“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27 (ESV)
Hello! My name is Emma-Lia Bergeron, and I am a sophomore at Cedarville University. I had the wonderful privilege of serving Back2Back Ministries in Mazatlán, Mexico, through Cedarville’s Global Outreach (GO) program over spring break. I was part of a team of 11 students and one leader, and they were an absolute joy to serve with. All of them were so servant-hearted, which is so encouraging. It was an incredible experience, and I am so excited to share with you about our time!
Preparation
Applications opened for the Global Outreach trips in the fall semester. There were many trips that I considered and prayed about; however, I was really drawn to the Mexico trip. I applied and was welcomed to the team. We had a couple of meetings after Christmas break, worked on fundraising, and before we knew it, the time had finally arrived to leave.
Schedule
Our team flew out early in the morning on Saturday, March 1, and when we arrived at the Mazatlán International Airport, we were greeted by a couple of Back2Back staff members. They took us to their facilities, which included their special needs children’s home. We got to meet the children, and it was sweet getting to interact with them for the rest of the day.
On Sunday, we were able to attend a bilingual church, which was very cool since we were able to listen to the message and worship in Spanish and hear it translated to English. It was powerful to see that we all worship the same God even though there was a language barrier. The remainder of the day, we spent time with four of the families from Back2Back’s Strong Families Program. We played games, chatted, and ate a meal together.
On Monday, we had the opportunity to visit Back2Back’s private school and spend time with the students. It was so different from a traditional American school, but it was a unique opportunity. Our team played Uno, volleyball, and football with them along with coloring during our visit.
After our visit to the school, we started our work projects at the Back2Back facilities. We spent the following two days working on projects. These projects include painting, mixing and pouring three slabs of concrete, clearing out a new area for more concrete to be poured, knocking down a wall, and setting up barbed wire on a new wall. It was a lot of work, but it was so amazing. Our team worked so well together, and we truly enjoyed serving together.
On Thursday, we were able to go to the beach for the morning during our daily quiet time and devotionals. It was so cool to see more of the city of Mazatlán with its vibrant colors. After the beach, we picked up many pizzas to take to a government transition children’s home, which was the best and hardest part of my week. The Back2Back staff warned us that any of the children could have just been taken from their family. They were all staying at the children’s home until they could get moved to a more permanent children’s home. It was a sad circumstance, but we were able to have such a good time with them. When they came out to meet us, we saw that they all had dressed up for us, which was precious. We enjoyed pizza together and then split up around the courtyard with different activities and games for them.
There was so much energy and cheering for the children, which made me smile the whole time. It did not even feel like there was a language barrier because of the interactions. After a bit, all of the children gathered together for a snack, and the staff of the home provided an open mic for anyone wanting to sing. Some of the children went up to sing, and even one of our team members sang “Jesus Loves Me” to them, which was so sweet. We all learned some new songs and dances with the kids before heading to a big area where most of the kids started to play football. Some children stayed on the side, where a few of us girls taught them some hand-clapping games they enjoyed. Overall, our visit gave us a glimpse of the children’s true joy and happiness despite their difficult experiences and circumstances.
On Friday, we left for Cedarville. The team was so sad to say goodbye to the kids at the Back2Back facilities and their staff. Our time was so amazing because of the staff and the fruitful conversations we were able to have with them.
Reflections and Takeaways
There was a lot of discussion about gratitude. Our team agreed that our time in Mexico has shown how blessed we are for the luxuries that we have in America. We want to avoid taking things for granted, instead being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us. The Lord has blessed us immensely, and we want to have thankful hearts, but we also recognized that we should use the things He has given us to serve and help others.
Throughout our time in Mexico, we had the pleasure of listening to some incredible testimonies. We were truly able to witness people that give their whole lives to the Lord. Their lives were fully transformed by God, and they live so boldly for Him. It was such a good reminder that a person’s life circumstances do not govern their future, but it’s all God’s work and abilities that bring transformation.
Final Thoughts
Our team had an incredible time in Mazatlán! We were able to learn, grow, and try new things during our trip. The Lord taught each one of us something that will impact how we continue our walks with Him. He was so faithful and gracious to us, and we are so grateful for the wonderful experience. Whether we made a lasting impact on the ministry or not, I know there is a lasting impact on me and my team from this trip. Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity! Por su gloria!
Major: Management
Year of Graduation: Class of 2027
Tags: #experience, #globaloutreach, #GO, #helpful, #missions, #student, #studentlife, #testimony
Posted in: Experience, Global Outreach, Student Life