Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Nov/81

Contributor - Annette Schriel

Title - Summer Mission Experience in Mexico: A Real Eye Opener!

Topic - Missions

Pam and Mary, my teammates, were trying to take a siesta when suddenly I heard one of them scream.

" What's wrong?" I asked as I headed toward their room.

"Don't come in here," exclaimed Pam,"there's bats flying around!". I drew back the curtain to have a look and saw them both in their hammocks using mosquito nets to protect themselves. And I saw the bats. There must have been at least four or five of them swooping about totally ignorant of the fear which they were creating. For a moment I stood petrified, but I quickly came to my senses and ran for the nearest help I could find. That happened to be the grounds keeper of the camp we were stationed at.

"Hay murcielagos en mi casa!" I told him, hoping he would understand. He did! He grabbed and broom and came with me to the small cottage. By the time we got there though, the bats were gone along with our wits.

That was just one of the many experiences which my team mates and I went through while on S.T.S. (Summer Training Session), a Mission Training Programme run by the Reformed Bible College. This year we had 38 participants from all over the United States and Canada. Twelve went to Egypt; two stayed in Grand Rapids working in an inner city situation; while I and 24 others went to Mexico to work with the Nationals there.

We were all well prepared for our Field Training Assignments. First, we spent three weeks in Grand Rapids studying Latin American History, Islamics, or Dynamics of the City, depending on what program we were involved with. During that time we also had lectures on Discipleship, Interpersonal Relationships, Health Care in a foreign Country, and Cross Cultural Orientation. Then came Language School. For the Mexico group, Language School took place in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where we spent three weeks studying Spanish, getting to know our host families, and adjusting to the climate. A person sure learns a language quickly if he eats, drinks, and sleeps it!

Finally, after six weeks of intensive preparation, we were sent out to our field assignments. I and two others were sent to a place called Porvenir, a village right on the Gulf of Mexico. There we worked with a summer camp doing maintenance, life guarding, arts and crafts, helping in the kitchen, and organizing sports. It was quite a challenge trying to explain a game or the like with just three weeks of Spanish behind me! The daily devotion and bible study that the three of us would have together, quickly became the most vital part of our day. Without it, I doubt if we would have been able to cope as well as we did. We really learned the value of personal devotions coupled with daily fellowship and bible study with other Christians. The strength, comfort and number of lessons that one can learn from God's word and from fellow believers is indeed great!

While in Mexico, I learned so many lessons that I couldn't begin to enumerate them all. I would, however, like to share some of these lessons with you. Perhaps the best way to do this is to let you read a couple of log entries that I wrote while on my F.TA. (Field Training Assignment):

June 17th:

Though the fig tree do not blossom, nor the fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. 3:17 & 18

Habakkuk, in these verses, makes a great statement of faith: he trusts the Lord so much that he doesn't need all these other things to keep him happy. He knows that God will care for him and provide for him all his needs even if he can't see where his next meal or shirt is coming from. In a sense, it is similar to what Paul says in Philippians, where he writes: "I have learned to be content in every situation" (Phil. 4:12).

Every time I think about verses like these, I feel humbled. Have I too learned to be "content in every situation"? The answer comes all too clearly: No Annette, you've got a long way to go before you reach that point in your Christian maturity. So often your sinful nature tries to hang on to material comforts that have become part of the North American way of life. Too often you worry about finances, world events, or whatever without realizing that God is in control and everything will indeed "work out for good".

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons I have to learn here in Mexico is to let go of material comforts which I have come to take for granted. Safe water to drink, flush toilets, washing machines, and sanitary conditions can be done without! How foolish to take these things for granted. How foolish to cling selfishly to them. These things are temporary and besides its God's kingdom we are to seek first.

Despite, or maybe because of, the lower standard of living which is found here, I can't help but be impressed by the Christians here. They have happiness and joy which is not dependent on material things and they show it wherever they go. Their testimony to the non-Christian among them is strong. Through their life and their actions they really prove that Christ is the Lord of their life. How often in the past have I failed to let Christ shine through my actions? Many times ... too many times. I pray that I'll not fail to take an opportunity to live my faith ever again.

August 12th:

Spent today in my hammock with a temperature of 102. Don Vito thinks that it might be amoebas in my system, but in any case it gave me time to read and think. Sickness is to be expected in cross cultural situations like this one. All it takes is to eat or drink the wrong thing. As a result of getting sick, I've been spending a lot of time evaluating myself. If I'm going to become a missionary, I'm going to take a chance of getting sick. I could come down with typhoid fever, hepatitis, malaria or whatever. I'd also be forced to put up with a lot of things I don't neccesarily like - things like mosquitos, scorpions, bats, iguanas, snakes, etc. How much am I really willing to suffer for the gospel's sake? The Bible says that we are to take up our cross and follow Christ. Paul suffered imprisonment and death for Christ's sake. Many other people, even in my life time, have given their lives for their faith - people like Jim Elliot and Chett Bitterman. Christ suffered so much for mankind that I should have no problem being willing to suffer for Christ. It sure is easier said than done! Lord, help me to be willing to take up any cross that comes my way for your sake.

My summer in Mexico was a rewarding experience that I will never forget Everyone involved with the program grew immensely and learned a great deal. Many participants decided to loot into the possibility of going into foreign missions while others learned that cross cultural situation was not for them. Either way, all grew in their faith and Christian maturity. We all had a chance to work for, teach, and learn from Christians in a different culture. It's an excellent program which I would recommend to anyone.

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