|
|
|
Mexico City, well in short was amazing! After a day or two of traveling, we arrived at the missionary's house in downtown Mexico City. We were tired, but it was exciting to be in a new country.
One of the best parts about the house was the view from the roof of the house. When you looked out you could see all of the city- no matter which way I turned there were houses and lights and people! It was so beautiful and a little intimidating to be in such a big place! Also along all the rooftops were broken glass and barbed wire-to keep robbers out.
Each day we did something new. One day we went to this park to paint and clean. It was in very bad condition, but I loved every second of it. On one side of the park there was a huge hill and all the way up it houses were lined on the edge. They looked like any second they would fall off the edge. They were all so close together and it was obvious they weren't wealthy, but there was something almost picturesque about the city, and yet it was very sad to see what some of the people lived like.
One day Benji, took a group of us to deliver food boxes. I'm pretty sure this is one of the most touching experiences I've ever had. We went to these houses....and there is no way to describe them. They weren't even houses, they were hallways and shacks. These people hardly had anything. We went to this one older woman's house and it was her birthday. She was the sweetest woman I've ever met. She spoke and her eyes sparkled with tears as she told us of the flowers she had received for her birthday. She offered us food and drink and had a child run to the store to buy us something to drink, when it was obvious she couldn't afford those luxuries herself. She praised God for everything and everything was, "Que bonita." I left with this sense of wonder. Here was a woman with nothing and she had everything. I have everything and more that I could ever need. I am so blessed, and so selfish. I learned a lot from that woman. She truly showed me God that day.
Throughout the week our project was finishing this Coffee Shop for the missionaries. By the end of the week it was painted and in business. We were there almost every day, because it was only a couple blocks or so from the missionary's house. That was where I met Maria. This little girl touched me more than any person ever has in one week. I met her on day as she was sitting on the street. She spoke a couple words in English and Bryce and I knew some Spanish. We began to talk to her, and every day she came back to see us and when one of us wasn't there she asked about us. On the last day she made me a necklace in her school, which I still have and treasure above every other souvenir I've ever gotten. One day she invited Bryce and I to see where she lived and she took us to this tiny shack made of stone with a tin roof. She lived there with her brothers and parents. It was so sad and dirty and I wanted to break down and cry and give her all the money I had right there, which unfortunately was next to nothing. I couldn't bear to see all these people living in these tiny shacks, some made of cardboard. Yet, so many seemed so happy, so alive. We miss the point here in America. I miss it almost every day.
There are too many stories to share them all, visiting a children's hospital, riding my first subway, planning a VBS....well, the list goes on.
It was a trip I'll never forget. And the food was amazing and freaking cheap!!! It was fantastic! We ate at these small little hole-in-the-wall places for like 3 dollars for almost 4 courses!!
I also rode in a taxi and a tiny car both times in someones lap and rode the bus standing up feeling like I was going to fall all over the people there. There were definitely some interesting experiences.
Someday, I want to go back there and visit the place where Maria lives and pray to God she made it out of the slums, and see the coffee shop and stand on the rooftop at night and see the sparkling lights all around me.
Until then, that was my first real mission trip and visit outside the country (besides Canada... :) which never counts).
previous travel blog entry
Would you like to comment or ask a question?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).