After heading down to Mexico for almost three years now, I am faced with an entirely different perspective than that which I had on my first trips. To me now many things are known, understood, and fact, but I have discovered that there will always be the random uncertainties (aka God’s plans) during each trip. It’s these factors that seem to demonstrate God’s love and His plans for us while in Mexico.

One of my favorite parts during our trips to Mexico has always been food distribution. I think its because it is something that completely takes me out of my comfort zone. In the past, even less than a year ago, our food distribution looked something like this:

Love Walks: Hola! Como estas? (Hello, how are you?)

Family/Individual: Hola, bien, y tu? (Hi, good, you?)

Love Walks: Bien, gracias. Quieres comida? (Good, thank you. Do you want food?)

Family/Individual: Oh, si, si, gracias! (Oh yes, thank you!)

Love Walks: Dios le bediga! (God bless you!)

There was no real connection, and we didn’t know how to make the connection either. There were good conversations that were had, and relationships that were built, but they were few and far between. It wasn’t until last May that we began to pray with the families using the few Spanish speakers that we had on each trip. Since then, our approach to food distribution has changed, and we have recently started to create relationships.

In February, we had the opportunity to experience growth in our relationships with the people of Puerto Penasco. During food distribution on the December trip we had met a couple, Ismael and Lorena, who had started their own apostolic church with the assistance of a church in Phoenix. This month we had a chance to sit down and talk to the wife, as the husband was out of town. We learned much more about their vision, as well as what their lives look like on a regular basis.

We also spoke with a woman named Carmen. We had met her husband in September, and her in November and had shared the Word with her then. We didn’t get to talk with her as long this time, but she insisted we remember her name for next time, and also requested a larger print Bible as the one we had given her was hard for her to read. The last couple we talked with was Vicente and Evelina. Aaron, one of our translators, had actually built a relationship with this couple over summer, but hadn’t seen them much since. Their story is an awesome one, but too long to share here. Evelina is pregnant and due at the end of this month, so next month we are looking forward to meeting their baby.

We also met some new people this month and had a chance to talk with them, and we hope to be able to talk with them next month as well. Through all of these relationships, I know God is working and that He has a plan. I’m not completely sure what His plans are, but I know He is using us through all of these opportunities. Even if we just impact a few people over one weekend, they can then impact many people in Puerto Penasco over time while we are not there. I know God is always moving and that whatever He does, big or small, it will be awesome. I’m excited to see where God takes the relationships we’ve started, and watch as the opportunities that He has given us unfold.