Witness to Faith

Reflection excerpts from
Juarez 2006
 by Amanda Meyers.

     If someone were to ask me to sum up my mission trip to Mexico in one word, I would tell them that picking just one word is impossible. Mexico impacted my life in so many different ways.

     ………I came to the conclusion that in the society we were raised in, we are used to always having the newest and best version of anything that is “popular”, whether it be an IPod, a car or a house.  We have adopted the bad habit of trying to “beat-out” people.  After we get that “popular” item, we brag about it, until a better version comes out, and then we buy that. The kids showed me that in the U.S. we spend so much time wanting, we never really spend any time being thankful for what we have. When I got home, I decided that I wasn’t going to buy anything unless it was completely necessary, such as food or water. To this day, I haven’t bought a thing, and it has showed me a whole new outlook on life. I’ve spent a lot more time with my family and friends, and I realize that they are the most important gift that I could ever ask for. You can always buy a new car, but you can’t buy a new family. 

     ………..The town around me was in horrendous condition.  Houses didn’t have doors and windows, the fences were made of crates, the animals on our site had ticks, the bathroom was a single hole in the ground surrounded by wood that was the wall, and the roads in the neighborhood were made of dirt. Yet in the middle of this horrifying town, you could see for hundreds of miles. You could see New Mexico, and Texas. You could also see the crucifix on top of the tallest peak. It was the most gorgeous view that I have ever seen. It was like time stood still, and you got the opportunity to realize how blessed you truly were.

     …………The people on worksite, especially the pastor, taught me the true meaning of faith. Through heat, lack of water, sweat, and hard work, they strived on until their job was done. They put faith in God to watch over them and keep them safe while building. They put faith in God to keep the family that they are building the house for healthy. They put faith in God to survive every day. They build houses for people who really need it. You don’t need to be part of the church, and that caught me off guard. They were building a house for someone who stole from his church. They put faith in God, and whatever direction they are pointed, they go. Their entire life is faith.

     …………They put their faith in God and in each other………  They always look at the positive side of a situation. My main goal is to try and do that every day. When I get mad, I am going to think about Mexico and what these people taught me. The trip was the most memorable experience that I’ve ever been put through, and I thank God for it everyday. It taught me so much about life and living. I pray to God that these people never loose their faith, and that they always look to the good. Because no matter how bad it gets, if you stick together and have faith, you can get through anything.

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