Love is why

From July 7 to the 14th Stephanie and I were able to go to Oaxaca, Mexico with our church on a "mission trip".  I'm still not quite sure why it is called that but we went with our church partnering with Buckner, a Baptist missions group.  Our week consisted of putting on a VBS for children that Buckner was working with in Zaachila.  We had the "usual" VBS stuff with crafts, bible stories, snacks, and recreation.  I was in charge of recreation so I can't speak for how the other parts went but I thoroughly enjoyed being able to play games with these kids.  While there may not be anything significant about the content of what we were doing, I can say that the motivation behind our actions were to show love to the children who came and the mothers who also came.  There were times were in the afternoons where we just played soccer or some other game that someone would do something on accident and the normal reaction expected was revenge we were able to tell them it was ok and we didn't want to get back at whoever had accidentally thrown something that hit someone.  As I said before I don't have any delusions that there was anything extraordinary about the people or what we did.  However, I do think that God was able to show love through us and I hope that more than anything else that was what we left the people there with.  I did enjoy working with Buckner as well because of their desire to help the people help themselves.  Many times money is provided or food but nothing sustainable which, according to the people working for Buckner creates dependency and an expectation of getting something for nothing.  Buckner has started programs to teach skills to help people provide for themselves.  One such program is a chicken coop that was started very small and opportunities to be involved were given to many.  Only a few truly wanted to follow through with this and now they have a coop over nearly 100 chickens producing 60 eggs a day that provide food for their families and hopefully a way to have income for their family.  Another similar project is greenhouses with vegetable plants that provide a similar benefit.  While this may not seem like much to someone from America that is what I truly enjoy about what they are doing.  Buckner isn't seeking to "Americanize" everyone but to help them benefit themselves where they are.  Buckner does set ground rules for the projects that they have to give back to the community or be willing to help in other programs they are doing but all of those things are designed at helping people as well.  All in all I am glad that we went to Mexico and that we were able to work with an organization such as Buckner. I am glad knowing we didn't just go for a week and leave people with nothing that there is someone there to continue working with and for them.  Upon returning home and seeing the condition that people live in it makes me re-consider a lot of things that appeared more black and white than before.  I asked myself as well as some of my friends, "Are you a Christian first or an American?"  I couldn't help but empathize with those coming from Mexico seeking a better life for them or their families.  While, I know that there are those who would abuse any system set in place, I do think something needs to be done to provide immigration for people that are willing to follow the rules to provide better for their family.  This trip also opened my eyes to something that I feel I've been hiding from for several years, calling to full time ministry.  I do not completely know how or in what capacity, but I feel certain this is something that I need to do.  I can see instances where the things I have been through and my willingness to share the experiences and God's faithfulness to me, despite my own depravity touch people’s lives.  I don't understand why or how it consistently happens that people feel like it speaks to their heart and is what they needed to hear at the moment.  I've decided to follow this calling to whatever end it may mean and seek only to share the love that I've been undeservedly given with any and everyone.