The last week of training in Mexico has come, and soon we will be departing for a week of ministry in teams, and then to our respective countries. We’re taking this week to process what just happened over the last month and a half, and giving those things some time to sink in. It’s been hard to even think about all the things we’ve learned or done here, which has made it even harder to try and write these things in a blog. But, I think it’s time to do my best and share more of the experience here. So, I’ll make this a 3 part series containing details about ministry, teaching, and team times.
Ministry here has been based on relationship. At least 3 times a week we go to a family in the community, which we were introduced to the first week we were here, and we spend anywhere from an hour to two with them. A lot of our time has been spent sitting down and conversing with the wife of the household and her children. The husband usually isn’t there because he’s working. As time as gone by we’ve shared pictures of friends and family, played soccer with the kids, sang songs, and danced a little (The kids like Hannah Montana and Michael Jackson, so Bryan has gotten to share his dance moves). Every day seems to have a little bit of repetition mixed with a little bit of something that’s new and exciting. At times it’s been awkward to just sit and ask questions, with long periods of silence, but we’ve gotten through those days.
The other 2 days of the week have been filled with different kinds of ministries. Some days we’ve gone and worked construction at the MTI (Missionary Training Institute) building, and there we’ve done anything from pick up trash, to bust up concrete to fill in holes at the entrance. We’ve also been to a foster care home, where we got to play with kids for a couple hours. I’ve never been to an orphanage and felt such joy as I did when we went there. I got to give countless piggyback rides, play duck-duck-goose, swing kids until I got dizzy enough to throw-up, and just be Jesus to kids that have been neglected by those that should love them! I’ll never forget that! We’ve also had the privilege of going to the jail to minister. My time at the jail consisted of sitting in a service in this temple inside the jail, and listening to a guy passionately preach. One night we went to a hospital, served bread and coffee, and sat and talked to the people that were sitting outside. The hospitals here make everyone including family members leave after visitation hours, so most people just sit outside and wait to get back in in the morning.
Other than these forms of ministry, most of our times of ministry have been spent doing ATL’s (Ask The Lord), and doing whatever He tells us to. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense at all. Sometimes some of us get different things, so we pray about them and use our discernment to see where the Spirit is leading us. We’re learning to walk in the Spirit, and to our astonishment it actually works! Who would have thunk it?!? Jesus lived guided by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, so we too should live!
These things have encompassed most of our ministry time while here. There have been a couple days and one week where everything changed, and we shifted to a total God lead time of walking as Jesus did. That was our week of Simplicity, but that week deserves its own blog. The details will continue, but I hope this gives you a greater insight into our ministry in Mexico. God Bless You All!
Jon Melo
Love you dude. Keep posting these blogs. I’m subscribed to it, and I want to know how things are going for you. You are the man and I am excited to see what God does with you. Keep that head of yours on straight and remember that God smiles when he thinks of you, and that he would cringe to even think of the world without you. Grace and peace, brother.