This spring, a group of 11 engineering majors planned a five-day spring break Global Outreach (GO) trip to Linares, Mexico to serve and encourage Back2Back Ministries. As we prepared, we asked God to open our hearts to the lessons He had for us. We were challenged to “find God in everything.” Not only was He present, but He was unmistakably at work, accomplishing far more than we could have asked or imagined.
Preparation
I went on this trip last year and had a desire to return and see the ways God had worked since last year. I also wished to see the staff again and serve them once more. God provided above and beyond and worked on my heart in preparation.
In our team meetings, we had devotionals about our team verses, 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12, exploring what it means to live worthy of God’s calling through His power for the glory of Christ and His Kingdom. We also prayed for each other one on one to encourage each other, strengthen our bonds as a team, and align our heart posture in obedience to God.
Serving Back2Back Ministries
After a very early start, we arrived in Monterrey on Saturday afternoon and drove to the site in Linares, Mexico. We took a tour of the property, learning about the incredible things God had done over the past year. God provided so that a children’s home originally housed on the site was no longer needed, and the site now serves as a community center for families to grow through healthy family lessons and playtime (a program called Strong Families). The on-site dorms, which we began building last year, were fully built and ready for use. We were the first team to use them. We found God’s hand in the staff’s report.
We attended a local church in Linares on Sunday and experienced how the Church of Christ transcends cultures. The worship, preaching, and Lord’s Supper were in Spanish and enriched by Mexican culture, yet we all worshiped the same God. We experienced unity that only Jesus can make possible, and it was a foretaste of the future, when nations will gather to worship the Lamb. We found God in the body of Christ that morning.
Our primary project was digging a trench for the septic tank that services the on-site dorms. This three-day project was hard work, and it was directly in the sun much of the time. We relied on the strength of God and each other to accomplish the work set before us. In this strength was the joy of the Lord, a satisfaction of serving the King and making eternal impact. We found God in serving others with projects.
Most days, we were able to play with the kids from the Strong Families program. Many of the kids come from broken families plagued with generational trauma. Play helps heal trauma directly and brings joy into their lives. We played card games and flag football, having meaningful interactions with the kids. While it may seem insignificant, playing with the kids gave us a chance to show Christ’s love and the hope that He offers. That week, we found God in our meaningful interactions with the kids.
One afternoon, we did an hourlong prayer walk. We walked around the site and spent time praying for the families, Back2Back staff, and the city of Linares. We also left notes of encouragement and Bible verses to strengthen the staff. At the end, we prayed for the future of Back2Back and the future of that God had for all of us. We found God when we sought Him in intentional prayer.
On the final day, we took a trip to the mountains and admired the majesty of creation. We served a mountain pastor by digging a trench and laying a concrete foundation for a future dorm where other teams would stay and be able to spread the Gospel to other villages further in the mountains. We also helped set up their weekly kids’ program by preparing crafts and snacks. We played volleyball with a football and wrapped yarn around a cardboard heart cut-out for the craft. Some of our team prepared worship songs, and I gave a devotional in Spanish about the love of God. It was a time of great encouragement where we found God in joyful service.
Throughout the five days, we had opportunities to bond as a team. In the late evenings, we played games together and built a community among each other that helped us through our hard work. After dinner each day, we had a debrief to reflect on the events of the day. One evening, we spent intentional time in prayer for each team member, praying that God would change our hearts in the ways He was working on each of us. We found God in the community among each other.
Personal Reflection
God worked in all our hearts over those five days. One word to describe this trip would be “strength.” When things got difficult, we trusted in God’s strength and leaned on each other’s strength to persevere. God used our team to strengthen the Back2Back staff and the mountain pastor. The majesty of the mountains put God’s power on full display. He convicted my heart of self-sufficiency and changed me to always depend on His strength and mercy by spending more time in the Word and intentional prayer. Even though it was my second time on this missions trip, God continued to shape me into the image of His Son.
If you are considering a Global Outreach trip, I would strongly encourage you to pray about going and be open to what the Lord may have for you. One of the best things about Cedarville is the opportunities for growth, and a GO trip is an excellent way to grow closer to God and participate in His mission.
Class: 2027
Hometown: Commerce Township, MI
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Bible Verse: I don’t have a particular favorite, but I do like Romans 8:1.
Go-To Coffee Shop Drink: Hot Chocolate
Fun Fact: I was a state cross country runner in high school. I was 18 seconds from achieving All-State.
Favorite Thing About Being a Cedarville Student: As a student, I love that Cedarville has countless opportunities for growth, whether academically, relationally, or spiritually.
Posted in: College Life, Experience, Global Outreach, Testimony