Little did I know that reality as I knew it was about to change as I waited to board the plane departing for Queretaro, Mexico. As I stood in line, I was filled with anticipation. Yet there was a slight bit of nervousness rushing through my body. I had never traveled outside the United States, therefore I did not know what to expect. I was even somewhat scared. I grabbed my bag and boarded the plane. During the first flight, all twenty two of us slept. However, on the second flight, we were all taking pictures, laughing, and talking about what our trip would be like. As the plane approached land, I gazed out the plane window, where everything seemed so bland. The buildings were all tan and brown and there were hardly any trees or grass in sight. However, the drab landscape was not indicative of the people we were about to meet.
Upon arriving at Queretaro, we settled into the house that was so graciously loaned to us from one of our pastor's friends. The work and witness manager welcomed us and explained that neither toilet paper or feminine products were to be flushed down the toilet. We were also told that we would be limited to a two minute shower, every other day, due to a water shortage. This was a huge shock to our group, especially the girls. But after the long day of travel, we were all too tired to care and immediately settled into our room full of bunk beds. Five of us shared a room but all seventeen girls had to share one bathroom. This was the first of many culture changes I was about to encounter.
Another change occurred when I was woken up at 6am for breakfast and sunrise service. Even though, I initially dreaded waking up that early, I began to appreciate the sunrise and the beautiful landscape. After arriving at the work site, we met Sunny, the dog, and his mom. Some of the natives of Queretaro, that were helping at the work site, explained to us that Sunny and his mom, were orphans, and lived at the construction site.
Sunny was beautiful with golden brown hair and greenish-blue eyes. However, the work site was another story. Every square inch of ground was engulfed with rocks and dark red clay. Then we all looked toward a concrete structure and could not believe that the four walls of solid concrete would soon become a church. In the United States, our home church is a very comfortable and welcoming building, with activities taking place daily. This structure that we were building was going to be lacking in comfort.
Over the next six days, we sifted sand, mixed concrete, cemented walls, tarred walls, cut off tumbleweeds, and dug a trench around the building. This was another reality check for me, as I have never done this type of work before. The tools of the trade were definitely not modern and our jobs were very difficult. We had to lie down to sift the rocks and sand, using a board to push the sand through a wire net. This took an entire day to get enough sand ready to use in the mixing of concrete. During the second day, once the concrete was mixed by hand, we began to cement the walls. Some of our group continued sifting sand while others mixed concrete and cemented walls. The third day consisted of cementing walls again. Then in order to keep water out of the building, we spent the fourth day tarring walls. Cutting tumbleweeds around the structure, carrying cinder blocks, and general clean up comprised our fifth day. The sixth and final day at the church site was spent digging a trench around the church to keep water out. The church was not finished by the end of our sixth day, but another group was to come in immediately following us. Even though we did not finish and the work was intense, we enjoyed our time with Sunny, his mom, the natives and getting to know one another on more intimate level. We spent time with our Pastor praying over the church and the people who would be worshipping in it once it was completed. It was profound to be a part of something bigger than just us, our group, or even our country. We were giving of our time and effort to help people we had never met.
After leaving the work site, we would be covered in tar, concrete and mud. Typically in the U.S., I would return home to take a long hot shower, but this was not reality in Queretaro. Upon arriving at our work and witness home, the girls would shave out of a bucket, recycling the same water. Most of us took showers using a water hose, while some of us bathed in the small swimming pool that was at the home. The difference in water facilities made me realize how fortunate we are in our country and that even the wealthy people in Queretaro did not have the luxuries that poor people in our country have.
In addition to the six days spent building the church in the mornings, we also would minister to the locals. After working four or five hours, showering and eating, we would travel to local towns and minister using mimes, plays, clowns and puppetry. I was part of the two plays and the puppetry team. We would visit homes door to door inviting the natives to come watch our program. I experienced my first conversation with a native in Spanish and successfully invited them to watch our plays. Children and parents would come sit on the ground, in old seats out of vehicles, plastic crates, and other not so comfortable objects to watch us perform. While we made it fun and enjoyable, with clowns, balloons, and candy; we also gave them the message of eternal life through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Many children and adults came to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior and they were told of the new church that would be opening soon in their area.
We also went to an orphanage that housed over 300 children from infancy to age 18. There were only three adults that were paid from the government to watch over and care for these children. As the orphans became older, they were expected to help with the younger children and each child was given responsibilities to help each other. After we arrived, we realized that some children were pleased that we were there to help and others resented our presence. Our purpose at the orphanage was to share God's love, make them laugh, and give them love and attention, by showing them that we cared. One particular little boy stole my heart and changed my life. I called him "Spoony Boy" because his sole toy was a metal eating spoon. When I first got there, he would come up to me, hit me with his spoon, and tell me to leave. But during the next several minutes, he began to become curious with my braces and asked me to show him what they were. He would touch them and ask for piggy back rides. I soon realized that this spoon he carried around was his security blanket, his toy, and his only possession. It affected me profoundly to know that these children had so little, when all of my friends and family have so much. In spite of "Spoony Boy" not wanting us to be there, when it was time to leave, he did not want us to go. While we were leaving, we laughed, cried, and knew that our lives would never be the same.
On our flight home and upon arriving back to the United States, our mission team discussed how important it is for us to give to those less fortunate. Even though our purpose was to teach and witness to the people of Mexico, they were the ones who taught us valuable lessons. As I look back on my trip, I have a great appreciation for things around me, and do not desire to have so many material items in my life. I live more simply and I appreciate relationships with people above possessions. "Spoony Boy" remains in my heart and I hope to return to Mexico upon graduation from college to give some more of my time to the orphans, possibly reunite with "Spoony Boy" and worship in the church I helped build.
