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Amanda Case
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Chihuahua
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In June I was in Chihuahua for my very first time...and every time I travel I seem to have a difficult time with the re-entry process. It seems so difficult to come home after experiencing so much so quickly. Funny enough is that although I learned about God while I was in Chihuahua, I know that God could have taught me the same thing at home. The difference was that I chose to listen and understand at a different level by going on this trip. We grow up in our faith being taught that one day “every knee shall bend” and we will all worship the Lord together. It was on this trip that I finally understood what that meant, what it looked like, and most importantly to me, what it felt like to cross every kind of racial, language, and denominational barrier and just believe. It’s such an amazing feeling when you make the jump between theologically believing in something to believing something with your entire spirit.
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Hikari Nakane
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Pasadena, CA
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In September, I will go on my 8th trip to Chihuahua with Initiatives. Every time I'm there, God teaches me new things about himself and his work in Mexico--and I come back changed. It's about long-term relationships too. I love going back and visiting my Mexican families all over the city!
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Erik Smith
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Mahtomedi, MN
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Not too long ago on august 6-13 i went to Guatemala we had a large group and were split into 4 areas .. i ended up at an orphanage/school called remar in which we were helping to build more orphanages inside of remar's main location the reason that they were having this done was so that the would not have to pay rent on the orphanages outside of their location so that they could put that money towards things to help the children. This trip was amazing and it touched me in so many ways ...one way is that before I went i was quite impatient and going to this has helped to to become slightly patient because of the way they do things ... usually it is in a manner such as a assembly line if that makes sense. Another trait which this trip has given me is being a good samaritan and realizing that half of the things if not more of the things we own are luxery and down in Guatemala the got by with the bare necesitites and also made some bit of fun with it and that just touched me. WEll that is a little of my trip so i hope you can get an idea of what it was like.
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Matt Runion
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Bethel University (MN)
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When I returned from Chihuahua to ''life as usual'' in Spring of 2004, I was struck by the excess of my life--both materially and time-wise. I found myself being critical of myself and those around me for wasting so much money and time on things that don't matter and don't last. I had learned clearly from Juan Campa's church that our highest values ought to be people and relationships. Funny, these were Jesus' highest values, too.
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Maren Steen
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White Bear Lake
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Down in Guatemala, their hospitality is unbelievable. They didn't know us or anything about us and they still opened their doors. Almost every house we went to offered us food after we finished building their stoves, it is unimaginable even having somebody in america offer you food for helping them do anything. They also don't have the need to lock their doors at night and they let their children run free in the streets and have the time of their lives. I wish america was more like Guatemala...in many different ways.
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Cecil Linke
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Chihuahua
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There is not doubt that upon returning from Chihuahua you are very aware and uncomfortable with the material excess we experience as Americans. But along with that learning was the realization that most of our relationships are shallow. Having been with Pastor Rojo and his people for three years now, I am getting a clearer picture of the depth of relationship we are called to as believers. My culture felt very fake and easily excited over the dumbest things when I got back from Chihuahua. Another student even said - they are so happy with so little. Maybe it's because they have figured out how to slow down and value each other!
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Jackie Kramer
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Hugo, MN
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It was an amazing experience. Seeing how the people of Guatemala live, day after day. It really shows how fortunate Americans are. I came back realizing how much we really have, but realizing we don't need all we have. I think our priorities are in the wrong places. We need to start valuing family, not money, materials, and toys. I know we made an impact on Guatemala, just as they did on us. I hope to go on more trips like this!
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Lauren Anderson
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Hugo, MN
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About 2 months ago I went to Guatemala with church for a missions trip, and it was truly amazing. I never knew how poor some people are. They live in little huts with a roof of a metal sheet...they have nothing and yet they are so happy, and we have so much, and we aren't nearly as happy as they are. They love their families so much, and they are so creative to find fun things to do, whereas we just sit down and watch tv if we're bored. I just wish we could be a little bit more like the Guatemalans, and except everyone for themselves, and be a little more creative.
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Ron Mallonee
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searcy, ar
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Just returned from Monterrey with the group from Fellowship Bible in Seacy Arkansas. Just beyond discreption. We went to serve and it was us who were served. We were so blessed. Our God is so faithful. He simply provides beyond all our expectations. Thanks for the oppertunity and we will return in service.
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Ray Tang
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Plano, TX
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Chihuahua is such a beautiful city and the mountains are incredible. I sat at lunch one day with Pastor Mario Aguirre and he asked me why we keep coming back every year. It is with no doubt the relationships that bring us back. What matters in Chihuahua should matter to us regardless of where we're from. I began to see and sense that the Kingdom of God became much closer and stronger through our conversations that day. There is something that i/we need to learn from the church in mexico on how they do relationships. it is incredibly powerful and spirit filled.
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