Here are two reflections from students currently on the Mexico mission trip:
Today we visited Campo de Fe. This place was a men’s rehab center that we went and did multiple things with them. We sang a couple of songs with them, we played a lot of bingo, and finally, we prayed over them. I heard the story of a man named Javier. 15 years ago Javier had a surgery that removed one of his lungs. At that time he was projected to only have 3 more years to live. Obviously, Javier has exceeded that prediction by 12 years and he is still going strong. The amazing thing about it is that he has a fist-sized hole in his rib cage area. The hole has never fully healed. All he wanted our team and I to prayer for was healing. He has been praying for that for 15 years. As a basketball player, I know that it is hard to get into shape. But, hearing Javier’s story of how he can fight through life, being in a wheelchair with one lung makes me realize how blessed I am with my health. If Javier can fight to be strong, I and the rest of us can fight through any obstacle. Javier was my inspiration today.
Haley Damian, Sophomore from Eugene, OR (pictured above)
Fear is the only thing that can hold us back. Today God allowed me to look past my fears and reach out and connect with people that are dying from various diseases. At the AIDS hospice, I talked with a man named Angel who has not yet committed his life to Christ. He told me he had guilt that he couldn’t let go of his dark past, but I got to go into the Word with him and explain how Jesus died for all of our sins, no matter how big or small they are. In the afternoon, we stopped at a men’s rehab for AIDS called Campo De Fe. I opened up and gave a devo to all the men and I felt the Holy Spirit with me. I felt fearless in those moments throughout the day. God can heal all and even though we think of it as healing wounds and diseases, he also can heal fear that inhibits us.
Jordan Alexander, Sophomore from Eugene, OR