True Missionaries

We’re back from Mexico, and oh, what a trip of a lifetime! God was moving in powerful ways in our hearts and through our hands, and I’m sure I’ll be thinking and talking and praying about the last week and a half for a long time to come. Lately, God has been stripping away all the non-essentials from my life and revealing truth to me in radical ways; and He continued to blow my expectations out of the water on this trip.

I drove into Mexico thinking I knew what to expect: I would shower less than usual, pray, hand out some clothes, work on a couple housing projects, and then come home with a greater appreciation for God’s blessings in my life. All those things happened, but the biggest thing I learned this last week is that all those things do not define missionary life. I learned what it means to be a missionary from the people of General Cepeda, Mexico.

I have never been treated as well by anybody as I was in Mexico. All the people we met gave to us abundantly, without concern for themselves; it reminded me of the parable Jesus tells of the woman who gives her last two coins. One of our workdays was spent driving out to a couple of the ranchos—little poor villages around the town of General Cepeda—to hand out Christmas presents to the kids and pray with the people who lived there. As we were getting ready to leave the second rancho, one of the missionaries told us that the women had made some food for us and were inviting us to dinner, to thank us for being there. We agreed and sat down, and then they brought in trays and trays of food for us: gorditas, tostadas, plates of rice and meat. There was an abundance of food; I literally could not eat everything they handed me. I was so moved by the fact that in order to feed all 12 of us who were there that night, these women had to pool together food that probably needed to last them all week. This wasn’t just a nice gesture; it was a sacrifice.

Through the actions of the women at the rancho, I am more firmly convicted that it is not enough for me to give out of my surplus. True generosity involves giving until it hurts. Being a true missionary means always making room in your life for the presence of God in others. I will never forget the true generosity and hospitality shown to me in Mexico, and I pray that I may one day come close to being able to give with as much freedom.


Thank you to everyone who supported me with prayers and financial contributions. You made a difference in lives that is irreplaceable.
There will be more to come about Mexico as I have time to process, pray, and download some pictures.
May God bless the rest of your Advent season, and Merry Christmas everyone!