A few weeks ago, I was blessed to be able to go on my fourth mission trip down to Tijuana, Mexico, where my youth group and I built houses for families in need while sleeping at an orphanage. It was amazing (per usual) and so humbling to meet and get to know the families we were able to serve. Following the trip, our youth group puts on a church service, and the seniors are able to have a mini sermon and preach about their experience with faith and about Tijuana. I would like to share the sermonette I preached with you; as it can be applicable to this mission trip as well.
“Imagine this. 10 Americans in brightly colored hospital scrubs, overalls, and bandannas, kicking off their shoes, while running full speed into the Pacific Ocean. Whooping and hollering, jumping with joy and a new vigor for life. Speckled with pink and white paint, sunburned to a crisp, not Having a care in the world. That was us on Tuesday of Tijuana a couple weeks ago.
We were acting like kids, tasting the freedom of being yourself, and experiencing pure, childish joy without the cloud of responsibilities always looming over us.
We could forget about not being perfect, we could forget about feeling like failures because of sat scores or because we let someone down, or because we didn’t fit in. All we knew in that moment was the sun was warm, the ocean was cold, and we were loved by the God of this universe, no matter how big of a mess we were. The salty waves cleaned away our sun screen and the last bit of stress we still carried with us from spokane…we were surrounded by the cries of seagulls and happy teenagers running around the beach.
For the first of many times that week, I believe we experienced pure freedom and joy. And it came from something as simple as a wave knocking us over and coming up sputtering and laughing with each other.
Over the years, one of the main draws to Tijuana for me is how simple life becomes; and the perspective I get from living into my purpose. I believe my purpose as a human being is Loving God and serving people. Instead of stressing out about getting books read and papers written, living up to our parents expectations and social pressures….in Tijuana we allow ourselves to be ourselves, Who we truly are.
And believe it or not, we were still loved for being that person. We saw the good and the bad, the pretty and the ugly, the chaos and mess of each others hearts, and we loved anyways. We could forgive and let go of our shame and let ourselves experience Gods love, which overflowed out on to each other. God takes our pain and our anger, our doubts, and our hurt, and loves us still the same. When we let go of our insecurities and worldly comfort, and enter into the chaos of the beauty of life, we find peace. We find Gods never ending love, his forgiveness and hope for our future, and the infinite moments we have to change the world.
I find I feel most alive when I’m out of my comfort zone, like trying to communicate with a Spanish speaking family, and seeing IIoodos (I’m not sure how to spell his name) face light up and eyes literally sparkle when Kevin does a simple magic trick. I feel most alive when I see our family find joy in an emptied coke bottle we painted and filled with flowers to decorate their new tiny home.
I feel limited when I focus on the mundane routine I confine myself in during the school year. I become selfish and I don’t love others the way I should. I don’t strive to seek God in everyday life, I don’t slow down and breathe in the life I was given. My future seems closed and limited; I have to go to college and get a good job and get married, then have a family, and THEN maybe I can start living. But I know that’s a lie.
You see, standing on the orphanage balcony at 6:30 am with dearly loved friends, talking about the possibilities we have for our futures that can begin just by saying “yes” like Tony, the orphanage founder, did; everything is clear. Tony has an amazing, inspiring life story that includes serving with mother Teresa, going to the Olympics for two different sports, and starting the orphanage..a life that felt out of focus until he served God. On the horizon of the smog and poverty, I don’t feel limited. I feel like God is real and close and he has a fantastic plan for me, and all I have to do is say “yes”.
But I know I can have perspective here too, my life doesn’t start in Tijuana, and stop in Spokane. We are given multiple opportunities a day to serve one another, love one another, and change someone’s life. From something as small as telling a joke; to someone serving at City Gate, God can use us to fulfill our purpose of loving others and him.
I always seem to come back to this verse in the bible: Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
I believe Tijuana is powerful because we live exactly into this; what God calls us to do. When we live into his purpose, we are joyful. We are hopeful and simple things, like running to the ocean, fulfill our souls.
Our purpose is to serve the creator, and the created.
And friends, we can do that in our lives today.”
Updates: My cousin graciously gave me a great deal on a backpacking pack, and a day pack, so I’m getting gear, which is so exciting! Fundraising is slowly but surely coming along, thank you for your support, I can’t do it with out you all. God is good, and he will provide 🙂 I am learning patience and to trust in him, because he can do all things. Please contact me if you have any questions! I would love to hear from you.
Lots of love, Becca
