听 听 听 听 听 听 Since 2006, OneChurch.ca has made mission trips to Mexico - two trips every two years. This year, members from the church's Carlyle and Redvers campuses - as well as others who were interested - joined in the journey for trips in February and March.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e go down to be a blessing to them,鈥� says Pastor Louis Halbgewachs. 鈥淏ut they are more of a blessing to us.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Pastor and his wife, Jenny (Halbgewachs) have been mission participants since the start of OneChurch's Mexico project. The church's outreach extends to communities near San Carlos Senora and the groups work closely with missionary Brenda Koenes (originally from Estevan) and local churches.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e have our own coach, so we take about two days to drive down,鈥� says Pastor Louis. 鈥淲e stay in a compound in San Carlos Senora. The word 'compound' isn't as luxurious as it sounds, but it's convenient, because all of the events and activities we need to do there are within a 30-minute drive.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Halbgewachs both agree that the mandate of their church's mission remains largely unchanged.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e try to champion the local church,鈥� says Pastor Louis. 鈥淭hat way, when we're gone, people are still connected to their local church. And local churches know how we can best fulfill the needs of the people there.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淒uring each trip, we've worked on building projects and we've distributed food hampers. For those projects, we purchase everything from local merchants,鈥� he adds. 鈥淟ogistically, it makes sense for us to do that and it also supports the local economy.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e also distribute clothing and school supplies,鈥� says Jenny. 鈥淭hose are donated by people听 here and we bring them with us, because neither of those are readily available where we are in Mexico.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Since the trips began, OneChurch mission participants have built and/or repaired structures that include houses destroyed by hurricanes and have constructed massive sunshades.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e don't think of the sun that way up here,鈥� says Jenny. 鈥淏ut when people are gathered outside for school or church or any purpose, really -especially children - the heat can be unbearable and actually, dangerous. And in the evenings during part of the year, the temperatures can drop to zero degrees.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭his year, the boys on our young people's trip moved some fruit trees so they can be harvested for food,鈥� she adds.
听听听听听听听听听听听 In addition to ministering to the practical needs of the people they serve, the OneChurch groups also hold and/or assist with worship services, as well as holding 'Kids' Carnivals' for children, which Pastor Louis compares to Vacation Bible School.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淥ur gatherings with the kids always include a feeding program, too,鈥� says Jenny. 鈥淥ften, we'd provide a meal and a child would go away with it. We found out later that they were taking their meal -听 for one - home to share with their families.鈥澨�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淏ut the feeding program and our work with kids is an example of how we carry out our mission there,鈥� explains Jenny. 鈥淲e work directly with a couple in that part of Mexico who have a children's ministry. They decided what the program should be and we made it happen for them.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淓verything is done in partnership,鈥� says Pastor Louis. 鈥淲e don't just arrive there and take over. We minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the people there, but we try to do it in a way that is respectful and practical. Everything's a partnership.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 When asked the couple say that participants in the trip often experience cultural and spiritual growth as a result of their experiences.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hen you get out of your cultural bubble, your eyes are opened,鈥� says Jenny. 鈥淵ou are a blessing to people and they are a blessing to you. That radically changes you. Seeing people in utter poverty that have no fallback makes God - and our need to serve him - seem real.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淵ou gain great compassion for people and it's also very humbling, because you realize it's a matter of where you're born.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淧eople from our church - from both our Carlyle and Redvers campuses - come on these trips,鈥� explains Pastor Louis. 鈥淏ut so do other people who aren't church members; and we welcome them.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚 just explain that it's a Christian mission - and if they're okay with that, they're welcome to come.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淥ne of our participants from one of this year's trips told me they wewn't sure about going on a trip like this with 26 other people they didn't know. This person said: 'I've been on warm destination holidays before - seven-day beach holidays - and after two days of working hard here, I'm more refreshed than I ever was on one of those holidays. Thank you, Louis. This is amazing!鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e're trying to fulfill the great commision that Jesus talked about,鈥� says Pastor Louis. 鈥淎nd when you're doing that - spreading his love - you realize God is real and alive.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听
听听听听听听听听听听听
听
听 听 听 听 听 听听
