll be leaving in August. The best I can hope to do is grease the skids for thier transition form HS to college. The summer campout needs to be Big.

Kathy Webster is reed's mom (Brook's too) and I can see the family resemblance. The surprising thing so far has been the music. The guys and Kathy all dig classic rock. Eric Clapton, The Eagles, Simon & Garfunkle, you name it, we had it and heard it. Oh yeah, Garth Brooks, lots of Garth Brooks.

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March 1999, Day 3, Campground in Mexico
After starting the day at 5:30 AM, we pushed hard all the way to the broder crossing at Algodones where we were promptly rebuffed, but not to worry; we drove on to the next broder crossing (middle of nowhere) and they waved us right in.

My first duty of the day was to make sure that everyone in the group received their lunch money; the same duty I performed last nite with the dinner money. After we got on the road, all I had to do was assist Kathy Webster driving, except for the two hour stretch where I drove for Ken Harvey.

Once we arrived at the campground I assisted with rounding people up for the meetings (as at the rest stops) and helped set up the chairs for our main final meeting before we headed to our different sites.

Once the meeting ended, I spent as much time as possible building relationships with the kids, especially paying attention to the graduating seniors and college students. I also helped John Crowder gather the insurance packets from the drivers.

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March 1999, Day 4, Campground in Mexico
The day started much earlier than I had in mind, but that's okay because I didn't sleep well anyway. Ken asked the other interns and I to help organize the work schedule and we did, but then John [Crowder] cam along and rewrote most of it. By the time we got our teams together, my team had been combined with another and double-tasked.

The first thing we did was introduce ourselves, myself, Dave Parker, Leisel Hildebrand and Sabrina Hamilton. L & S are from Capernwray. [Capernwray Harbour Bible Centre is a missionary training center on Thetis Island, B.C. I spent six months there in 1989-90.] Then we held a devotional and then we prepped a trailer for paint. Dave organized that part since it was originally his project. We finished before lunch, then L & I started on the folding chairs. I am the project leader for that task. We have to sand wash and paint 100 folding chairs in four days. No 2 people can do that. Fortunately Dave and S got reassigned to me. I like our chances.

At 3:30 we went to a local church in Indiviso where the locals served us all an authentic Mexican meal and we then held a church service for them. (It is Sunday.) I rode back with Isidro, the local pastor, on the 45 minute trip home. I should mention that his truck has no keys; he hot-wires it each time we wants to use it. Everyone else took the long route home in the church vans that stopped to view the other sites we worked at.

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March 1999, Day 5, Campground in Mexico
After breakfast this morning I had a talk with Ken regarding last night's miscommunication on the sleeping arrangements. he was concerned that I or someone else might have a bad impression of the girls who appealed the decision not to let them sleep outside. In truth, I was more concerned for Mitch and Timani, who made the decision, than I was for the girls who had gone back to Ken after we made the decision. [I say 'we' because Mitch and Timani were interns like me at the time.]

Turns out, the whole thing rested on a lack of communication between us and Ken. The gals got 2 different messages from 2 different authority figures and just wanted a definitive answer. They were patient and thoughtful, not making an end run around Mitch and Timani.

In other news, I spent the first half of the day prepping the chairs, and the 2d half doing odd jobs for Russ Sandberg. Today I learned how to sheetrock, tomorrow I paint. Sabrina left the crew this morning for Vacation Bible School, Leisel joined her in the afternoon.

Dave and I spent most of the day learning that the Lord is in charge, and His plans are more vital than our own. We struggled to stay busy and feel useful, but that's where God has us. It would be nice to be digging ditches all 5 days we're here, but where's the lesson in that?

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March 1999, Day6, Campground in Mexico
Today I felt like I was walking uphill through sand all day. I got out of bed do tired and never got any better. We finally got the chairs done though. Dave did all the painting with a spray gun while I wiped them down and moved them to the drying rack.

I had a great time with Dave. We talked a lot while we were painting about life, the universe and everything. This trip has been a struggle for us both. It would be so much easier just to dig a ditch, but that's not what we, in particular, are here for.

I've had a good tine getting to know the seniors. I've only had the chance to meet about half of them, but its been fun interacting with them. I want to make an impression on them so they'll feel more comfortable in the Group when they graduate. ['Group' was the name of the college ministry at EBF, which I was in charge of at the time.] I try to learn as much as I can about them and encourage them any way I can.

Tonite I had a great opportunity to talk to Rebbecca. She'll actually graduate in about 2 weeks. Early, but she is motivated. I only wish Mandi were here to reach out to the girls more.

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March 1999, Day 7, Campground in Mexico
Last nite was the best I've slept since we got here. I woke up refreshed and feeling good about the day. Dave & I put the chairs away, then went our separate ways. I'm not sure where Dave went, but I helped on the fence crew 'til I broke Julia. She tore her hand open quite badly helping me move a roll of cyclone fence.

I was going to go to the medical clinic at lunch @ Indiviso, but Julia's emergency required us to get her to the doctor at Johnson, so we went to the site and after Dr. Fillingame stitched her up we went to Indiviso. That's where I helped with the clinic. Basically, I translated for Tamara Rowe and interviewed patients before they saw the doc. It was definitely the high point of the trip for me so far.

We got back late for dinner, but the stew was good and we had a praise and worship session for everyone, with good sharing and communion (we used Sangria). I helped serve the communion.

That's all, time for bed.

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March 1999, Day 8, San Felipe, Baja Ca., Mexico
The day began with a whimper, but will go out with a bang I'm sure. We got up early, packed, ate breakfast, and I helped direct traffic while we cleaned the main hall.

On the road to San Felipe, I led the daily devotions for our va as part of my co-pilot responsibilities.

Here at San Felipe, all is relaxed. We are spending the night here in a resort hotel right on the beach. I shopped a bit and spent some time talking with Jess Flowers and we bought a pair of tiny Maracas for our babies. [Alyssa was still in the womb.] The fish tacos were great, but, as always, some of the kids got in trouble. You can rent four-wheelers here and drive them right on the street, but I think one of our group got pulled over and ticketed for several moving violations. I heard he was arrested, but I can't say for sure. Of course, a few kids got caught drinking, as they do almost every year.

At 10:30PM Mitch and I are set to do room checks and make sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be. Security 'til midnite.