Ira and I were blessed to be a part of a Samaritan’s Purse Team to Veracruz, Mexico in December. It was actually through a short term SP trip to Pan de Vida in 2005 that we felt the call to longer term missions. Now living in Mexico and serving at the Orphanage, it allowed us the opportunity to partner with the team from various parts of Canada and serve in communities of Veracruz that were affected by hurricane Karl that hit there this September.
The team projects included medical, dental and eye clinics along with restoration of a school library in the very rural community of El Espinal. Then toward the end of the trip we rounded it up with distributing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children for Christmas.
There were lots of God moments throughout the trip. I see so many myself within the eye clinic when you provide people with simple reading glasses that now allow them to see to read, work and/or sew. It was my 1st time to be a part of a dental clinic and it was a true blessing. One team member shared how a young boy had to have 3 extractions and was terrified. It took 3 people to hold him down during the procedure. She said as she was looking down on him, she knew what they were doing was for his own good. Which then spoke to her at how God must view us in our suffering? As hard as it is to see us struggle through difficult times, He knows it is often for our own good.
On this trip, most of the team members met each other for the 1st time in the airport and the rest once they arrived in Mexico. It was so much fun getting to know each other and also unite with the volunteers in Veracruz who would be hosting the team through transportation, translation, medical/dental clinics and so much more. It is amazing how 2 weeks of unity makes you feel like you have been friends for much longer. The great part is when you share an experience like this; the rest of your life does make you friends.
Again, it was a blessing that God provided us the opportunity to serve with Samaritan’s Purse on this outreach. SP was very instrumental in the construction of Pan de Vida when it was in its infancy and now to see how Pan de Vida can continue to partner with them to do missions within Mexico is exciting. It reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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